100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:08,680If the joy of the beginning is a long way behind you,200:00:08,680 –> 00:00:10,880and the release of the ending300:00:10,880 –> 00:00:14,200is a long way in front of you,400:00:14,200 –> 00:00:17,280how do you navigate the difficulties500:00:17,280 –> 00:00:20,360of continuing in the middle?600:00:20,360 –> 00:00:21,639Welcome to Open the Bible700:00:21,639 –> 00:00:22,840with Pastor Colin Smith.800:00:22,840 –> 00:00:24,240I’m David Pick,900:00:24,240 –> 00:00:26,200and Colin, there are probably many Christians1000:00:26,200 –> 00:00:27,959asking that kind of question.1100:00:27,959 –> 00:00:29,840The excitement of becoming a Christian1200:00:29,840 –> 00:00:31,400is some way behind,1300:00:31,400 –> 00:00:34,040and I hope to go on living for a while longer.1400:00:34,040 –> 00:00:37,320How do I keep my faith strong and growing?1500:00:37,320 –> 00:00:38,880That is exactly the issue1600:00:38,880 –> 00:00:41,480that we’re looking at in the Scriptures today,1700:00:41,480 –> 00:00:43,160and it’s a really important issue.1800:00:43,160 –> 00:00:45,720I was very struck once by a reading from Lloyd-Jones.1900:00:45,720 –> 00:00:46,560He said, you know,2000:00:46,560 –> 00:00:50,000the middle season of life is actually the hardest.2100:00:50,000 –> 00:00:52,480That youth has certain compensations,2200:00:52,480 –> 00:00:56,360advantages, old ages certain compensations that come.2300:00:56,439 –> 00:01:00,060But enduring persevering in the middle stretch2400:01:00,060 –> 00:01:03,639can be the most challenging part of a person’s life,2500:01:03,639 –> 00:01:05,680and that’s why this series that we’re in,2600:01:05,680 –> 00:01:07,059I think, is so helpful.2700:01:07,059 –> 00:01:11,000It’s a series of Psalms called The Psalms of Ascent2800:01:11,000 –> 00:01:14,360or The Songs of Ascent that follow the course of a journey2900:01:14,360 –> 00:01:16,440that had a beginning and a middle and an end,3000:01:16,440 –> 00:01:18,320and we’re right in the middle,3100:01:18,320 –> 00:01:20,559and so what we’re gonna learn from the Scriptures today3200:01:20,559 –> 00:01:22,480is how do you persevere in the middle3300:01:22,480 –> 00:01:24,360when you’re just in the thick of it,3400:01:24,800 –> 00:01:26,400and as you said, you’re not at the beginning.3500:01:26,400 –> 00:01:27,720You’re not at the end.3600:01:27,720 –> 00:01:30,279You just gotta keep pressing forward where you are now.3700:01:30,279 –> 00:01:31,680Well, that’s where we are today.3800:01:31,680 –> 00:01:35,099We’re in Psalm 125 and 1263900:01:35,099 –> 00:01:38,599as we continue our message from weeping to rejoicing.4000:01:38,599 –> 00:01:39,839Here’s Colin.4100:01:39,839 –> 00:01:42,760How do you navigate the problems4200:01:42,760 –> 00:01:46,080of continuing in a dry marriage,4300:01:47,839 –> 00:01:49,820in raising a son or a daughter4400:01:49,820 –> 00:01:52,519who once was welcomed with all this hoopla as a baby4500:01:53,360 –> 00:01:56,639and now is a source of conflict, anxiety in the home?4600:02:02,300 –> 00:02:04,139How do you sustain a ministry4700:02:06,260 –> 00:02:09,300when it’s so tough you really feel like you’d want to quit?4800:02:11,479 –> 00:02:13,740Friend of mine told me that recently he caught up4900:02:13,740 –> 00:02:18,740with a 20th reunion of the class that he graduated with5000:02:18,740 –> 00:02:20,779from his particular seminary.5100:02:22,539 –> 00:02:24,059He said of all the people who had gone5200:02:24,059 –> 00:02:28,660into pastoral ministry, 50% had quit within 20 years.5300:02:29,979 –> 00:02:32,940You look at the attrition rate on the mission field,5400:02:32,940 –> 00:02:34,240you find the same pattern.5500:02:35,300 –> 00:02:37,800Over half of all the missionaries sent out5600:02:37,800 –> 00:02:42,119by the church leave their assignment after the first term.5700:02:43,460 –> 00:02:45,899Now, there may be many good reasons for this5800:02:45,899 –> 00:02:49,259and many situations in which that is the right thing to do,5900:02:49,259 –> 00:02:53,580but I’m very sure that one of the factors in this6000:02:53,580 –> 00:02:56,779is that the joys of beginning quickly give way6100:02:56,779 –> 00:02:59,119to the difficulties of continuing.6200:03:01,080 –> 00:03:06,080Three out of every five church plants fail.6300:03:08,160 –> 00:03:10,059I don’t say that suggesting that that’s a reason6400:03:10,059 –> 00:03:11,020not to do it.6500:03:12,300 –> 00:03:13,500It’s a good thing to do,6600:03:14,699 –> 00:03:18,039but why is it that three out of every five6700:03:18,039 –> 00:03:19,979attempted church plants fail?6800:03:22,080 –> 00:03:23,500Well, there are many reasons,6900:03:24,479 –> 00:03:28,199but one of them is that the joys of beginning7000:03:29,839 –> 00:03:32,520are great, the difficulties of continuing7100:03:33,360 –> 00:03:34,679can sometimes be greater.7200:03:35,860 –> 00:03:39,660It is easier to envision something new7300:03:40,559 –> 00:03:42,059than it is to sustain it.7400:03:43,399 –> 00:03:46,839Now, by the way, on a pastoral application here,7500:03:48,279 –> 00:03:50,479that is one of the reasons why we have to be7600:03:50,479 –> 00:03:53,839very careful about living on the adrenaline7700:03:53,839 –> 00:03:56,500of new beginnings, do you know what I mean by that?7800:03:57,419 –> 00:04:01,020It’s easy to develop a pattern of life7900:04:01,020 –> 00:04:03,500in which as soon as you begin to experience8000:04:03,500 –> 00:04:06,139the difficulties of continuing,8100:04:06,139 –> 00:04:10,139you solve the problem by moving to something new.8200:04:11,380 –> 00:04:14,740A new church, a new job, a new ministry,8300:04:14,740 –> 00:04:16,980a new calling, a new relationship,8400:04:16,980 –> 00:04:20,500a new vision, a new approach, a new anything.8500:04:22,720 –> 00:04:24,660There are obviously times when it’s right8600:04:24,660 –> 00:04:25,940to move to something new,8700:04:25,940 –> 00:04:27,980after all these people who sang this song8800:04:27,980 –> 00:04:31,239were the ones who had the vision to leave Babylon8900:04:31,239 –> 00:04:33,339and to venture out to Jerusalem.9000:04:35,859 –> 00:04:38,739But if you and I are going to accomplish9100:04:38,739 –> 00:04:41,579anything of significance in our lives9200:04:42,899 –> 00:04:46,220we need to learn how to continue9300:04:47,679 –> 00:04:49,519to think like that.9400:04:51,440 –> 00:04:53,739Now, think about that as we apply9500:04:53,739 –> 00:04:57,420it again in relation to your Christian life.9600:04:58,760 –> 00:05:03,079See, the Christian life has a marvelous beginning9700:05:04,279 –> 00:05:07,399and it will have a glorious ending9800:05:08,559 –> 00:05:09,760but it can be very difficult9900:05:09,760 –> 00:05:11,720to sustain in the middle, can’t it?10000:05:13,600 –> 00:05:16,899When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion10100:05:17,079 –> 00:05:20,059God helped them to part ways at the beginning.10200:05:21,220 –> 00:05:23,140By the way, I found it very interesting10300:05:23,140 –> 00:05:25,040to discover this week,10400:05:25,040 –> 00:05:29,140that the literal translation of this word dreamed10500:05:29,140 –> 00:05:32,679in verse one, would be comforted.10600:05:34,019 –> 00:05:36,660And I found that interesting10700:05:36,660 –> 00:05:38,200because it reflects the fact10800:05:38,200 –> 00:05:41,140that the original word used in the Psalm10900:05:41,140 –> 00:05:44,359is a form of the word parakaleo11000:05:44,359 –> 00:05:47,100paracleat, which of course was the name11100:05:47,100 –> 00:05:50,279that Jesus gave to the Holy Spirit,11200:05:50,279 –> 00:05:53,880who was to be poured out at Pentecost.11300:05:53,880 –> 00:05:57,540So taking a very literal translation of this verse,11400:05:57,540 –> 00:05:59,600you could render it this way.11500:05:59,600 –> 00:06:04,160When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion,11600:06:04,160 –> 00:06:06,880we were paracleted.11700:06:07,959 –> 00:06:09,880In other words, putting it in the context11800:06:09,880 –> 00:06:11,839of the wider story of scripture.11900:06:11,839 –> 00:06:15,079It was just like Pentecost.12000:06:15,079 –> 00:06:18,359We were so full of joy, we were so full of the Holy Spirit,12100:06:18,359 –> 00:06:21,799we were so full of vision, we felt so empowered.12200:06:23,200 –> 00:06:25,720Even the unbelieving world was looking at us12300:06:25,720 –> 00:06:28,720and saying, well, God’s clearly doing something over there.12400:06:30,559 –> 00:06:32,679But now in verse 4, they’re praying that God12500:06:32,679 –> 00:06:36,000will pour out water on the dry ground12600:06:36,000 –> 00:06:38,559of their lives and their ministries.12700:06:38,559 –> 00:06:39,720Isn’t that interesting?12800:06:40,480 –> 00:06:42,679See, isn’t this always how it is?12900:06:44,239 –> 00:06:48,480The Apostles were paracleted on the day of Pentecost.13000:06:49,839 –> 00:06:52,880Then they have to spend future years of their life13100:06:52,880 –> 00:06:56,079sorting out disputes about things13200:06:56,079 –> 00:06:58,359like meat sacrifice to idols.13300:06:58,359 –> 00:07:00,399I mean, who can get interested in that?13400:07:02,320 –> 00:07:05,920Negotiations at the Jerusalem Council church discipline.13500:07:07,799 –> 00:07:09,079The joy of beginning.13600:07:10,600 –> 00:07:12,760The difficulties of continuing.13700:07:12,760 –> 00:07:16,079Isn’t that how it was in the life and ministry of Jesus?13800:07:17,839 –> 00:07:19,640How does his ministry begin?13900:07:19,640 –> 00:07:21,959He is baptized in the River Jordan14000:07:21,959 –> 00:07:25,119and the Spirit of God descends on Him like a dove.14100:07:25,119 –> 00:07:26,399He’s paracleted.14200:07:28,239 –> 00:07:32,600And the voice of the Father sounds from heaven.14300:07:32,600 –> 00:07:33,839This is My Son.14400:07:35,079 –> 00:07:36,320What happens next?14500:07:36,760 –> 00:07:38,880The Spirit drives Him14600:07:38,880 –> 00:07:42,480into the dry place of the wilderness.14700:07:42,480 –> 00:07:44,799And there He’s hungry, and there He’s thirsty,14800:07:44,799 –> 00:07:46,839and there He is tempted, again,14900:07:46,839 –> 00:07:48,920and again, and again, by the devil.15000:07:51,119 –> 00:07:52,880Then He spends the next three years15100:07:52,880 –> 00:07:54,799seeking to advance His ministry,15200:07:54,799 –> 00:07:56,440surrounded by a group of disciples15300:07:56,440 –> 00:07:59,079into whose lives He pours Himself.15400:07:59,720 –> 00:08:01,480And they find it extremely difficult15500:08:01,480 –> 00:08:03,600even to learn the Mission Statement.15600:08:03,600 –> 00:08:05,720Can’t grasp why He’s here.15700:08:06,440 –> 00:08:08,600Tell Him He shouldn’t be going to the Cross.15800:08:09,200 –> 00:08:11,880He says, do you still not believe?15900:08:12,519 –> 00:08:14,440Do you still not see?16000:08:16,119 –> 00:08:18,279The Son of Man has come to seek and save the lost,16100:08:18,279 –> 00:08:19,399and here’s James and John saying,16200:08:19,399 –> 00:08:20,959shall we call down fire from heaven16300:08:20,959 –> 00:08:22,839and destroy these lost people?16400:08:24,640 –> 00:08:27,640See, the ministry of Jesus, a magnificent beginning,16500:08:27,640 –> 00:08:29,480and of course, in His resurrection,16600:08:29,480 –> 00:08:32,159a triumphant and glorious end,16700:08:32,159 –> 00:08:35,239but difficult to sustain in.16800:08:35,799 –> 00:08:36,840The middle.16900:08:38,159 –> 00:08:39,640Now, see, that’s how it’s going to be17000:08:39,640 –> 00:08:41,039with your Christian life.17100:08:41,039 –> 00:08:42,640That’s how it is with mine.17200:08:44,000 –> 00:08:46,200When you first become a Christian,17300:08:47,320 –> 00:08:51,359everything seems so fresh and wonderful and new.17400:08:52,200 –> 00:08:54,679Every chorus or hymn that’s sung17500:08:55,280 –> 00:08:57,320seems to be filled with fresh meaning.17600:08:57,320 –> 00:08:58,559You’re learning new things.17700:08:58,559 –> 00:09:00,640Oh, you’re seeing it as you never did before.17800:09:00,640 –> 00:09:03,479Your life has a new sense of purpose.17900:09:03,479 –> 00:09:04,599You’re making new friends18000:09:04,599 –> 00:09:06,400within the community of God’s people.18100:09:06,640 –> 00:09:07,359You are learning.18200:09:07,359 –> 00:09:08,080You are growing.18300:09:08,080 –> 00:09:10,039You feel so alive.18400:09:12,080 –> 00:09:13,599But there will come a point18500:09:14,919 –> 00:09:16,280where the joy of beginning18600:09:17,200 –> 00:09:19,280gives way to the difficulty of continuing.18700:09:20,799 –> 00:09:22,919You will feel spiritually dry18800:09:22,919 –> 00:09:24,359for the very first time,18900:09:24,520 –> 00:09:27,400and you will wonder what is wrong with you.19000:09:29,080 –> 00:09:30,000You will have some prayers19100:09:30,000 –> 00:09:31,840that are not answered, as you’d hoped,19200:09:32,039 –> 00:09:32,919some mysteries19300:09:32,919 –> 00:09:34,280you cannot resolve,19400:09:34,599 –> 00:09:36,359questions you cannot answer.19500:09:36,559 –> 00:09:37,599And you will find19600:09:37,599 –> 00:09:38,840that the Christian life19700:09:38,840 –> 00:09:41,200that seems so new becomes familiar19800:09:42,239 –> 00:09:44,200and that what once sparkled19900:09:44,239 –> 00:09:46,679now seems more ordinary.20000:09:48,440 –> 00:09:48,960And you see,20100:09:48,960 –> 00:09:50,039that is the challenge20200:09:50,039 –> 00:09:51,400of the middle period20300:09:51,400 –> 00:09:52,479of the Christian life.20400:09:54,520 –> 00:09:56,239We hear a great deal and,20500:09:56,239 –> 00:09:57,239rightly so,20600:09:57,520 –> 00:09:59,039about helping new believers20700:09:59,039 –> 00:10:00,159to begin well.20800:10:01,280 –> 00:10:02,599There’s a great deal of emphasis,20900:10:02,599 –> 00:10:03,640certainly in recent years21000:10:03,640 –> 00:10:04,039there has been21100:10:04,039 –> 00:10:04,799a lot of emphasis21200:10:04,799 –> 00:10:06,479on finishing strong.21300:10:08,200 –> 00:10:09,440But we don’t hear so much21400:10:09,460 –> 00:10:10,599about sustaining the middle.21500:10:11,559 –> 00:10:12,559And actually, that’s21600:10:12,559 –> 00:10:13,599where the great majority21700:10:13,599 –> 00:10:14,479of us are right now.21800:10:15,039 –> 00:10:16,000You’re listening to Open21900:10:16,000 –> 00:10:17,400the Bible with Pastor Colin22000:10:17,400 –> 00:10:18,359Smith and a message22100:10:18,359 –> 00:10:19,479called From Weeping22200:10:19,479 –> 00:10:20,520to Rejoicing,22300:10:20,880 –> 00:10:21,960part of our series22400:10:21,960 –> 00:10:23,640Moving in the right Direction.22500:10:23,679 –> 00:10:24,880All about the Psalms22600:10:24,880 –> 00:10:28,440of Ascent, Psalms 120 to 134.22700:10:28,719 –> 00:10:29,640If you’ve missed22800:10:29,640 –> 00:10:30,479any of the series22900:10:30,479 –> 00:10:31,039or if you want23000:10:31,039 –> 00:10:31,479to go back23100:10:31,479 –> 00:10:32,239and listen again,23200:10:32,239 –> 00:10:33,320that’s easy to do23300:10:33,320 –> 00:10:34,280by coming online23400:10:34,280 –> 00:10:35,200to our website23500:10:35,400 –> 00:10:38,119openthebible.org.uk23600:10:38,239 –> 00:10:39,039or you can find23700:10:39,039 –> 00:10:40,159them as a podcast23800:10:40,159 –> 00:10:40,760and those are on23900:10:40,760 –> 00:10:42,119all the main podcast sites.24000:10:42,320 –> 00:10:44,280Search for Open the Bible UK24100:10:44,359 –> 00:10:45,559or follow the link24200:10:45,559 –> 00:10:46,640from our website.24300:10:47,239 –> 00:10:48,119Back to the message.24400:10:48,119 –> 00:10:50,000Now here again is Colin.24500:10:50,520 –> 00:10:52,200Let me pause this question.24600:10:54,320 –> 00:10:56,359If the joy of beginning24700:10:56,359 –> 00:10:58,080is a long way behind you.24800:10:59,400 –> 00:11:00,799And the release of24900:11:00,840 –> 00:11:02,400ending is a long25000:11:02,400 –> 00:11:03,679way in front of you.25100:11:05,080 –> 00:11:06,840How do you navigate25200:11:06,840 –> 00:11:08,159the difficulties25300:11:08,159 –> 00:11:10,280of continuing in the middle?25400:11:11,520 –> 00:11:12,400That’s the question.25500:11:14,200 –> 00:11:15,039Now I want to suggest25600:11:15,039 –> 00:11:16,599that Psalm 12625700:11:16,599 –> 00:11:18,599offers three very wonderful25800:11:18,599 –> 00:11:20,320and very practical strategies25900:11:20,919 –> 00:11:21,880for life in the middle.26000:11:23,440 –> 00:11:25,280The first is praying in hope,26100:11:25,280 –> 00:11:27,000the second sowing in tears26200:11:27,000 –> 00:11:27,880and the third26300:11:28,359 –> 00:11:29,880anticipating in faith.26400:11:30,320 –> 00:11:31,719First then, praying in hope.26500:11:31,719 –> 00:11:32,400Verse 4.26600:11:33,359 –> 00:11:35,159Restore our fortunes,26700:11:35,159 –> 00:11:36,440O Lord,26800:11:36,440 –> 00:11:38,400like streams in26900:11:39,520 –> 00:11:40,359the Gnegev.27000:11:41,200 –> 00:11:41,840Now, the Negev27100:11:41,840 –> 00:11:42,960of course was the desert,27200:11:42,960 –> 00:11:44,359simply, the word means27300:11:44,359 –> 00:11:46,200dry or parched ground.27400:11:47,039 –> 00:11:48,760And to pray for streams27500:11:48,760 –> 00:11:50,479in the desert27600:11:50,479 –> 00:11:52,479is to ask for an intervention27700:11:52,479 –> 00:11:53,000of God.27800:11:53,799 –> 00:11:55,799Only God sends the rain.27900:11:57,239 –> 00:11:58,280You and I don’t contribute28000:11:58,280 –> 00:11:59,080anything to the rain,28100:11:59,080 –> 00:12:00,559even though weather forecasters28200:12:00,559 –> 00:12:01,719don’t contribute28300:12:01,719 –> 00:12:03,679to sending the rain.28400:12:04,880 –> 00:12:06,599The rain comes unexpectedly.28500:12:06,599 –> 00:12:08,320I think God delights in confusing28600:12:08,320 –> 00:12:09,460even weather forecasters,28700:12:09,460 –> 00:12:09,960don’t you?28800:12:10,359 –> 00:12:11,840Certainly for the number of times28900:12:11,840 –> 00:12:12,960when I’ve been drenched29000:12:12,960 –> 00:12:14,039in the rain in London29100:12:14,039 –> 00:12:14,719because I’ve gone out29200:12:14,719 –> 00:12:15,640without a rain coat29300:12:15,640 –> 00:12:16,679and without an umbrella29400:12:16,880 –> 00:12:18,479and been caught in a downpour,29500:12:18,640 –> 00:12:20,400I am absolutely certain29600:12:20,400 –> 00:12:21,719that the point here29700:12:21,719 –> 00:12:23,760is the unpredictability,29800:12:23,760 –> 00:12:25,119the spontaneity29900:12:25,960 –> 00:12:27,679with which God sends30000:12:27,679 –> 00:12:28,200the rain.30100:12:28,239 –> 00:12:30,479It is entirely something30200:12:30,520 –> 00:12:31,599that He does.30300:12:31,599 –> 00:12:34,440We have no part in it at all.30400:12:35,440 –> 00:12:37,440And this is how the psalmist30500:12:37,440 –> 00:12:39,000prays here in the middle30600:12:39,799 –> 00:12:41,760for streams in the desert.30700:12:41,760 –> 00:12:43,000Now, it obviously doesn’t30800:12:43,000 –> 00:12:44,599rain often in the desert,30900:12:45,599 –> 00:12:47,599but in Israel in January,31000:12:47,599 –> 00:12:48,280February, March,31100:12:48,320 –> 00:12:49,599it can rain big time.31200:12:50,599 –> 00:12:51,559And because there are31300:12:51,559 –> 00:12:52,559so many mountains31400:12:52,559 –> 00:12:53,799and the water flows down31500:12:53,799 –> 00:12:54,919from the mountains31600:12:54,960 –> 00:12:56,119when you get to the Negev,31700:12:56,119 –> 00:12:57,280to the desert,31800:12:57,599 –> 00:12:58,679you have water31900:12:58,719 –> 00:13:00,200pouring in abundance.32000:13:00,440 –> 00:13:01,599Someone after the first service32100:13:01,599 –> 00:13:02,320was telling me32200:13:02,320 –> 00:13:03,400that they had been in Israel32300:13:03,400 –> 00:13:03,799in March.32400:13:03,799 –> 00:13:05,039They had actually seen this32500:13:05,359 –> 00:13:07,400just cascading water.32600:13:08,880 –> 00:13:10,719Coming through what had been32700:13:10,719 –> 00:13:13,119dry ditches and ruts32800:13:13,119 –> 00:13:15,000and crevices in the sand32900:13:15,000 –> 00:13:15,719and in the rock33000:13:15,719 –> 00:13:17,919and just pouring all over the place,33100:13:18,080 –> 00:13:19,799described, seeing a couple of buses33200:13:19,960 –> 00:13:22,960unable to pass by four feet of water33300:13:23,039 –> 00:13:24,599coming down through a gully33400:13:24,599 –> 00:13:25,799and then through a pass33500:13:25,880 –> 00:13:27,440in the Negev.33600:13:28,440 –> 00:13:29,799That’s how it is,33700:13:29,799 –> 00:13:30,960that’s the picture.33800:13:31,479 –> 00:13:32,760God sends the rain33900:13:33,559 –> 00:13:35,400and that will bring new life34000:13:35,400 –> 00:13:36,559to this dry ground,34100:13:36,559 –> 00:13:37,919restore our fortunes34200:13:37,919 –> 00:13:40,640like streams in the Negev.34300:13:42,640 –> 00:13:43,559I want to suggest that34400:13:43,559 –> 00:13:45,479some of us need to start34500:13:45,479 –> 00:13:47,119praying like this.34600:13:48,919 –> 00:13:50,640Maybe you’re in a dry place34700:13:50,640 –> 00:13:51,599in your ministry34800:13:52,080 –> 00:13:52,559and you don’t know34900:13:52,559 –> 00:13:53,320what to do about it.35000:13:55,000 –> 00:13:56,440Maybe you’re in a dry place35100:13:56,440 –> 00:13:57,119in your marriage.35200:13:57,119 –> 00:13:58,799How many husbands or wives35300:13:58,799 –> 00:13:59,880have sat with a pastor35400:13:59,880 –> 00:14:00,960or a counselor35500:14:00,960 –> 00:14:02,280and he or she has said,35600:14:02,280 –> 00:14:03,719you know, she’ll never change,35700:14:03,719 –> 00:14:04,799he’ll never change?35800:14:04,799 –> 00:14:06,039You feel like you’re in a desert.35900:14:06,039 –> 00:14:08,159There’s no source of water36000:14:08,159 –> 00:14:09,119that you can see.36100:14:11,599 –> 00:14:12,559But God sends the rain.36200:14:14,760 –> 00:14:16,440And He does so uninvited,36300:14:16,440 –> 00:14:18,679unexpected, unplanned36400:14:18,679 –> 00:14:19,880and provoked,36500:14:20,840 –> 00:14:23,400whether or not its wanted.36600:14:23,520 –> 00:14:24,359This is an image36700:14:24,359 –> 00:14:27,719of the free flowing in-breaking of God36800:14:27,719 –> 00:14:30,200and the psalmist prays for it.36900:14:32,039 –> 00:14:33,359You see the danger37000:14:33,359 –> 00:14:34,679when we’re in dry ground37100:14:34,679 –> 00:14:36,159in the middle period of life37200:14:36,159 –> 00:14:37,239is that we lose hope.37300:14:38,960 –> 00:14:41,239That you settle for accepting37400:14:41,239 –> 00:14:43,080that this is how it is37500:14:43,080 –> 00:14:44,760and it never will be any different37600:14:44,760 –> 00:14:45,760in personal life37700:14:45,760 –> 00:14:48,640and the unbelief of this world.37800:14:49,719 –> 00:14:51,599The limitations of the church.37900:14:51,679 –> 00:14:52,799That you’re in a rut38000:14:52,799 –> 00:14:54,159and that there’s no way out of it.38100:14:54,159 –> 00:14:57,559Listen, God can turn a rut into a river38200:14:58,760 –> 00:15:00,559and that’s what he does in the Negev.38300:15:01,960 –> 00:15:05,080God can make the desert blossom like a rose.38400:15:05,080 –> 00:15:07,599God is the God who brings new life38500:15:07,599 –> 00:15:10,080from the dead38600:15:11,479 –> 00:15:12,479and there ain’t anything38700:15:12,479 –> 00:15:14,440that you or I contribute to that.38800:15:16,080 –> 00:15:18,119Never lose sight of the possibility38900:15:18,119 –> 00:15:20,000that God can break into your life39000:15:20,159 –> 00:15:22,440into the life of someone you love,39100:15:23,520 –> 00:15:24,919into the life of his people,39200:15:24,919 –> 00:15:27,239into the life of a community or a nation39300:15:27,239 –> 00:15:30,080in ways that you would never expect.39400:15:32,359 –> 00:15:34,320Lord, pour out your Spirit.39500:15:35,919 –> 00:15:39,799Let the water of your life fall upon us.39600:15:41,239 –> 00:15:44,440Do in the desert what we have no other hope of seeing39700:15:44,440 –> 00:15:46,239apart from your free-flowing,39800:15:46,239 –> 00:15:48,599spontaneous intervention.39900:15:50,599 –> 00:15:55,000And if you know a God who can send torrents into a desert,40000:15:56,320 –> 00:15:59,239and you know a God who can bring new life from the dead,40100:16:00,479 –> 00:16:03,760you will never give up hope.40200:16:05,719 –> 00:16:07,840So pray with hope.40300:16:09,559 –> 00:16:12,000Second sow in tears.40400:16:12,000 –> 00:16:14,640Verse five, those who sow in tears40500:16:14,640 –> 00:16:18,159will reap with songs of joy.40600:16:18,200 –> 00:16:19,960with songs of joy.40700:16:19,960 –> 00:16:23,840Now, notice the contrast with this picture.40800:16:23,840 –> 00:16:26,919The rain is all about divine intervention.40900:16:28,559 –> 00:16:31,159The sowing of seed is about human initiative.41000:16:32,039 –> 00:16:35,520It’s very significant that these two are held together,41100:16:35,520 –> 00:16:38,539Lord, I pray that you will do what I could not do41200:16:38,539 –> 00:16:41,359and cannot even begin to think of.41300:16:43,679 –> 00:16:44,960But at the same time, Lord,41400:16:44,960 –> 00:16:47,479I will take the initiative with the seed41500:16:47,479 –> 00:16:51,500that you put into my hand to sow in tears.41600:16:52,820 –> 00:16:54,659You see, if our first temptation41700:16:54,659 –> 00:16:57,520in the difficulties of the middle stretch41800:16:57,520 –> 00:16:59,000is to stop hoping,41900:17:00,000 –> 00:17:02,580then our second temptation is to stop working.42000:17:04,199 –> 00:17:05,739That we become so overwhelmed42100:17:05,739 –> 00:17:09,020by the sheer extent of the tragedy around us,42200:17:09,020 –> 00:17:11,839the sheer intensity of the pain within us42300:17:13,199 –> 00:17:15,359that we give up and we say, what’s the point?42400:17:17,599 –> 00:17:20,219We received some pictures this week42500:17:20,219 –> 00:17:23,000of a member of our own church family42600:17:23,000 –> 00:17:26,520who’s been serving the Lord in Indonesia for many years.42700:17:27,599 –> 00:17:29,380Mike’s one of those who’s involved42800:17:29,380 –> 00:17:33,479in the massive effort to bring aid and relief42900:17:33,479 –> 00:17:35,380to people suffering after the tsunami.43000:17:36,560 –> 00:17:40,699Mike is sowing in tears.43100:17:41,500 –> 00:17:44,859Some of us are facing tremendous brokenness43200:17:44,859 –> 00:17:47,280in our own lives right now.43300:17:49,020 –> 00:17:52,579And there are plenty of tears, and you face a choice.43400:17:54,540 –> 00:17:58,060Either you give way to despair in your tears43500:17:59,780 –> 00:18:03,459or you start sowing in your tears.43600:18:05,540 –> 00:18:06,859For a future harvest,43700:18:07,739 –> 00:18:09,060for a future harvest.43800:18:11,439 –> 00:18:13,540I happened to be listening to Joni Erikson43900:18:13,540 –> 00:18:15,739traveling in the car, on the radio this week.44000:18:17,300 –> 00:18:19,180She told a beautiful story about a lady44100:18:19,180 –> 00:18:21,060who’d gone through multiple tragedies44200:18:21,060 –> 00:18:22,900in her life in a short space of time.44300:18:22,900 –> 00:18:23,819You know how this sometimes happens?44400:18:23,819 –> 00:18:25,300It’s one thing and then another,44500:18:25,300 –> 00:18:27,800you think, what more can happen to this one person?44600:18:29,020 –> 00:18:30,540And she was at church on Sunday,44700:18:30,540 –> 00:18:33,079and her pastor, as she was leaving the sanctuary,44800:18:33,079 –> 00:18:34,339had just taken her by the arm44900:18:34,339 –> 00:18:36,219and had said to her in a kindly way,45000:18:36,300 –> 00:18:39,219I just want you to know we’re praying for you.45100:18:39,219 –> 00:18:41,459Quick as a flash, she said,45200:18:41,459 –> 00:18:44,079well, thank you, what are you praying?45300:18:44,079 –> 00:18:45,180That’s a good question.45400:18:46,319 –> 00:18:47,680And he said, well, you know,45500:18:47,680 –> 00:18:49,319we’re praying that the Lord will help you,45600:18:49,319 –> 00:18:51,920that he’ll sustain you, that he’ll comfort you.45700:18:53,560 –> 00:18:54,920And she said, well, thank you so much,45800:18:54,920 –> 00:18:57,500and then she said, will you pray one more thing?45900:18:59,219 –> 00:19:03,219Pray that I won’t come out of this empty-handed.46000:19:04,540 –> 00:19:05,939That’s a good thing to pray,46100:19:07,020 –> 00:19:09,719don’t waste your tears.46200:19:13,819 –> 00:19:16,859See when you go through the most agonizing experiences46300:19:16,859 –> 00:19:18,619of life, as these people were finding46400:19:18,619 –> 00:19:21,199in the difficulties of sustaining ministry,46500:19:22,339 –> 00:19:25,900they had a choice either to shrivel up in their tears46600:19:27,380 –> 00:19:29,719or to go out and do some sewing in their tears.46700:19:30,239 –> 00:19:32,800or to reap the songs of joy in their tears.46800:19:34,680 –> 00:19:36,099This is what they discovered.46900:19:37,839 –> 00:19:40,780That those who go out sowing in tears47000:19:42,079 –> 00:19:42,900will reap47100:19:43,920 –> 00:19:45,359the songs of joy.47200:19:45,359 –> 00:19:47,640That leads me to the last thing just very briefly,47300:19:47,640 –> 00:19:48,979praying in hope,47400:19:50,300 –> 00:19:52,839sowing in tears,47500:19:52,839 –> 00:19:54,260how do you sustain it in the middle?47600:19:54,260 –> 00:19:56,520Thirdly, anticipating in faith.47700:19:57,280 –> 00:20:01,300Will return with songs of joy carrying sheaves with him.47800:20:01,300 –> 00:20:03,520You see, the middle is not the end.47900:20:03,520 –> 00:20:04,959Isn’t that good?48000:20:04,959 –> 00:20:06,800The middle is not the end.48100:20:07,800 –> 00:20:12,540And what you see now is not how things will be in the end.48200:20:13,579 –> 00:20:16,359If you belong to Christ,48300:20:16,359 –> 00:20:18,640then the ultimate outcome of your life48400:20:18,640 –> 00:20:21,719will not be shame or ruin or destruction.48500:20:21,719 –> 00:20:24,839The ultimate outcome of your life will not be tears.48600:20:24,859 –> 00:20:26,680The ultimate outcome of your life48700:20:26,680 –> 00:20:28,239will be to live for eternity48800:20:28,239 –> 00:20:30,140as a son or a daughter of God48900:20:30,140 –> 00:20:33,079that reflects his image perfectly.49000:20:35,140 –> 00:20:36,800So don’t give up in the middle,49100:20:38,839 –> 00:20:40,260because that will be the end.49200:20:42,239 –> 00:20:44,560And the outcome of God’s kingdom in this world49300:20:44,560 –> 00:20:47,160is not going to be that it will be swept away49400:20:47,160 –> 00:20:49,520by a tide of oppression in the East49500:20:49,520 –> 00:20:52,660or by a tide of post-modernism in the West.49600:20:53,099 –> 00:20:57,459No, the upshot of the work of Christ’s kingdom,49700:20:57,459 –> 00:20:58,800the end of it,49800:21:00,060 –> 00:21:02,260will be that Christ’s people will be gathered49900:21:02,260 –> 00:21:04,060with their Saviour in his presence50000:21:04,060 –> 00:21:08,380and every seat at the banqueting table will be full.50100:21:10,780 –> 00:21:15,780So to put it in the words of the beginning of Psalm 125,50200:21:18,140 –> 00:21:21,319those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,50300:21:23,579 –> 00:21:26,180which cannot be shaken but endures forever.50400:21:27,880 –> 00:21:30,140As the mountains surround Jerusalem,50500:21:31,420 –> 00:21:33,119so the Lord surrounds his people,50600:21:34,479 –> 00:21:39,020both now and forevermore.50700:21:39,020 –> 00:21:42,420What an encouraging reminder of the hope and the future50800:21:42,420 –> 00:21:44,819that is ours in Christ Jesus,50900:21:44,819 –> 00:21:46,880and it’s our hope here at Open the Bible51000:21:46,880 –> 00:21:49,920that that is your hope and desire too.51100:21:49,920 –> 00:21:51,719And if you haven’t yet encountered51200:21:51,979 –> 00:21:53,780the love of God through Jesus Christ,51300:21:54,979 –> 00:21:57,760then I hope you’ll talk to a trusted Christian friend51400:21:57,760 –> 00:21:59,979or family member, pray with them,51500:21:59,979 –> 00:22:02,660or maybe join a local church fellowship,51600:22:02,660 –> 00:22:04,319join an Alpha program.51700:22:04,319 –> 00:22:06,319There are many, many ways of meeting God51800:22:06,319 –> 00:22:08,439and plenty of Christians who want to help you51900:22:08,439 –> 00:22:10,359to do just that.52000:22:10,359 –> 00:22:11,939You’ve been listening to Open the Bible52100:22:11,939 –> 00:22:13,339with Pastor Colin Smith,52200:22:13,339 –> 00:22:17,079and a message called From Weeping to Rejoicing.52300:22:17,079 –> 00:22:20,640It’s part of our series, Moving in the Right Direction,52400:22:20,859 –> 00:22:22,160and if you’ve missed any of the series,52500:22:22,160 –> 00:22:24,239don’t forget you can catch up online52600:22:24,239 –> 00:22:26,880at our website openthebible.org.uk.52700:22:29,000 –> 00:22:31,079Open the Bible is able to stay on the radio52800:22:31,079 –> 00:22:34,719and on the internet because of the very generous donations52900:22:34,719 –> 00:22:36,180made by our listeners.53000:22:36,180 –> 00:22:39,079So, if you already give to support Open the Bible,53100:22:39,079 –> 00:22:40,560thank you so much.53200:22:40,560 –> 00:22:42,819If that’s something that you’ve been considering doing53300:22:42,819 –> 00:22:44,520in the future, each month,53400:22:44,520 –> 00:22:47,560we aim to offer a special gift in return53500:22:47,560 –> 00:22:49,760for setting up a new support payment53600:22:49,760 –> 00:22:51,180for Open the Bible.53700:22:51,180 –> 00:22:53,959If you’re able to set up a new monthly direct debit53800:22:53,959 –> 00:22:56,479of five pounds per month or more,53900:22:56,479 –> 00:22:59,260or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,54000:22:59,260 –> 00:23:01,020we’d love to say thank you54100:23:01,020 –> 00:23:03,579by sending you a copy of Colin Smith’s book54200:23:03,579 –> 00:23:05,339Fly Through the Bible.54300:23:05,339 –> 00:23:07,859Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham54400:23:07,859 –> 00:23:09,260to talk about the book54500:23:09,260 –> 00:23:11,780and also about some other exciting resources54600:23:11,780 –> 00:23:14,099which are free for everyone to receive.54700:23:14,099 –> 00:23:15,260Thanks David.54800:23:15,260 –> 00:23:17,020Well, if you’ve been listening for a while,54900:23:17,079 –> 00:23:20,079you’ll know that we love to give away a free book55000:23:20,079 –> 00:23:21,800each month when you donate.55100:23:21,800 –> 00:23:24,319Either a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more55200:23:24,319 –> 00:23:28,300or by setting up a new direct debit of at least five pounds.55300:23:28,300 –> 00:23:29,859But this July and August,55400:23:29,859 –> 00:23:32,239we’re doing something extra special.55500:23:32,239 –> 00:23:35,400We’ve launched a campaign full of free resources55600:23:35,400 –> 00:23:38,199to help you open the Bible with others55700:23:38,199 –> 00:23:40,400because we know that can be hard55800:23:40,400 –> 00:23:42,239and we want to equip you.55900:23:42,239 –> 00:23:44,520So yes, you’ll still get a free copy56000:23:44,520 –> 00:23:46,839of Fly Through the Bible when you donate,56100:23:46,839 –> 00:23:51,839but anyone can now access a whole set of free tools.56200:23:52,160 –> 00:23:54,819We’ve got a video series where Colin Smith56300:23:54,819 –> 00:23:56,500walks through each session56400:23:56,500 –> 00:23:59,760of the Fly Through the Bible course on our website.56500:23:59,760 –> 00:24:00,880There’s a free app.56600:24:00,880 –> 00:24:04,479Just search Fly Through the Bible in your app store.56700:24:04,479 –> 00:24:07,420And if you’re a church leader thinking head September,56800:24:07,420 –> 00:24:12,040head to openthebible.org.uk forward slash FLY56900:24:12,040 –> 00:24:16,079and download our free small group discussion guide.57000:24:16,079 –> 00:24:18,719We really pray these resources bless you57100:24:18,719 –> 00:24:22,239and those around you as you open the Bible together57200:24:22,239 –> 00:24:24,079and what better place to start57300:24:24,079 –> 00:24:26,760than a journey through the Bible’s story.57400:24:26,760 –> 00:24:28,199Thanks, Amanda.57500:24:28,199 –> 00:24:31,599You can access these free resources at our website57600:24:31,599 –> 00:24:36,599openthebible.org.uk and you can download the Fly app57700:24:36,800 –> 00:24:39,880at the Apple App Store or Google Play.57800:24:39,880 –> 00:24:42,300Our offer to send you a copy of Colin’s book,57900:24:42,300 –> 00:24:45,520FLY THROUGH THE BIBLE is available all this month.58000:24:45,520 –> 00:24:47,739If you would like to receive this free gift,58100:24:47,739 –> 00:24:51,459select the monthly giveaway under project fund58200:24:51,459 –> 00:24:54,060and please do not give anonymously58300:24:54,060 –> 00:24:57,660as we can only send a book if we have your address details.58400:24:57,660 –> 00:25:00,699Full details, terms, and conditions are on our website58500:25:00,699 –> 00:25:05,540openthebible.org.uk and you can give online.58600:25:05,540 –> 00:25:08,020For Open The Bible pastor Colin Smith,58700:25:08,020 –> 00:25:11,640I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time.58800:25:11,660 –> 00:25:16,660openthebible.org.uk58900:25:16,680 –> 00:25:18,540Everyone wants to be successful,59000:25:18,540 –> 00:25:20,800but that raises a huge question.59100:25:20,800 –> 00:25:22,459What is success?59200:25:22,459 –> 00:25:25,500And how can we know if we’ve really achieved it?59300:25:25,500 –> 00:25:28,040Find out next time on Open The Bible.