100:00:00,960 –> 00:00:06,500You can’t come to worship in the light of that as a mere duty.200:00:06,500 –> 00:00:08,680You come as a delight.300:00:08,680 –> 00:00:13,780Bless the Lord O my soul, and all that is within me praise his holy name400:00:13,780 –> 00:00:19,280And don’t whatever you do O my soul forget all his benefit.500:00:19,280 –> 00:00:21,639Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.600:00:21,639 –> 00:00:23,020I’m David Pick.700:00:23,020 –> 00:00:27,540We’re so glad you could be with us today and Colin that sounds like a conclusion800:00:27,700 –> 00:00:29,660And indeed that is where we’ve come to today900:00:29,660 –> 00:00:34,240as we finish our series on the Psalms of Ascent, moving in the right direction1000:00:34,639 –> 00:00:38,380Just love this set of Psalms, the Songs of Ascent1100:00:38,380 –> 00:00:41,560that take us on this journey from a believer who feels1200:00:41,560 –> 00:00:45,820absolutely miserable because he or she has a sense that they’re1300:00:45,820 –> 00:00:51,200so far from God and how am I going to get to the place of finding joy1400:00:51,200 –> 00:00:52,240in God again?1500:00:52,240 –> 00:00:55,279And we followed all the steps of a journey.1600:00:55,279 –> 00:00:57,060The journey that people actually made1700:00:57,060 –> 00:01:01,919from far away coming to Jerusalem where God had set his presence1800:01:01,919 –> 00:01:04,080and now they find the joy of his presence.1900:01:04,080 –> 00:01:08,779It’s a wonderful thing that the person who feels far from God today2000:01:08,779 –> 00:01:10,760can actually draw near to Him2100:01:10,760 –> 00:01:13,839and we’ve traced what that journey looks like in this series2200:01:13,839 –> 00:01:16,019and now we’re getting to where that journey ends2300:01:16,019 –> 00:01:18,500there’s joy in the presence of the Lord2400:01:18,500 –> 00:01:20,339and we’re going to celebrate that together today.2500:01:20,339 –> 00:01:24,199So join us, if you can, in the final part of the series and the message2600:01:24,199 –> 00:01:28,699We’re in Psalms 133 and 134 as we conclude the message2700:01:28,699 –> 00:01:31,400From Seeking to Finding. Here’s Colin.2800:01:31,400 –> 00:01:34,699Now let’s begin with Psalm 133 and ask the question2900:01:34,699 –> 00:01:37,660what does God’s blessing on us look like?3000:01:37,660 –> 00:01:39,500And I want you to notice three things.3100:01:39,500 –> 00:01:47,220First, God blesses us by reconciling us to himself and to each other.3200:01:47,220 –> 00:01:52,379Secondly, God blesses us, not only by reconciling us to himself and one another3300:01:52,519 –> 00:01:58,519but he blesses us by anointing us for ministry and service.3400:01:59,080 –> 00:02:03,139Now the Bible’s full of pictures, try and imagine this one with me, verse 2.3500:02:04,000 –> 00:02:08,720It is like precious oil poured on the head,3600:02:09,300 –> 00:02:14,520running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard3700:02:14,860 –> 00:02:18,100down upon the collar of his robes.3800:02:19,039 –> 00:02:24,279Now you say that sounds marvelous, that little story about Aaron what in all the world has it got to do with me.3900:02:24,619 –> 00:02:28,080Listen, the anointing of Aaron4000:02:29,440 –> 00:02:34,860is a picture of what God does with every believer in Jesus Christ.4100:02:36,199 –> 00:02:39,419When you come to faith in Jesus Christ, here’s what God does,4200:02:39,440 –> 00:02:42,779he pours his Holy Spirit into you.4300:02:43,440 –> 00:02:45,679He pours his Holy Spirit into you.4400:02:46,839 –> 00:02:50,100He makes you a priest.4500:02:50,399 –> 00:02:55,419The New Testament speaks about the priesthood of all believers.4600:02:55,460 –> 00:02:59,460What that means is that God puts every believer in a place4700:02:59,500 –> 00:03:03,619where we are able to serve him and minister in his name.4800:03:03,660 –> 00:03:05,179It is a wonderful thing.4900:03:05,220 –> 00:03:11,300What that means is there is no such thing as an ordinary Christian.5000:03:11,940 –> 00:03:15,419God blesses us not only by reconciling us to himself5100:03:15,460 –> 00:03:17,059and to each other,5200:03:17,100 –> 00:03:22,660not only by anointing each believer for ministry and for service5300:03:22,699 –> 00:03:26,559but thirdly by renewing and refreshing our lives.5400:03:26,600 –> 00:03:28,199Now here’s another lovely picture.5500:03:28,240 –> 00:03:29,600Look at it in verse 3.5600:03:30,479 –> 00:03:35,660It is as if the Jew of Hermon5700:03:35,699 –> 00:03:38,619were falling on Mount Zion,5800:03:38,740 –> 00:03:41,860for there the Lord bestows his blessing5900:03:42,240 –> 00:03:45,220even life forevermore.6000:03:45,839 –> 00:03:48,600Now Mount Hermon is the highest mountain in Israel.6100:03:49,020 –> 00:03:51,220It rises over 9000 feet6200:03:51,259 –> 00:03:54,779and in fact it’s easily the highest mountain in the whole region.6300:03:55,179 –> 00:03:57,259It is usually snow capped throughout the year.6400:03:57,300 –> 00:04:00,460I remember my own sense of surprise the first time I saw it.6500:04:00,720 –> 00:04:02,240Sitting on a tour bus,6600:04:02,279 –> 00:04:03,080I said to Caren,6700:04:03,119 –> 00:04:04,940that looks like snow at the top of that mountain.6800:04:04,979 –> 00:04:07,800I couldn’t believe it because we were so hot!6900:04:08,619 –> 00:04:11,500But this is such a high mountain that it has normally7000:04:11,539 –> 00:04:15,559snow on the top just about all the year round.7100:04:16,179 –> 00:04:18,399Now I’ve also been to Mount Zion.7200:04:18,440 –> 00:04:20,380Mount Zion in comparison with Hermon7300:04:20,399 –> 00:04:22,399is really just like a little hill.7400:04:22,420 –> 00:04:24,600It’s a fair old climb to get up there.7500:04:24,619 –> 00:04:27,059But it’s a hill at the kind of height7600:04:27,100 –> 00:04:29,440that you could build on the top of it.7700:04:29,459 –> 00:04:32,059And when I was on Mount Zion,7800:04:32,079 –> 00:04:33,179I remember it vividly.7900:04:33,200 –> 00:04:34,799It was dry,8000:04:34,839 –> 00:04:35,779it was hot,8100:04:35,799 –> 00:04:37,640blistering hot,8200:04:37,739 –> 00:04:41,040and it was very, very dusty indeed.8300:04:41,380 –> 00:04:43,339Now think of the picture.8400:04:43,660 –> 00:04:48,000Imagine the dew of the snow-capped mountain8500:04:48,600 –> 00:04:51,700falling on the dry, dusty ground8600:04:51,739 –> 00:04:54,920of this bald-headed little hill.8700:04:55,880 –> 00:04:58,579God’s abundant supply8800:04:58,619 –> 00:05:02,179coming to the dried-up, cracked ground8900:05:03,079 –> 00:05:04,660of your life,9000:05:05,160 –> 00:05:06,480my life.9100:05:07,220 –> 00:05:08,739That’s the picture9200:05:08,779 –> 00:05:11,619of God refreshing and renewing9300:05:12,420 –> 00:05:14,260a dried-up life,9400:05:15,559 –> 00:05:16,899and David says that’s what it’s like9500:05:16,940 –> 00:05:18,880when God’s people live together in unity,9600:05:18,899 –> 00:05:20,640his blessing flows.9700:05:21,279 –> 00:05:23,100When God’s people discover their gifting9800:05:23,140 –> 00:05:24,019and their calling for ministry,9900:05:24,040 –> 00:05:26,140his blessing flows.10000:05:26,820 –> 00:05:29,720God’s people gathering together to worship like that.10100:05:29,739 –> 00:05:31,200You find there’s a renewal,10200:05:31,220 –> 00:05:34,179a refreshment in your very innermost being.10300:05:35,179 –> 00:05:37,079It’s the blessing of God.10400:05:37,820 –> 00:05:40,559And that’s a snapshot of what eternity is going to be like.10500:05:40,600 –> 00:05:43,640Life will never get stale nor dull in heaven,10600:05:43,660 –> 00:05:46,579will constantly be renewed and refreshed.10700:05:46,600 –> 00:05:51,600The Jews of Hermon falling upon Mount Zion.10800:05:53,059 –> 00:05:56,179So that’s a snapshot of God’s blessing in eternity,10900:05:56,459 –> 00:05:58,720reconciliation, anointing for ministry,11000:05:58,760 –> 00:06:00,179constant renewal.11100:06:01,019 –> 00:06:04,540And every time, here and now, we see reconciliation take place,11200:06:04,559 –> 00:06:06,140that’s a little touch of Heaven on Earth.11300:06:06,160 –> 00:06:09,559Every time we see a believer discovering their place in ministry,11400:06:09,579 –> 00:06:11,220a little touch of Heaven on Earth.11500:06:11,260 –> 00:06:14,799Every time we’re renewed and refreshed in the presence of God.11600:06:14,820 –> 00:06:18,420A little touch of Heaven here on Earth.11700:06:18,859 –> 00:06:20,700It’s God’s blessing to us.11800:06:21,940 –> 00:06:24,059One day it’s going to be complete.11900:06:24,739 –> 00:06:26,899What we’ve got now, the apostle Paul says,12000:06:26,920 –> 00:06:29,420is just like a deposit,12100:06:30,359 –> 00:06:32,720guaranteeing what is to come.12200:06:33,739 –> 00:06:36,559Boy, I was thinking about when we bought our first house12300:06:36,579 –> 00:06:40,140and the deposit that we put down was that much.12400:06:40,820 –> 00:06:44,279The mortgage, that much. Right?12500:06:45,459 –> 00:06:48,480All that you experience of the Holy Spirit now12600:06:48,519 –> 00:06:54,079is just a foretaste of what will be complete in his presence.12700:06:54,920 –> 00:07:00,040But it’s a real sample, the taste of what’s to come.12800:07:01,380 –> 00:07:03,040God’s blessing to us.12900:07:03,600 –> 00:07:06,920Now let’s look secondly at our blessing the Lord.13000:07:07,480 –> 00:07:08,920And again notice three things.13100:07:09,200 –> 00:07:14,739First we bless the Lord by worshipping in response to his blessing.13200:07:15,119 –> 00:07:19,359Now there’s an important difference between God blessing us and us blessing the Lord.13300:07:19,880 –> 00:07:23,579When God blesses us, he makes us what we’re not.13400:07:24,200 –> 00:07:26,959He gives us what we haven’t, what we need.13500:07:27,720 –> 00:07:35,160When we bless the Lord, we rejoice in what he already is, always was, and always will be.13600:07:36,000 –> 00:07:44,320And our blessing the Lord is the natural response of believing people who have been blessed by the Lord.13700:07:44,880 –> 00:07:48,019Here’s today’s really profound point.13800:07:48,940 –> 00:07:55,100Psalm 134 comes after Psalm 133,13900:07:55,100 –> 00:07:57,299okay, that’s the profound point of the day.14000:07:57,619 –> 00:07:59,500But think about its significance.14100:08:00,260 –> 00:08:04,660We do not come to worship in order to be blessed.14200:08:05,480 –> 00:08:08,500We come to worship because we are blessed.14300:08:09,700 –> 00:08:13,660You see, if you come to worship thinking, I’ve come to worship in order to be blessed,14400:08:13,739 –> 00:08:16,899you’ll come with a scorecard, and you’ll mark the worship out of 10.14500:08:17,140 –> 00:08:18,600That’s what a lot of people do.14600:08:18,880 –> 00:08:21,279It’s a complete misunderstanding of what worship is.14700:08:22,320 –> 00:08:23,519And come to worship to be blessed.14800:08:23,679 –> 00:08:27,559We come to worship because we are blessed, because we have grasped by faith14900:08:27,660 –> 00:08:32,320what God has done for us in Jesus Christ, and we want to declare his praise.15000:08:34,440 –> 00:08:39,460Worship is the response of a believing heart to God’s grace already poured in.15100:08:39,659 –> 00:08:41,940It is why it is only possible for believers.15200:08:42,039 –> 00:08:44,140It is only possible through the Holy Spirit.15300:08:44,419 –> 00:08:45,099But listen.15400:08:45,960 –> 00:08:49,500God has reconciled you to himself in Christ.15500:08:49,960 –> 00:08:52,679God has anointed you by the gift of his Holy Spirit.15600:08:52,840 –> 00:08:56,559God has taken you an ordinary person and made you one of his priests.15700:08:56,760 –> 00:08:58,960God gives you life for evermore.15800:09:00,440 –> 00:09:03,440You can’t come to worship in the light of that as a mere duty.15900:09:03,580 –> 00:09:05,159You come as a delight.16000:09:05,799 –> 00:09:10,380Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me praise his Holy Name.16100:09:10,460 –> 00:09:15,460And don’t, whatever you do, O my soul, forget all his benefits.16200:09:17,039 –> 00:09:22,159We bless the Lord by worshipping in response to his blessing.16300:09:22,820 –> 00:09:24,719That’s one way we worship the Lord.16400:09:24,719 –> 00:09:28,400But we also worship at all times and in all circumstances,16500:09:28,400 –> 00:09:30,979and we’ll come back in a moment and look at that.16600:09:31,260 –> 00:09:33,799You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith16700:09:33,799 –> 00:09:36,340and a message called From Seeking to Finding,16800:09:36,500 –> 00:09:39,880based on Psalm 133 and 134.16900:09:40,080 –> 00:09:43,000It’s the very last in our series, Moving In The Right Direction,17000:09:43,000 –> 00:09:45,020and if you’ve missed any of the series,17100:09:45,020 –> 00:09:47,479you can easily catch up or go back and listen again17200:09:47,479 –> 00:09:52,460by coming online to our website, openthebible.org.uk17300:09:52,739 –> 00:09:55,239Back to the message now, here again is Colin.17400:09:55,619 –> 00:10:00,900We bless the Lord by worshipping in response to his blessing.17500:10:02,000 –> 00:10:03,299Secondly, we bless the Lord17600:10:03,320 –> 00:10:08,919by worshipping at all times and in all circumstances.17700:10:10,299 –> 00:10:12,460Now look at verse one again.17800:10:12,460 –> 00:10:17,140Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord17900:10:17,780 –> 00:10:22,400who minister by night in the house of the Lord.18000:10:22,400 –> 00:10:24,280Now, what’s this? The night shift?18100:10:25,640 –> 00:10:29,239God’s temple was never closed.18200:10:29,960 –> 00:10:33,359In the Old Testament, it was open 24-7.18300:10:34,119 –> 00:10:37,0991 Chronicles 9 in verse 33 tells us18400:10:37,119 –> 00:10:40,619that the musicians, they were exempt from other duties18500:10:40,619 –> 00:10:43,859because they had to sustain the ministry of music18600:10:43,859 –> 00:10:47,659in the temple day and night.18700:10:47,659 –> 00:10:49,460And by the way, that’s pretty tough on the choir,18800:10:49,460 –> 00:10:51,059don’t you think?18900:10:51,059 –> 00:10:53,46024-7 in the temple.19000:10:54,520 –> 00:10:58,580Now, presumably they did this as we would do it19100:10:58,580 –> 00:11:01,039by organizing it on a roster19200:11:01,039 –> 00:11:04,059of people working different shifts19300:11:04,059 –> 00:11:08,539so that God’s temple would always be filled with praise.19400:11:08,539 –> 00:11:10,659And so I want you to imagine just for a moment19500:11:10,659 –> 00:11:13,979that all of us in this congregation right now19600:11:13,979 –> 00:11:18,179are the priests and the Levites of God, okay?19700:11:18,179 –> 00:11:20,380And we’ve gathered together here19800:11:20,380 –> 00:11:22,020and the high priest has come,19900:11:22,020 –> 00:11:23,719he’s got his little clipboard20000:11:23,719 –> 00:11:28,419and he’s giving out the roster for next week’s duties.20100:11:29,219 –> 00:11:30,700Now he says, it’s great to have20200:11:30,700 –> 00:11:33,419all of us Levi priests together this morning20300:11:33,500 –> 00:11:35,500and of course it’s a wonderful privilege20400:11:35,500 –> 00:11:38,979for us all to serve the Lord in his temple.20500:11:38,979 –> 00:11:41,020And you all know that the Lord has said20600:11:41,020 –> 00:11:43,299that from the rising of the sun to its setting,20700:11:43,299 –> 00:11:44,900his name is to be praised20800:11:44,900 –> 00:11:46,640and we have the immense privilege20900:11:46,640 –> 00:11:50,219of making sure that this happens.21000:11:50,219 –> 00:11:51,780And so I want simply to give21100:11:51,780 –> 00:11:54,099out the duties for us for this next week21200:11:54,099 –> 00:11:57,280and so the early shift,21300:11:57,280 –> 00:11:58,940I want all of you folks here this week21400:11:58,940 –> 00:12:00,099to be on the early shift,21500:12:00,099 –> 00:12:01,140you’re gonna be here,21600:12:01,140 –> 00:12:02,419report to the temple please21700:12:02,599 –> 00:12:04,059at six in the morning21800:12:04,059 –> 00:12:06,619and you’ll be on duty till 12.21900:12:06,619 –> 00:12:08,219All right?22000:12:08,219 –> 00:12:10,299And you folks over here,22100:12:10,299 –> 00:12:12,299you’re on the afternoon shift22200:12:12,299 –> 00:12:14,900and you’ll come on at 1222300:12:14,900 –> 00:12:16,039and you’ll be ministering22400:12:16,039 –> 00:12:17,619in the temple until six.22500:12:19,460 –> 00:12:22,119And then the folks at the back here,22600:12:22,119 –> 00:12:24,020behind the cameras,22700:12:24,020 –> 00:12:27,020you folks are gonna be on the evening shift.22800:12:27,020 –> 00:12:29,599You will report at six in the evening22900:12:29,599 –> 00:12:30,780and you’ll be responsible23000:12:30,780 –> 00:12:33,640for everything going on in the temple until midnight.23100:12:35,039 –> 00:12:36,119And then the night shift,23200:12:36,119 –> 00:12:37,099of course there are not so many people23300:12:37,099 –> 00:12:38,659coming to the temple during the night.23400:12:38,659 –> 00:12:40,900So we don’t need so many on staff there,23500:12:40,900 –> 00:12:44,460just you folks in these front three rows,23600:12:44,460 –> 00:12:46,460you’re on duty every night this week23700:12:46,460 –> 00:12:49,479from midnight until six in the morning.23800:12:49,479 –> 00:12:51,299You’re the priests and Levites23900:12:51,299 –> 00:12:55,059who will minister by night in the house of the Lord.24000:12:55,059 –> 00:12:56,059Now that we’ve just given out24100:12:56,059 –> 00:12:58,700all of the instructions for our duties for the next week,24200:12:59,239 –> 00:13:01,080how do these folks in the front three rows24300:13:01,080 –> 00:13:02,580in the center feel?24400:13:03,820 –> 00:13:07,979They’re probably more spiritual than I am.24500:13:07,979 –> 00:13:09,780But I’ll tell you how I would feel.24600:13:11,359 –> 00:13:12,359Great!24700:13:14,219 –> 00:13:16,619Just my luck.24800:13:18,099 –> 00:13:21,580How come I always get a short straw?24900:13:21,580 –> 00:13:24,299I mean who really wants to do the night shift?25000:13:25,900 –> 00:13:27,460I mean, let’s face it.25100:13:27,539 –> 00:13:29,599Who comes to the temple at three o’clock25200:13:29,599 –> 00:13:31,340in the morning anyway?25300:13:31,340 –> 00:13:33,239What’s the point in singing?25400:13:33,239 –> 00:13:35,419What’s the point in lighting a candle?25500:13:35,419 –> 00:13:38,059Who cares whether we burned the incense then or not?25600:13:39,780 –> 00:13:41,419How come I get picked to lead the worship25700:13:41,419 –> 00:13:42,479when no one’s there?25800:13:45,179 –> 00:13:47,900Nobody’s gonna notice my ministry at 4.30 am.25900:13:49,500 –> 00:13:50,960What difference does it make?26000:13:51,460 –> 00:13:52,260Now, listen.26100:13:54,900 –> 00:13:58,640Some of us have been called to declare the praise of God26200:13:59,960 –> 00:14:04,900in very dark times and in very lonely places.26300:14:06,580 –> 00:14:09,640Some of us have been called by God.26400:14:10,719 –> 00:14:12,880Right now, on the roster,26500:14:13,919 –> 00:14:16,179we are lifting the praise of God26600:14:16,179 –> 00:14:19,559on a very, very difficult path.26700:14:21,960 –> 00:14:23,840And frankly, any Sunday morning26800:14:23,840 –> 00:14:26,960when the whole congregation is gathered,26900:14:26,960 –> 00:14:29,440there are quite a number of us who’re in that situation.27000:14:29,440 –> 00:14:30,280And we know it.27100:14:32,000 –> 00:14:34,080We’re not singing songs in the daytime.27200:14:35,479 –> 00:14:36,419We’re trying our best27300:14:36,419 –> 00:14:39,280to sustain singing the song in the night.27400:14:41,359 –> 00:14:44,020And I want you to see what happens in this Psalm.27500:14:44,020 –> 00:14:45,219You see what’s happening here.27600:14:45,219 –> 00:14:46,419If you look at it,27700:14:46,419 –> 00:14:49,500you’ll see that the whole congregation27800:14:50,340 –> 00:14:53,700is speaking a word of encouragement27900:14:53,700 –> 00:14:57,599to the few who happen to be on the night shift.28000:14:57,599 –> 00:15:00,419The words are directed by the whole congregation28100:15:00,419 –> 00:15:03,799singing the Psalm to the servants of the Lord28200:15:03,799 –> 00:15:05,099who minister by night.28300:15:05,099 –> 00:15:06,340It’s the night shift crew28400:15:06,340 –> 00:15:07,340and they’re trying to encourage them28500:15:07,340 –> 00:15:09,840because it’s tough to be on the night shift.28600:15:11,000 –> 00:15:13,419Not easy to declare the praise of God28700:15:13,419 –> 00:15:16,000in a lonely situation where it’s very dark.28800:15:17,140 –> 00:15:18,659Nobody would choose that.28900:15:20,159 –> 00:15:23,140And so this Psalm is an expression of the whole community29000:15:23,140 –> 00:15:25,859encouraging those who are walking that dark path.29100:15:25,859 –> 00:15:28,080You know, I’d like us to hear that29200:15:28,080 –> 00:15:29,979right now in this service.29300:15:29,979 –> 00:15:31,260Let me ask the simple question29400:15:31,260 –> 00:15:33,500as I’ve asked in all the other services.29500:15:33,500 –> 00:15:35,619Every Sunday, there are folks29600:15:35,619 –> 00:15:36,760who just go through a rough time.29700:15:36,760 –> 00:15:38,299You would immediately say,29800:15:38,299 –> 00:15:40,940boy, I identify with a night shift.29900:15:40,940 –> 00:15:45,000I identify with these folks who are not finding it easy30000:15:45,000 –> 00:15:46,119to declare the praise of God30100:15:46,119 –> 00:15:49,479because right now, I’m in a difficult circumstance of life.30200:15:49,500 –> 00:15:51,179Now, I’m not gonna ask you to do anything else30300:15:51,179 –> 00:15:52,080that’s gonna embarrass you,30400:15:52,080 –> 00:15:54,140but if that’s where you are today,30500:15:54,140 –> 00:15:55,580I want you to just slip up your hand30600:15:55,580 –> 00:15:57,940and then slip it down one section at a time.30700:15:57,940 –> 00:15:58,960Okay, in this section here,30800:15:58,960 –> 00:15:59,940it’s a number of us,30900:15:59,940 –> 00:16:01,599there have been in every service,31000:16:01,599 –> 00:16:04,119both in the gym, just slip up your hand, down.31100:16:04,119 –> 00:16:06,380This section over here, some of us,31200:16:06,380 –> 00:16:08,539dark time, tough time, number of us,31300:16:08,539 –> 00:16:09,780good number of us.31400:16:09,780 –> 00:16:12,780In the center here, a number of us, a number of us.31500:16:12,780 –> 00:16:14,559Over in these two sections here,31600:16:14,559 –> 00:16:16,659just slip up your hand, slip it down.31700:16:16,659 –> 00:16:18,619Every Sunday, this is what it’s like.31800:16:18,659 –> 00:16:20,299There are always a good number31900:16:20,299 –> 00:16:21,919in the company of God’s people.32000:16:22,840 –> 00:16:23,679And you say, you know,32100:16:23,679 –> 00:16:25,000I’m trying to lift up the name of the Lord,32200:16:25,000 –> 00:16:27,400but it’s not easy for me right now.32300:16:27,400 –> 00:16:29,380Now, what happens in this psalm32400:16:29,380 –> 00:16:31,780is that the whole congregation32500:16:31,780 –> 00:16:35,200speaks a word of encouragement to the night shift.32600:16:36,260 –> 00:16:39,419So, if you’ve just raised your hand32700:16:39,419 –> 00:16:40,380in these last moments,32800:16:40,380 –> 00:16:42,659I just want you to sit quietly and to listen.32900:16:42,659 –> 00:16:44,580Don’t say anything, just listen.33000:16:45,580 –> 00:16:47,479And I want the rest of the congregation33100:16:47,479 –> 00:16:50,119to minister the encouragement of the word of God33200:16:50,119 –> 00:16:53,679to those who are struggling at this time,33300:16:53,679 –> 00:16:55,119the night shift.33400:16:55,119 –> 00:16:57,599Look at what you’re going to see in just a moment,33500:16:57,599 –> 00:16:58,739your gonna say at the end there,33600:16:58,739 –> 00:17:02,140may the Lord, the maker of heaven and Earth bless you.33700:17:02,140 –> 00:17:04,020We want the blessing of God33800:17:04,020 –> 00:17:05,339on the night shift people.33900:17:06,680 –> 00:17:08,979We’re gonna say to some brothers and sisters today,34000:17:08,979 –> 00:17:11,319who are servants of the Lord ministering by night,34100:17:11,319 –> 00:17:13,400lift up your hands and praise the Lord.34200:17:13,400 –> 00:17:14,699We want to encourage them.34300:17:15,520 –> 00:17:18,619So as if you were able to do this eyeball to eyeball34400:17:18,619 –> 00:17:20,420with one of your brothers or sisters34500:17:20,420 –> 00:17:23,380sitting near to you, who’s really struggling.34600:17:23,380 –> 00:17:24,979As some listen,34700:17:24,979 –> 00:17:26,900I want all the rest of the congregation34800:17:26,900 –> 00:17:30,339with strength and conviction to minister the word of God.34900:17:30,339 –> 00:17:32,500Will you read it together with me35000:17:32,500 –> 00:17:34,959as to these brothers and sisters.35100:17:34,959 –> 00:17:39,400Praise the Lord all you servants of the Lord35200:17:39,400 –> 00:17:43,520who minister by night in the house of the Lord.35300:17:43,520 –> 00:17:48,520Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord.35400:17:48,660 –> 00:17:52,400May the Lord the maker of heaven and earth35500:17:52,400 –> 00:17:55,020bless you from Zion.35600:17:55,800 –> 00:17:57,420Now listen,35700:17:57,420 –> 00:17:58,739your faith,35800:17:59,920 –> 00:18:02,260your love for Christ,35900:18:02,260 –> 00:18:06,520your worship in the darkness when it’s tough36000:18:06,520 –> 00:18:09,199is of great value in the eyes of God.36100:18:10,160 –> 00:18:12,739The greatest witness of the church of Jesus Christ36200:18:12,900 –> 00:18:15,500is not her songs in the day time36300:18:15,500 –> 00:18:16,900but her songs in the night.36400:18:17,920 –> 00:18:20,160The greatest witness of the church of Jesus Christ36500:18:20,160 –> 00:18:22,540is from those who suffer,36600:18:22,540 –> 00:18:24,439for those who’ve been persecuted,36700:18:24,439 –> 00:18:26,300for those even who’ve laid down their lives36800:18:26,300 –> 00:18:27,599for Jesus Christ.36900:18:28,540 –> 00:18:31,979And when you will continue to lift up the name of Jesus37000:18:31,979 –> 00:18:35,439and bless the Lord in the darkness of the night37100:18:36,459 –> 00:18:40,579you are doing something of inestimable value37200:18:40,579 –> 00:18:42,400for the glory of God.37300:18:42,400 –> 00:18:44,239The whole church across the Earth37400:18:44,239 –> 00:18:46,859is called to declare the praise of Christ37500:18:46,859 –> 00:18:50,459in all times and in all circumstances.37600:18:50,459 –> 00:18:52,280Hear this word of encouragement,37700:18:53,520 –> 00:18:55,280when God for whatever reason37800:18:56,199 –> 00:18:57,719has put you on the night shift,37900:18:59,160 –> 00:19:02,479bless the Lord and know that this may be38000:19:02,479 –> 00:19:07,479just about the most significant ministry of your life.38100:19:09,199 –> 00:19:10,959We bless the Lord then by worshipping38200:19:11,020 –> 00:19:12,420in response to his blessing.38300:19:13,479 –> 00:19:16,479We bless the Lord by worshipping at all times,38400:19:16,479 –> 00:19:19,199not just in the noon day when it’s very bright and easy,38500:19:19,199 –> 00:19:20,900not just with the crowds,38600:19:20,900 –> 00:19:23,560but in the hard, dark, lonely places.38700:19:23,560 –> 00:19:27,579At all times and in all circumstances.38800:19:27,579 –> 00:19:28,959And here’s the last thing,38900:19:28,959 –> 00:19:30,640we bless the Lord by worshipping39000:19:30,640 –> 00:19:33,280in anticipation of the new day.39100:19:33,280 –> 00:19:35,400Now here’s just about the most important thing39200:19:35,400 –> 00:19:36,719for the night shift people.39300:19:38,219 –> 00:19:39,959The Old Testament believers, you know,39400:19:39,959 –> 00:19:43,959lived in the expectation that one day Messiah would come.39500:19:45,280 –> 00:19:49,839God had said he would suddenly come to his temple,39600:19:51,000 –> 00:19:53,060and of course that was the reason,39700:19:53,060 –> 00:19:54,560above everything else,39800:19:54,560 –> 00:19:57,040as to why the temple was never closed.39900:19:57,040 –> 00:19:59,359It was open 24 seven,40000:19:59,359 –> 00:20:01,640because what if God came to his temple40100:20:01,640 –> 00:20:02,680at three o’clock in the morning40200:20:02,680 –> 00:20:04,520and it was all locked up and shut and dark.40300:20:04,520 –> 00:20:06,439Well, you couldn’t have that happen.40400:20:06,439 –> 00:20:08,040So you had the Levites, and you had the Priests,40500:20:08,359 –> 00:20:09,780and it was open 24 seven in the temple,40600:20:09,780 –> 00:20:11,119sustaining the ministry,40700:20:11,119 –> 00:20:13,699because Messiah could come at any moment,40800:20:14,640 –> 00:20:15,680any day.40900:20:17,239 –> 00:20:18,859And those who ministered by night41000:20:18,859 –> 00:20:21,339were waiting for the Lord.41100:20:22,939 –> 00:20:24,880Now I’m certain that that is the significance41200:20:24,880 –> 00:20:27,939of the lifting up of the hands in verse two.41300:20:29,079 –> 00:20:32,920See, the lifted hands in the sanctuary41400:20:32,920 –> 00:20:36,239are an expression of anticipation,41500:20:36,239 –> 00:20:37,579of expectation.41600:20:37,579 –> 00:20:40,900Here are these Levites in the middle of the night.41700:20:42,000 –> 00:20:44,619And they’re lifting up their hands41800:20:44,619 –> 00:20:46,500in the darkness of the temple41900:20:46,500 –> 00:20:48,260where they’ve lit their candle,42000:20:48,260 –> 00:20:50,979and they’re looking for the day42100:20:50,979 –> 00:20:53,420when the Lord himself will come.42200:20:53,420 –> 00:20:55,280They’re saying in New Testament terms,42300:20:55,280 –> 00:20:58,359Lord Jesus Christ come quickly.42400:20:59,560 –> 00:21:02,300You now see, Jesus spoke about this.42500:21:02,300 –> 00:21:05,900When the Son of Man comes, He said,42600:21:05,900 –> 00:21:08,459will he find faith on the Earth?42700:21:09,739 –> 00:21:12,260And every believer wants to say with lifted hands,42800:21:12,260 –> 00:21:13,579you’ll find faith in me42900:21:13,579 –> 00:21:16,540because I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.43000:21:17,780 –> 00:21:20,459Jesus told the story about a bride43100:21:20,459 –> 00:21:22,780and her whole entourage43200:21:22,780 –> 00:21:25,619who were waiting for the coming of the bridegroom.43300:21:25,619 –> 00:21:28,079They were waiting in the darkness of the night43400:21:28,079 –> 00:21:31,900for the midnight cry, when the bridegroom would come43500:21:31,900 –> 00:21:34,079and the marriage would begin.43600:21:34,959 –> 00:21:37,560And you see, that is exactly our position, isn’t it?43700:21:38,479 –> 00:21:40,439Whether it be in the brightness of midday43800:21:40,439 –> 00:21:42,880or whether it be in the darkness of the night,43900:21:43,839 –> 00:21:48,739we live in anticipation of the coming of the Lord.44000:21:49,760 –> 00:21:51,459Our worship is by faith.44100:21:52,920 –> 00:21:55,380It is sometimes in the darkness.44200:21:56,560 –> 00:21:59,300It is always in the anticipation44300:21:59,300 –> 00:22:01,239that Jesus Christ will come44400:22:01,319 –> 00:22:03,640and then faith will be turned to sight44500:22:03,640 –> 00:22:05,239and our journey will be over44600:22:05,239 –> 00:22:08,439and we shall be forever with the Lord.44700:22:10,160 –> 00:22:13,280That’s where the journey of following Jesus ends.44800:22:14,739 –> 00:22:16,099So are you on that journey?44900:22:17,400 –> 00:22:19,239You come to the place,45000:22:19,239 –> 00:22:21,359the man who says I’ve lived at a distance45100:22:21,359 –> 00:22:23,119from God for too long,45200:22:23,119 –> 00:22:24,280you set out in the path45300:22:24,280 –> 00:22:26,079and you’re finding that brothers and sisters45400:22:26,079 –> 00:22:29,479will walk with you as you put your trust in Jesus Christ.45500:22:29,479 –> 00:22:31,239You can do that today.45600:22:31,239 –> 00:22:32,199Begin that journey.45700:22:33,819 –> 00:22:36,359And you will find as you put your faith in Jesus Christ45800:22:36,359 –> 00:22:37,780that God blesses you.45900:22:39,420 –> 00:22:40,640And as God blesses you,46000:22:41,640 –> 00:22:44,760you will want to rise in return and to bless the Lord.46100:22:46,959 –> 00:22:50,180What a great way to end our message and series,46200:22:50,180 –> 00:22:52,280Moving In The Right Direction46300:22:52,280 –> 00:22:54,760with the message from seeking to finding.46400:22:54,760 –> 00:22:56,319If you’ve missed any of the series46500:22:56,319 –> 00:22:58,119or if you want to go back and listen again,46600:22:58,160 –> 00:23:00,520you can do that by coming online to our website46700:23:00,520 –> 00:23:03,079openthebible.org.uk46800:23:03,079 –> 00:23:05,520or by going to your favorite podcast site46900:23:05,520 –> 00:23:07,719and searching for Open The Bible UK.47000:23:07,719 –> 00:23:09,479And there you’ll find all of the series47100:23:09,479 –> 00:23:11,979which have already been broadcast.47200:23:11,979 –> 00:23:14,599Open The Bible is supported by our listeners.47300:23:14,599 –> 00:23:16,800And if you already give to support the work,47400:23:16,800 –> 00:23:19,160we want to say a big thank you.47500:23:19,160 –> 00:23:20,939If you’ve been considering beginning47600:23:20,939 –> 00:23:23,239to support Open The Bible financially,47700:23:23,239 –> 00:23:26,400this month if you’re able to set up a new direct debit47800:23:26,400 –> 00:23:28,000to the work of Open The Bible47900:23:28,000 –> 00:23:30,560in the amount of five pounds per month or more48000:23:30,560 –> 00:23:33,020or a one-off gift of £50 or more48100:23:33,020 –> 00:23:34,760we’d love to say thank you48200:23:34,760 –> 00:23:35,880by sending you a copy48300:23:35,880 –> 00:23:38,680of Pastor Colin’s book, Fly Through The Bible.48400:23:38,680 –> 00:23:40,880If you’d like to receive that free gift,48500:23:40,880 –> 00:23:43,479don’t forget, don’t give anonymously48600:23:43,479 –> 00:23:45,619and do leave your address.48700:23:45,619 –> 00:23:46,719Colin, what do you hope48800:23:46,719 –> 00:23:50,079that readers of this book will take away from it?48900:23:50,079 –> 00:23:51,199Well, that people will see49000:23:51,199 –> 00:23:53,760that the whole Bible is one story49100:23:53,760 –> 00:23:57,119and that it all points to the Lord Jesus Christ.49200:23:57,239 –> 00:24:00,199I think many folks know some stories from the Bible,49300:24:00,199 –> 00:24:01,319you know, David and Goliath,49400:24:01,319 –> 00:24:03,619Jonah and the whale and so forth, so on.49500:24:03,619 –> 00:24:06,079But I find that often people don’t realise49600:24:06,079 –> 00:24:09,800that there really is an overall storyline to the Bible.49700:24:09,800 –> 00:24:10,959It begins in a garden.49800:24:10,959 –> 00:24:12,359It ends in a city,49900:24:12,359 –> 00:24:15,839all the way through it’s about the Lord Jesus Christ.50000:24:15,839 –> 00:24:18,540So when a person gets an overview of the Bible,50100:24:18,540 –> 00:24:21,760that’s the best way to be introduced50200:24:21,760 –> 00:24:23,979to the Lord Jesus Christ himself.50300:24:23,979 –> 00:24:26,180This is going to show you who He is,50400:24:26,540 –> 00:24:29,180why we need Him, what He’s accomplished,50500:24:29,180 –> 00:24:30,339what He offers,50600:24:30,339 –> 00:24:33,060what He’s able to do in the life of any person50700:24:33,060 –> 00:24:35,660who turns to Him in repentance and faith.50800:24:35,660 –> 00:24:37,280Well, we’d love to send you a copy50900:24:37,280 –> 00:24:39,819of Pastor Colin’s book, Fly Through The Bible,51000:24:39,819 –> 00:24:42,300if you’re able to set up a new direct debit51100:24:42,300 –> 00:24:43,959to the work of Open the Bible51200:24:43,959 –> 00:24:45,599for five pounds per month,51300:24:45,599 –> 00:24:49,540or more or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more this month.51400:24:49,540 –> 00:24:51,260Don’t forget to leave your address51500:24:51,260 –> 00:24:53,819so that we can send you your free gift.51600:24:53,819 –> 00:24:55,959You can find full terms and conditions51700:24:56,479 –> 00:24:58,420as well as the original book51800:24:58,420 –> 00:25:01,079and you can give online at our website,51900:25:01,079 –> 00:25:04,479openthebible.org.uk.52000:25:04,479 –> 00:25:06,680For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,52100:25:06,680 –> 00:25:09,219I’m David Pick and we’ll see you next time.52200:25:14,599 –> 00:25:18,359You’ll never get serious about pursuing contentment52300:25:18,359 –> 00:25:20,079until you see this.52400:25:20,079 –> 00:25:23,319Find out what it is next time on Open the Bible.