From Trying to Trusting , Part 2

Psalm 132
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Today, in Psalm 132, Pastor Colin reminds us that being justified by God’s grace releases us from the relentless pursuit of proving ourselves to God and others. It’s about shifting focus from what we aim to do for God to what He has done for us through Christ—a message that brings profound rest and gratitude. Join us as we journey together from trying to trusting, finding rest in God’s promises.

100:00:00,660 –> 00:00:05,400The person who is justified, that is200:00:05,400 –> 00:00:07,820made right with God on the basis of the300:00:07,820 –> 00:00:09,780finished work of Jesus Christ, is400:00:09,780 –> 00:00:12,360liberated because it means you have500:00:12,360 –> 00:00:16,440nothing to prove to God and when you600:00:16,440 –> 00:00:18,139know that you have nothing to prove to700:00:18,139 –> 00:00:21,500God you are set free to do your work800:00:21,500 –> 00:00:26,320with a new spirit of gratitude and out900:00:27,240 –> 00:00:31,000funcmental rest. Welcome to open the1000:00:31,000 –> 00:00:33,160Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David1100:00:33,160 –> 00:00:34,880Pick and Colin some people may not have1200:00:34,880 –> 00:00:36,840fully grasped that idea and1300:00:36,840 –> 00:00:39,259understanding it can be completely1400:00:39,259 –> 00:00:41,520liberating. Yeah and it’s central truth in1500:00:41,520 –> 00:00:43,060the New Testament, it’s also in the Old1600:00:43,060 –> 00:00:45,160Testament as well and we’re in Psalm 1321700:00:45,160 –> 00:00:47,880It’s a marvelous Psalm1800:00:47,880 –> 00:00:51,160that speaks about two promises, one that1900:00:51,160 –> 00:00:53,759David makes to God. David swore an2000:00:53,759 –> 00:00:56,099oath to God he said God here’s what I’m2100:00:56,200 –> 00:00:57,959gonna do for you and guess what? He2200:00:57,959 –> 00:01:00,020wasn’t able to do what he promised. He2300:01:00,020 –> 00:01:02,299didn’t deliver on his promises, just a2400:01:02,299 –> 00:01:04,480matter of history, just didn’t. But2500:01:04,480 –> 00:01:05,800there’s another promise2600:01:05,800 –> 00:01:08,580God swore an oath to David with regards2700:01:08,580 –> 00:01:11,300to David’s greater son God’s Son Jesus2800:01:11,300 –> 00:01:13,940Christ who would be the Savior of all of2900:01:13,940 –> 00:01:16,500us who don’t fulfill our best3000:01:16,500 –> 00:01:18,720intentions let alone fulfill all that3100:01:18,720 –> 00:01:21,480God requires of us in his law. It’s so3200:01:21,480 –> 00:01:23,580marvelous that we’re not resting on our3300:01:23,580 –> 00:01:25,599promises to God, we’re resting on God’s3400:01:25,599 –> 00:01:28,000promises to us. That is a liberating3500:01:28,000 –> 00:01:31,199idea. So join us if you can in Psalm 1323600:01:31,199 –> 00:01:33,639as we continue the message from trying3700:01:33,639 –> 00:01:36,699to trusting. Here is Colin. Most of us set3800:01:36,699 –> 00:01:39,180out on life with a dream of what we want3900:01:39,180 –> 00:01:43,959to accomplish. That’s a good thing. You4000:01:43,959 –> 00:01:46,839have a dream about marriage. You have a4100:01:46,839 –> 00:01:48,800dream about family. You have a dream about4200:01:48,800 –> 00:01:50,500how it will be with your children. You4300:01:50,500 –> 00:01:52,660have a dream of your career, of travel,4400:01:52,660 –> 00:01:54,620of financial independence. You have a4500:01:54,620 –> 00:01:58,239dream of creating something. You have a4600:01:58,239 –> 00:01:59,680dream of building a business. You have a4700:01:59,680 –> 00:02:01,239dream of having an impact for Christ.4800:02:01,239 –> 00:02:03,480You have a dream of touching the life of4900:02:03,480 –> 00:02:05,680some person who is in desperate need and5000:02:05,680 –> 00:02:08,179pouring yourself into changing their5100:02:08,179 –> 00:02:14,279experience. But in every life, there comes5200:02:14,279 –> 00:02:18,960a moment where we realize that you will5300:02:18,960 –> 00:02:22,179not achieve everything that you want to5400:02:22,440 –> 00:02:27,639accomplish. Now I have a name for this. We5500:02:27,639 –> 00:02:35,199call it the midlife crisis, right?5600:02:35,199 –> 00:02:39,559Actually, all the midlife crisis is the5700:02:39,559 –> 00:02:44,600first intimation of our mortality. It’s5800:02:44,600 –> 00:02:47,639the first sneaking suspicion that I may5900:02:47,639 –> 00:02:51,119not fulfill all of my dreams after all. I6000:02:51,119 –> 00:02:53,660may not become everything that I’d hoped6100:02:53,660 –> 00:02:57,300after all. That I may run out of time,6200:02:57,300 –> 00:02:59,899that I may run out of opportunity, that I6300:02:59,899 –> 00:03:04,679may run out of resource. And that for all6400:03:04,679 –> 00:03:06,080that I may achieve and become and6500:03:06,080 –> 00:03:09,399accomplish, it’s not going to be6600:03:09,399 –> 00:03:15,899everything that’s there in the dream. The6700:03:15,899 –> 00:03:18,500projects that you were not able to6800:03:18,500 –> 00:03:20,839accomplish. The relationship that did not6900:03:20,979 –> 00:03:23,179work out as you had hoped. The children7000:03:23,179 –> 00:03:25,179who are not following in the path you7100:03:25,179 –> 00:03:28,220had led them in. The ministry that did7200:03:28,220 –> 00:03:31,679not fulfill its early purpose. The work7300:03:31,679 –> 00:03:33,800into which you poured yourself and then7400:03:33,800 –> 00:03:35,740it turned and moved in a different7500:03:35,740 –> 00:03:41,240direction. And however much you may have7600:03:41,240 –> 00:03:43,860been able to achieve of your initial7700:03:43,860 –> 00:03:47,479vision, there will always be that part7800:03:47,479 –> 00:03:50,419of you that will say I would have liked7900:03:50,419 –> 00:03:54,300to have… and then you’ll complete that8000:03:54,300 –> 00:03:56,580sentence. For David it would have been you8100:03:56,580 –> 00:03:59,580know for all that God enabled me to do I8200:03:59,580 –> 00:04:00,860really would have liked to have built8300:04:00,860 –> 00:04:05,139the temple. I really would. I really would.8400:04:05,979 –> 00:04:11,399Thinking about David’s vow, it made me8500:04:11,399 –> 00:04:14,940think about my vows again.8600:04:15,500 –> 00:04:18,380Vows are a wonderful thing when you make8700:04:18,380 –> 00:04:21,220them you identify the central navigating8800:04:21,220 –> 00:04:24,299points of your life. You should only ever8900:04:24,299 –> 00:04:27,380have a few. You sure need to remember9000:04:27,380 –> 00:04:31,880what they are. I’ve only made four vows9100:04:31,880 –> 00:04:34,940I don’t expect to make any others. I’ll9200:04:34,940 –> 00:04:37,059give you them in the chronological order9300:04:37,059 –> 00:04:41,239in which they were made in my life. The9400:04:41,239 –> 00:04:45,059first was a vow to follow Christ. I made9500:04:45,059 –> 00:04:49,579that on the day that I was baptized. The9600:04:49,579 –> 00:04:53,059second was a vow of love and of loyalty9700:04:53,059 –> 00:04:56,420to Carne, made on the day that we were9800:04:56,420 –> 00:05:01,779married. The third was a vow to be9900:05:01,779 –> 00:05:04,679faithful to the Scriptures, made on the10000:05:04,679 –> 00:05:09,000day that I was ordained as a pastor. The10100:05:09,000 –> 00:05:10,820fourth was made on two occasions and10200:05:10,820 –> 00:05:13,700that was a vow to raise our children10300:05:13,820 –> 00:05:16,640Andrew and David in the ways of Christ10400:05:16,640 –> 00:05:19,079made of course on the occasions when10500:05:19,079 –> 00:05:23,040our two boys were dedicated. Now these10600:05:23,040 –> 00:05:25,920four vows are very simply the sacred10700:05:25,920 –> 00:05:30,839navigating points of my life. They define10800:05:30,839 –> 00:05:36,600who I am. I’m a Christian. I’m a husband.10900:05:36,600 –> 00:05:43,440I’m a father. And I’m a pastor. Four vows.11000:05:44,239 –> 00:05:49,260I’ve got to tell you I am still working11100:05:49,260 –> 00:05:50,839on every one of them.11200:05:50,839 –> 00:05:54,959I’m still working on being a better11300:05:54,959 –> 00:05:59,320Christian. I’m still working on being a11400:05:59,320 –> 00:06:03,040better husband. I’m still working on11500:06:03,040 –> 00:06:06,399being a better father. And I’m still11600:06:06,399 –> 00:06:11,279working on being a better pastor.11700:06:11,279 –> 00:06:14,239And the truth is that these things will11800:06:14,239 –> 00:06:19,440never be complete. I will never come to a11900:06:19,440 –> 00:06:22,899point where I have done everything that12000:06:22,899 –> 00:06:25,359I wanted to do, I will never come to a12100:06:25,359 –> 00:06:28,019point where I have become everything12200:06:28,019 –> 00:06:33,519that I wanted to be. And so the question12300:06:33,519 –> 00:06:37,459is, how can I find rest?12400:06:37,459 –> 00:06:41,540See that’s the problem for David isn’t it?12500:06:41,540 –> 00:06:43,660Look back at verses 3 & 4 again.12600:06:43,660 –> 00:06:46,359Look at his vow. I will not enter my12700:06:46,359 –> 00:06:49,519house or go to my bed I will not allow12800:06:49,519 –> 00:06:51,440sleep to my eyes nor slumber to my12900:06:51,440 –> 00:06:55,420eyelids till I find a place for the Lord13000:06:55,420 –> 00:06:58,380a dwelling for the mighty one of Jacob13100:06:58,380 –> 00:07:00,359that’s until I’ve built the temple to13200:07:00,359 –> 00:07:01,720house the Ark. That’s what he’s referring13300:07:01,720 –> 00:07:04,720to. Well, that’s not a lot of sleep is it?13400:07:04,880 –> 00:07:08,420Considered you never got it done.13500:07:09,519 –> 00:07:11,660See you can’t get a much stronger13600:07:11,660 –> 00:07:16,380commitment than David’s. Obviously, he’s13700:07:16,399 –> 00:07:18,519not saying to us that he never slept for13800:07:18,519 –> 00:07:20,899the rest of his life. What he’s saying is13900:07:20,899 –> 00:07:23,700that he poured himself into his life’s14000:07:23,700 –> 00:07:27,399work. Here is a man who is driving14100:07:27,399 –> 00:07:30,420relentlessly after the pursuit of his14200:07:30,420 –> 00:07:34,140vision. He’s made a marvellous promise14300:07:34,140 –> 00:07:36,540and he says I can’t ever give up on it.14400:07:36,540 –> 00:07:38,760I’m pursuing it with everything that is14500:07:38,760 –> 00:07:43,579within me. The question of course is how14600:07:43,579 –> 00:07:47,700then do we avoid destroying ourselves in14700:07:47,700 –> 00:07:50,519the relentless pursuit of what we can14800:07:50,519 –> 00:07:54,839never ultimately achieve. And isn’t that14900:07:54,839 –> 00:07:57,779the story of so many lives? The15000:07:57,779 –> 00:08:02,940driven-ness of trying to achieve15100:08:03,040 –> 00:08:05,399something you can never quite complete,15200:08:05,399 –> 00:08:10,040the relentless-ness of trying to15300:08:10,040 –> 00:08:12,079become something that is just beyond15400:08:12,079 –> 00:08:16,760your grasp. You experience that?15500:08:16,760 –> 00:08:19,000You’re listening to Open the Bible with15600:08:19,000 –> 00:08:20,140pastor Colin Smith and a message called15700:08:20,140 –> 00:08:22,679From Trying to Trusting part of our15800:08:22,679 –> 00:08:24,559series moving in the right direction15900:08:24,559 –> 00:08:27,040based on the psalms of ascents psalms16000:08:27,040 –> 00:08:30,040120 to 134. If you’ve missed16100:08:30,040 –> 00:08:31,980any of the series so far or if you want16200:08:31,980 –> 00:08:34,020to go back to listen again, you can do16300:08:34,020 –> 00:08:35,859that by come on line to our website16400:08:35,859 –> 00:08:40,179openthebible.org.uk. Back to the16500:08:40,179 –> 00:08:43,020message now, we’re in psalm 132, here16600:08:43,020 –> 00:08:45,380again is Colin. So now let’s look at the16700:08:45,380 –> 00:08:48,119second half of the psalm because if the16800:08:48,119 –> 00:08:50,179first half raises the question as surely16900:08:50,179 –> 00:08:52,780as it does the second half brings us17000:08:52,780 –> 00:08:56,380to the answer. We’ve looked at David’s17100:08:56,380 –> 00:08:59,099wonderful promise to God though he was17200:08:59,099 –> 00:09:01,280never quite able to fulfill all of it.17300:09:01,280 –> 00:09:04,179Let’s look now at God’s promise to David.17400:09:04,179 –> 00:09:07,520Notice the parallel verse 2, David swore17500:09:07,520 –> 00:09:10,820an oath to the Lord verse 11 the Lord17600:09:10,820 –> 00:09:12,760swore an oath to David. You can see that17700:09:12,760 –> 00:09:15,119that’s quite clearly the central thrust17800:09:15,119 –> 00:09:19,539of the psalm, verse 2 and verse 11. Now17900:09:19,539 –> 00:09:22,500you see what’s happening here, God turned18000:09:22,500 –> 00:09:28,619the tables on David. David, you are living18100:09:28,619 –> 00:09:32,700on what you are trying to do for me.18200:09:32,700 –> 00:09:37,400That’s your whole life. Let me now shift18300:09:37,400 –> 00:09:40,179the focus and talk to you David about18400:09:40,179 –> 00:09:47,260what I will do for you. Now Solomon is18500:09:47,260 –> 00:09:48,760referring here of course to the18600:09:48,760 –> 00:09:51,859marvelous promise that God gave to David18700:09:51,859 –> 00:09:53,739which is recorded in second Samuel in18800:09:53,739 –> 00:09:55,739chapter 7, of you to pick out one18900:09:55,739 –> 00:09:57,619promise that God made to David, this is19000:09:57,619 –> 00:10:01,340it. The Davidic promise and it’s worth19100:10:01,340 –> 00:10:03,960knowing 2nd Samuel 7 verses 13 and 1419200:10:03,960 –> 00:10:06,340when David is talking about what he’s19300:10:06,340 –> 00:10:08,539going to do for God, God then comes back19400:10:08,539 –> 00:10:10,599and speaks about a descendant of David19500:10:10,599 –> 00:10:14,559and he says this, he is the one who will19600:10:14,559 –> 00:10:18,159build a house for my name and I will19700:10:18,159 –> 00:10:21,780establish his Kingdom forever. I will be19800:10:21,780 –> 00:10:25,960his father and he will be my son. This is19900:10:25,960 –> 00:10:28,159God’s promise to David that is being20000:10:28,159 –> 00:10:32,679referred to here in Psalm 132. Now it’s20100:10:32,679 –> 00:10:34,380an amazing promise. I think it must have20200:10:34,380 –> 00:10:36,119left David scratching his head in20300:10:36,119 –> 00:10:42,260confusion. Lord what did you say? How can20400:10:42,260 –> 00:10:46,359any king reign forever? Every man has his20500:10:46,359 –> 00:10:51,020life and then he dies. How can any son of20600:10:51,020 –> 00:10:56,039mine reign forever? And more than that20700:10:56,039 –> 00:10:58,640Lord, what can you possibly mean when you20800:10:58,640 –> 00:11:01,219say of my son that you will be his20900:11:01,219 –> 00:11:04,419father and he will be your son? How can21000:11:04,419 –> 00:11:08,380any son of mine be a son of God? I21100:11:08,380 –> 00:11:11,299suppose for a moment that David had a21200:11:11,299 –> 00:11:12,820clue as to how to answer these questions21300:11:12,820 –> 00:11:17,359but the one thing that must have been21400:11:17,359 –> 00:11:19,599clear to him was that the hope for the21500:11:19,599 –> 00:11:22,659future lay not in what he hoped to do21600:11:22,659 –> 00:11:26,859for God but in what God was promising he21700:11:26,859 –> 00:11:31,380would one day do for David. Now looking21800:11:31,380 –> 00:11:34,179back of course we can see how all of21900:11:34,179 –> 00:11:36,460this immediately points us to the Lord22000:11:36,460 –> 00:11:39,080Jesus Christ who was born into the line22100:11:39,080 –> 00:11:44,940of David born of the Virgin Mary and he22200:11:44,940 –> 00:11:47,440is the King who reigns forever and ever22300:11:47,640 –> 00:11:50,000and he is not only the son of David the22400:11:50,000 –> 00:11:55,640son of man but he is the Son of God.22500:11:56,140 –> 00:11:57,960Now I want you to notice then the22600:11:57,960 –> 00:12:00,039contrast that there is between David’s22700:12:00,039 –> 00:12:01,719promise to God and God’s promise to22800:12:01,719 –> 00:12:06,479David. David’s promise to God leaves you22900:12:06,479 –> 00:12:09,979exhausted. Look at it. I’m not gonna23000:12:09,979 –> 00:12:13,440sleep till I’ve done all this stuff.23100:12:13,440 –> 00:12:16,080Look at God’s promise to David in verse23200:12:16,080 –> 00:12:21,00014 where it ends up God says this is My23300:12:21,000 –> 00:12:23,940resting place for ever and ever here I23400:12:23,940 –> 00:12:28,460sit enthroned or I have desired it.23500:12:28,460 –> 00:12:31,719There’s a drivenness, a relentlessness23600:12:31,719 –> 00:12:38,359in David’s promise to God there’s a rest23700:12:38,359 –> 00:12:42,700that is at the very heart of God’s23800:12:42,840 –> 00:12:46,159promise to David. The reason for this is23900:12:46,159 –> 00:12:48,419very simple and very obvious – that what24000:12:48,419 –> 00:12:52,880David wants to do for God is never done.24100:12:52,880 –> 00:12:56,059What God has promised to do for David24200:12:56,059 –> 00:13:00,020and for you and for me is complete in24300:13:00,020 –> 00:13:03,599Jesus Christ. He uniquely in all human24400:13:03,599 –> 00:13:05,559history is the one who was able to say24500:13:05,559 –> 00:13:11,859from the cross, it is finished. God is not24600:13:11,859 –> 00:13:14,679up there in heaven trying to scratch his24700:13:14,679 –> 00:13:16,840head as it were to figure out a way as24800:13:16,840 –> 00:13:19,020to how to save you.24900:13:19,020 –> 00:13:22,059He’s already done it in the cross of25000:13:22,059 –> 00:13:25,539Jesus Christ. That is why Christ is25100:13:25,539 –> 00:13:27,979ascended and seated in heaven, because25200:13:27,979 –> 00:13:30,179nothing more needs to be added to what25300:13:30,179 –> 00:13:35,179he has already done. No one has put this25400:13:35,179 –> 00:13:38,260better than Jonathan Edwards, great25500:13:38,260 –> 00:13:41,780American preacher. He talks about the25600:13:41,780 –> 00:13:43,780animal sacrifices of the Old Testament25700:13:43,780 –> 00:13:46,500and how they didn’t really contribute25800:13:46,500 –> 00:13:49,700anything to purchasing our salvation but25900:13:49,700 –> 00:13:52,119merely foreshadowed what God would do26000:13:52,119 –> 00:13:54,580definitively, decisively and finally in26100:13:54,580 –> 00:13:58,659Jesus Christ. And then he says this,26200:13:58,659 –> 00:14:02,700as soon as Christ was incarnate, the26300:14:02,700 –> 00:14:06,539purchase began and the whole time of26400:14:06,539 –> 00:14:08,940Christ’s humiliation until the morning he26500:14:08,940 –> 00:14:11,260rose from the dead was taken up in this26600:14:11,260 –> 00:14:15,419purchase. Then the purchase was entirely26700:14:15,419 –> 00:14:19,340and completely finished. As nothing was26800:14:19,340 –> 00:14:21,539done before Christ’s incarnation so26900:14:21,539 –> 00:14:23,179nothing was done after his resurrection27000:14:23,179 –> 00:14:26,659to purchase redemption for men nor will27100:14:26,659 –> 00:14:29,780there ever be anything more done to all27200:14:29,780 –> 00:14:35,020eternity. Boy doesn’t your heart say amen27300:14:35,020 –> 00:14:39,719to that. What God has done for you in27400:14:39,739 –> 00:14:42,840Christ is not a work in process. It is27500:14:42,840 –> 00:14:45,479done, it is accomplished. There is27600:14:45,479 –> 00:14:47,320nothing that needs to be added to the27700:14:47,320 –> 00:14:49,000death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ27800:14:49,000 –> 00:14:51,539to bring his people fully, finally,27900:14:51,539 –> 00:14:57,200completely triumphantly to glory. Now28000:14:57,200 –> 00:14:58,760when you read this psalm in the light28100:14:58,760 –> 00:15:01,479of Jesus the whole thing takes on a new28200:15:01,479 –> 00:15:05,780depth of meaning. Think about the ark.28300:15:05,820 –> 00:15:09,599Think about it being given into the28400:15:09,599 –> 00:15:13,580hands of enemies and then placed in the28500:15:13,580 –> 00:15:20,400darkness of Dagen’s Temple. Now think of28600:15:20,400 –> 00:15:23,059Jesus being given into the hands of his28700:15:23,059 –> 00:15:27,979enemies and nailed to a cross.28800:15:28,179 –> 00:15:30,219Think of how even in the darkness of28900:15:30,219 –> 00:15:32,739Dagen’s Temple the power of God overcame29000:15:32,739 –> 00:15:35,460the dark powers of evil forces and think29100:15:35,460 –> 00:15:37,140of how the New Testament tells us that29200:15:37,140 –> 00:15:40,460even on the cross he defeated and broke29300:15:40,460 –> 00:15:44,380the powers of evil. Think of that Ark, the29400:15:44,380 –> 00:15:47,239place of meeting between man and God in29500:15:47,239 –> 00:15:49,700the Old Testament being trundled off and29600:15:49,700 –> 00:15:53,679then left in some no place forgotten and29700:15:53,679 –> 00:15:59,099lying in silence. And think of Jesus, his29800:15:59,099 –> 00:16:01,619body being taken from the cross and laid29900:16:02,340 –> 00:16:08,260in a rich man’s tomb. But then the day30000:16:08,260 –> 00:16:10,700comes for Jesus in which the words of30100:16:10,700 –> 00:16:13,700Psalm 132 and verse 8 sound out from30200:16:13,700 –> 00:16:18,659heaven. Arise, O LORD, and come to your30300:16:18,659 –> 00:16:22,159resting place. And on the third day he30400:16:22,159 –> 00:16:24,679rises from the dead he ascends into30500:16:24,679 –> 00:16:28,179heaven. But he takes his power and he30600:16:28,179 –> 00:16:30,280reigns and He is able to say in the30700:16:30,280 –> 00:16:33,539words of Verse 14 here this heaven is my30800:16:33,539 –> 00:16:36,340resting place forever and forever. Here30900:16:36,340 –> 00:16:39,979I sit in throne for I have desired. And31000:16:39,979 –> 00:16:43,260you see from heaven this Lord Jesus31100:16:43,260 –> 00:16:45,979Christ is able to answer the Prayer of31200:16:45,979 –> 00:16:48,280David. Look at verse 9 and see what31300:16:48,280 –> 00:16:51,219David longs for. May your priests be31400:16:51,219 –> 00:16:53,460clothed with righteousness and your31500:16:53,460 –> 00:16:55,719saint sing for joy. And the answer to31600:16:55,719 –> 00:16:58,140that comes in Verse 16 where Christ says31700:16:58,299 –> 00:17:01,400I will clothe her priests with 살�vation31800:17:01,400 –> 00:17:04,199and her saints with everlasting joy. And31900:17:04,199 –> 00:17:06,819it is from Christ that comes the32000:17:06,819 –> 00:17:09,959strength of the horn at the end of the32100:17:09,959 –> 00:17:12,219psalm and the light of hope and the32200:17:12,219 –> 00:17:17,280crown of glory. Now that’s the Psalm32300:17:17,280 –> 00:17:19,479it’s a wonderful one.32400:17:19,479 –> 00:17:23,959David’s promise to God. God’s promise to32500:17:23,959 –> 00:17:26,900David what does it mean for us?32600:17:29,640 –> 00:17:33,680Very simply. if you’re looking to find32700:17:33,680 –> 00:17:36,939rest through what you’re trying to do32800:17:36,939 –> 00:17:39,719for God, you will never be finished.32900:17:39,719 –> 00:17:46,699You’ll never get there and it seems to33000:17:46,699 –> 00:17:48,400me that that is the root of many of our33100:17:48,400 –> 00:17:53,239struggles. You want to do something great33200:17:54,160 –> 00:17:58,060you are relentless in your pursuit of it33300:17:58,060 –> 00:18:05,839but somehow it’s never done and God33400:18:05,839 –> 00:18:08,119through his word and by his Holy Spirit33500:18:08,119 –> 00:18:11,699graciously wants to turn the tables on33600:18:11,699 –> 00:18:14,739you today just like he turned the tables33700:18:14,739 –> 00:18:17,359on David.33800:18:17,359 –> 00:18:19,680And he comes to you in the gospel and he33900:18:19,680 –> 00:18:23,199would say to you today, look you’re so34000:18:23,239 –> 00:18:26,939consumed with what you want to do for me34100:18:26,939 –> 00:18:31,780let’s shift the focus. Take a look at34200:18:31,780 –> 00:18:37,000what I have done for you. I have sent my34300:18:37,000 –> 00:18:41,439Son into the world for you. He went to a34400:18:41,439 –> 00:18:46,800cross for you. He rose from the dead for34500:18:46,800 –> 00:18:51,439you, he has ascended into heaven for you.34600:18:51,900 –> 00:18:56,680He is the one who will clothe you with a34700:18:56,680 –> 00:19:00,020perfect righteousness that you cannot34800:19:00,020 –> 00:19:04,920manufacture for yourself. He is the one34900:19:04,920 –> 00:19:07,040who will be the source of your joy, your35000:19:07,040 –> 00:19:09,959song, that will not come as a result of35100:19:09,959 –> 00:19:12,280what you have achieved for him, but will35200:19:12,280 –> 00:19:14,979come as a response to what he has done35300:19:14,979 –> 00:19:20,260for you. See this is why Jesus said in35400:19:20,260 –> 00:19:24,140the gospels, come to me, all you who are35500:19:24,140 –> 00:19:26,400weary, you who are burdened, you who are35600:19:26,400 –> 00:19:30,400heavy laden, come to me and I will give35700:19:30,400 –> 00:19:36,599you rest, there is no rest in your35800:19:36,599 –> 00:19:42,619promise to God. Rest is found in God’s35900:19:42,619 –> 00:19:47,000promise to you. Do you know the Bible has36000:19:47,000 –> 00:19:52,819a phrase for this? It’s called36100:19:53,020 –> 00:19:58,160Justification by Faith, which simply means36200:19:58,160 –> 00:20:01,640that I find rest not in what I am trying36300:20:01,640 –> 00:20:04,560to do for God but in what He has done36400:20:04,560 –> 00:20:09,020through Jesus Christ for me. And a person36500:20:09,020 –> 00:20:11,160who is justified that is made right with36600:20:11,160 –> 00:20:13,500God on the basis of the finished work of36700:20:13,500 –> 00:20:16,160Jesus Christ is liberated because it36800:20:16,160 –> 00:20:19,420means you have nothing to prove to God36900:20:19,420 –> 00:20:22,420and therefore nothing to prove to37000:20:22,420 –> 00:20:26,000yourself or to anyone else either. And37100:20:26,000 –> 00:20:28,400when you know that you have nothing to37200:20:28,400 –> 00:20:32,219prove to God you are set free to do your37300:20:32,219 –> 00:20:35,839work with a new spirit of gratitude and37400:20:35,839 –> 00:20:43,560out of a fundamental Rest and you know37500:20:43,819 –> 00:20:47,520about this? David’s been in the presence37600:20:47,520 –> 00:20:49,319of Jesus for about two thousand years37700:20:49,319 –> 00:20:54,099now right? And I don’t think that David37800:20:54,099 –> 00:20:56,579is up there saying you know I had a37900:20:56,579 –> 00:21:00,079good life I just wish I’d managed to38000:21:00,079 –> 00:21:02,140build that temple, I don’t think he’s38100:21:02,140 –> 00:21:06,839saying that do you? I think he’s clothed38200:21:06,839 –> 00:21:11,079in righteousness. I think he’s among the38300:21:11,079 –> 00:21:12,520Saints singing the song of everlasting38400:21:12,920 –> 00:21:18,859joy. And whatever the disappointments of38500:21:18,859 –> 00:21:24,660your life, if you are in Jesus Christ by38600:21:24,660 –> 00:21:27,780faith that will be the ultimate outcome38700:21:27,780 –> 00:21:29,140for you.38800:21:33,219 –> 00:21:37,479So here’s the question, are you trying to38900:21:37,479 –> 00:21:41,459find rest from what you’re doing for God?39000:21:41,780 –> 00:21:46,760Or are you finding rest in what he has39100:21:46,760 –> 00:21:49,920done for you? It’s a challenging question39200:21:49,920 –> 00:21:53,819both to ask and to answer honestly, are39300:21:53,819 –> 00:21:55,880you trying to find rest from what you’re39400:21:55,880 –> 00:21:58,979doing for God, or are you finding rest in39500:21:58,979 –> 00:22:02,040what he’s done for you? Listening to39600:22:02,040 –> 00:22:04,020Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith39700:22:04,020 –> 00:22:05,939and a message called From Trying to39800:22:05,939 –> 00:22:08,760Trusting, part of our series Moving in39900:22:08,800 –> 00:22:11,359the Right Direction. And if you’ve missed40000:22:11,359 –> 00:22:13,939any of the series so far, you can always40100:22:13,939 –> 00:22:15,599catch up or go back and listen again40200:22:15,599 –> 00:22:20,760online at our website, openthebible.org.uk40300:22:20,959 –> 00:22:22,380Or why not try the podcast40400:22:22,380 –> 00:22:24,479version. On all the main podcast sites40500:22:24,479 –> 00:22:28,219search for open the Bible UK. Open The40600:22:28,219 –> 00:22:30,319Bible is able to stay on the radio and40700:22:30,319 –> 00:22:32,420on the Internet because of the very40800:22:32,420 –> 00:22:34,979generous donations made by our listeners.40900:22:35,000 –> 00:22:37,400So if you already give to support Open41000:22:37,479 –> 00:22:40,040The Bible, thank you so much. If that’s41100:22:40,040 –> 00:22:41,420something that you’ve been considering41200:22:41,420 –> 00:22:44,060doing in the future, each month we aim to41300:22:44,060 –> 00:22:46,739offer a special gift in return for41400:22:46,739 –> 00:22:49,040setting up a new support payment for41500:22:49,040 –> 00:22:51,199Open The Bible. If you’re able to set up41600:22:51,199 –> 00:22:53,359a new monthly direct debit of five41700:22:53,359 –> 00:22:56,359pounds per month or more or a one-off41800:22:56,359 –> 00:22:58,900gift of 50 pounds or more, we’d love to41900:22:58,900 –> 00:23:01,160say thank you by sending you a copy of42000:23:01,160 –> 00:23:04,140Colin Smith’s book Fly Through The Bible42100:23:04,140 –> 00:23:06,760Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham42200:23:07,520 –> 00:23:09,540to talk about the book and also about42300:23:09,540 –> 00:23:11,900some other exciting resources which are42400:23:11,900 –> 00:23:13,479free for everyone to receive.42500:23:13,479 –> 00:23:15,280Thanks David. Well if you’ve been42600:23:15,280 –> 00:23:16,920listening for a while you’ll know that42700:23:16,920 –> 00:23:19,420we love to give away a free book each42800:23:19,420 –> 00:23:22,000month when you donate. Either a one-off42900:23:22,000 –> 00:23:24,959gift of £50 or more or by setting up a43000:23:24,959 –> 00:23:27,459new direct debit of at least £5. But43100:23:27,459 –> 00:23:29,800this July and August, we’re doing43200:23:29,800 –> 00:23:32,260something extra special. We’ve launched43300:23:32,260 –> 00:23:34,800a campaign full of free resources to43400:23:35,040 –> 00:23:37,839open the Bible with others because we43500:23:37,839 –> 00:23:40,060know that can be hard and we want to43600:23:40,060 –> 00:23:43,180equip you. So yes, you’ll still get a free43700:23:43,180 –> 00:23:45,020copy of Fly Through the Bible when you43800:23:45,020 –> 00:23:48,579donate. But anyone can now access a whole43900:23:48,579 –> 00:23:51,939set of free tools. We’ve got a video44000:23:51,939 –> 00:23:54,560series where Colin Smith walks through44100:23:54,560 –> 00:23:56,520each section of the Fly Through the44200:23:56,520 –> 00:23:59,160Bible course on our website. There’s a44300:23:59,160 –> 00:24:01,599free app. Just search Fly Through the44400:24:01,599 –> 00:24:04,040Bible in your App Store. And if you’re a44500:24:04,060 –> 00:24:06,119church leader thinking ahead September44600:24:06,119 –> 00:24:09,579head to openthebible.org.uk44700:24:09,579 –> 00:24:13,040forward slash fly and download our free44800:24:13,040 –> 00:24:15,880small group discussion guide. We really44900:24:15,880 –> 00:24:16,280pray45000:24:16,280 –> 00:24:18,280these resources bless you and those45100:24:18,359 –> 00:24:20,199around you as you open the Bible45200:24:20,199 –> 00:24:23,000together. And what better place to start45300:24:23,000 –> 00:24:25,780than a journey through the Bible story.45400:24:25,780 –> 00:24:28,619Thanks Amanda. You can access these free45500:24:28,619 –> 00:24:30,719resources at our website45600:24:30,719 –> 00:24:33,760openthebible.org.uk and you can45700:24:33,780 –> 00:24:36,579download the fly app at the apple app45800:24:36,579 –> 00:24:39,780store or google play. Our offer to send45900:24:39,780 –> 00:24:41,920you a copy of Colin’s book, fly through46000:24:41,920 –> 00:24:44,780the Bible, is available all this month. If46100:24:44,780 –> 00:24:46,640you would like to receive this free gift46200:24:46,640 –> 00:24:49,260select the monthly giveaway under46300:24:49,260 –> 00:24:52,060project fund and please do not give46400:24:52,060 –> 00:24:54,439anonymously as we can only send a book46500:24:54,439 –> 00:24:57,099if we have your address details. Full46600:24:57,099 –> 00:24:59,339details terms and conditions are on our46700:24:59,339 –> 00:24:59,760website46800:24:59,760 –> 00:25:03,180openthebible.org.uk46900:25:03,219 –> 00:25:05,660you can give online for open the Bible47000:25:05,660 –> 00:25:08,619Pastor Colin Smith I’m David pick and I47100:25:08,619 –> 00:25:12,260hope you’ll join us again next time47200:25:14,319 –> 00:25:16,619do you ever feel like you’re running47300:25:16,619 –> 00:25:18,660out of energy in your spiritual journey47400:25:18,660 –> 00:25:21,839what can you do to keep moving forward47500:25:21,859 –> 00:25:24,300discover how to keep your eyes on the47600:25:24,300 –> 00:25:28,439prize next time on Open the Bible

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Sermons on Psalms 120–134 You may be on the move… but are you moving in the right direction? The Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) were sung by Old Testament believers making their way to Jerusalem, where God had promised to meet with His people. They are filled with spiritual wisdom for your journey through life.

Colin Smith

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