100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:02,820I200:00:02,820 –> 00:00:04,980Have to tell you we300:00:04,980 –> 00:00:07,080marveled as we watched his life400:00:07,780 –> 00:00:11,820He was everything God intended a human being to be500:00:12,760 –> 00:00:18,680Imagine we said to each other imagine if other men and women could become like him600:00:19,400 –> 00:00:23,080Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick700:00:23,200 –> 00:00:26,639Please you could be with us today and Colin when we think about the Christmas story800:00:27,059 –> 00:00:33,619We usually think about Joseph and Mary the shepherds maybe the wise men, but today we’re going to hear about Gabriel900:00:33,860 –> 00:00:36,880Here’s the story of Jesus viewed from heaven itself1000:00:37,060 –> 00:00:43,139And there’s a fascinating reference in the New Testament even angels long to look into these things1100:00:43,180 –> 00:00:48,599So let’s take a look at the Christmas story from the perspective of the angels who were witnesses to it1200:00:48,599 –> 00:00:53,220Of course, they knew Christ in his glory before he came. What an astonishing thing1300:00:53,220 –> 00:00:55,480It must have been for them to see him born as a baby1400:00:55,700 –> 00:01:00,099So this is Gabriel story. Here’s Colin really is great to be here1500:01:00,099 –> 00:01:06,699And you know, I guess the first thing to say is it really doesn’t feel all that strange1600:01:07,620 –> 00:01:11,220Because you see every time you worship1700:01:12,139 –> 00:01:14,139My colleagues are here1800:01:15,320 –> 00:01:23,000So this is a familiar place and the truth is that my colleagues are around you far more than you probably think1900:01:23,739 –> 00:01:27,139you know, the great privilege of my life is2000:01:28,459 –> 00:01:32,019to stand in the presence of God, I2100:01:33,480 –> 00:01:41,620See how the divine love flows between the father and the son and the spirit and then from them to us all2200:01:43,680 –> 00:01:47,320But what I want you to understand today is that you can2300:01:48,199 –> 00:01:53,099You can experience the love of God in a way that is beyond anything I can ever know2400:01:56,279 –> 00:01:58,279Let me tell you about it2500:01:59,180 –> 00:02:04,620See our father has made three orders of creation2600:02:05,879 –> 00:02:10,839There are the animals. They have bodies, but they don’t have souls2700:02:11,779 –> 00:02:16,600Then there are us the angels. We have souls, but we do not have bodies2800:02:16,600 –> 00:02:18,100We can appear as you know2900:02:18,100 –> 00:02:20,100But we have no physical form3000:02:20,919 –> 00:02:23,360Then there are you, the humans3100:02:24,080 –> 00:02:26,919You are body and soul3200:02:27,419 –> 00:02:32,919knit together in a strange and wonderful union, which to us is3300:02:33,600 –> 00:02:35,600endlessly fascinating3400:02:35,860 –> 00:02:38,820You know, we are amazed at how often3500:02:39,660 –> 00:02:45,059Human beings miss the unique glory of your creation3600:02:46,020 –> 00:02:50,460There is to make us laugh, you know. In past generations your3700:02:51,460 –> 00:02:52,839scientific3800:02:52,839 –> 00:03:01,160materialists dismissed the spiritual and and they placed all that interest in the physical as if a human being were no3900:03:01,220 –> 00:03:07,699More than a highly developed animal or a programmable machine had they never heard of love4000:03:09,460 –> 00:03:17,059Did they really believe that want they experienced in the birth of a child or around the Christmas tree with the family4100:03:18,179 –> 00:03:23,080Was just the chemical stimulus of something going on in the brain4200:03:25,399 –> 00:03:30,860Well, if you think of yourself as a highly developed animal or a programmable machine4300:03:30,860 –> 00:03:38,660You have totally undersold yourself and misunderstood the glory of your unique nature4400:03:39,259 –> 00:03:41,259created by God4500:03:41,940 –> 00:03:46,919Of course today as we watch the human world we see the opposite problem4600:03:49,259 –> 00:03:51,699Spirituality is back in vogue and4700:03:52,580 –> 00:03:55,600So now folks have the idea that as long as you are4800:03:56,080 –> 00:04:00,639Spiritual in some way. It really doesn’t matter what you do with your body4900:04:01,639 –> 00:04:02,940so5000:04:02,940 –> 00:04:04,940We see kids5100:04:05,380 –> 00:04:07,619spending hours and hours5200:04:08,880 –> 00:04:14,600Looking at grotesque images on film and in video games5300:04:16,279 –> 00:04:22,760Completely unaware of how what they see with their eyes goes through the body and right into the soul5400:04:23,299 –> 00:04:28,799and it shrivels the emotions it dulls the conscience and5500:04:30,000 –> 00:04:32,000dampen spiritual life5600:04:32,660 –> 00:04:35,559In fact, it dulls all the senses5700:04:36,600 –> 00:04:39,920Which is exactly what your enemy wants?5800:04:41,420 –> 00:04:47,339Now just a word of personal introduction before I get into my story, did you know that there are only5900:04:47,920 –> 00:04:55,619two angels mentioned by name in the Bible part from the other Fallen one who I won’t speak about today, but6000:04:56,660 –> 00:05:01,019One same is Michael my colleague the archangel. The other is me6100:05:01,640 –> 00:05:03,179Gabriel I6200:05:03,179 –> 00:05:07,399Was chosen to be God’s special messenger a great privilege6300:05:08,200 –> 00:05:11,720Not on one but on three occasions6400:05:12,820 –> 00:05:16,100The first was when I was sent to the prophet Daniel6500:05:17,040 –> 00:05:19,880He’d been given a vision that he didn’t understand6600:05:20,320 –> 00:05:21,019actually6700:05:21,019 –> 00:05:24,200Christians have struggled to understand it a great deal ever since as well6800:05:24,239 –> 00:05:30,440But I was sent at least to help him to make sense of it all I remember when I appeared to him6900:05:30,440 –> 00:05:32,440He was utterly devastated7000:05:32,799 –> 00:05:38,140Prostrate on the floor he was trembling it took him days to recover7100:05:38,140 –> 00:05:43,739The second time I was sent on a mission was to a man called Zecharia7200:05:44,600 –> 00:05:47,220the priests serving in the temple of God7300:05:48,000 –> 00:05:52,299My mission then was to announce the birth of John the Baptist7400:05:53,140 –> 00:05:57,920When I appeared to Zecharia, it seemed the same. He also was gripped with fear7500:05:58,299 –> 00:06:01,140I I told him the word of God, but he didn’t believe it7600:06:01,440 –> 00:06:08,160Well, you can’t have spiritual leaders going around speaking unbelief, can you and so speech was taken from him7700:06:09,760 –> 00:06:16,980Until his son was born and then his speech returned and he used it to praise and glorify God7800:06:18,480 –> 00:06:24,799I tell you that so that you understand that my previous visits to Daniel and Zecharia had7900:06:25,579 –> 00:06:27,500obviously been quite8000:06:27,500 –> 00:06:32,399devastating for them and so when I was summoned for my third mission and8100:06:33,440 –> 00:06:37,619Told that it was to visit a country girl in her early teens8200:06:39,440 –> 00:06:43,880My first instinct was to say are you sure you have the right angel for this?8300:06:46,399 –> 00:06:49,279There is a young woman I was told8400:06:50,600 –> 00:06:53,320To whom you must give this message8500:06:54,100 –> 00:06:58,679It is the most important announcement we have ever made and8600:06:59,820 –> 00:07:02,820The future of the world hangs upon it8700:07:04,779 –> 00:07:06,059When I heard the message8800:07:06,059 –> 00:07:11,600I was to give I was the one who couldn’t speak I could hardly take it in and the truth is I8900:07:12,059 –> 00:07:13,820still can’t9000:07:13,820 –> 00:07:17,679If you had seen his glory as I did9100:07:18,279 –> 00:07:21,100if you knew him as I do9200:07:21,220 –> 00:07:26,140Do you would have been staggered and speechless as well9300:07:29,000 –> 00:07:31,920Well I took down the details and off I went9400:07:32,799 –> 00:07:34,799not to Jerusalem9500:07:34,820 –> 00:07:42,660Not to the temple not to adopter of Caiaphas the high priest, but to a peasant girl in a despised9600:07:44,799 –> 00:07:48,320Down in the heel community called Nazareth9700:07:49,320 –> 00:07:52,959Why she was chosen I cannot say9800:07:54,559 –> 00:07:56,559God’s choices are as9900:07:57,119 –> 00:07:59,220inscrutable as they are glorious10000:08:00,500 –> 00:08:04,920All I can tell you is that he also has the right to choose10100:08:07,260 –> 00:08:10,160Her name was Mary and she was a virgin10200:08:11,359 –> 00:08:17,440She was already pledged to be married to a man called Joseph who was in the line of descent that came from David10300:08:17,739 –> 00:08:21,160Their marriage was planned, but it had not yet taken place10400:08:22,380 –> 00:08:26,440When I appeared I gave her my warmost greeting10500:08:27,200 –> 00:08:32,179Greetings, I said you who are highly favored the Lord is with you10600:08:33,840 –> 00:08:35,840Honestly, I don’t know who was more afraid10700:08:36,780 –> 00:08:43,659She of what was happening or me as to how she might respond. I mean if she were to scream and run away10800:08:43,659 –> 00:08:45,659What was I to do next I?10900:08:47,619 –> 00:08:50,520It was obvious to me that she was a woman of great faith11000:08:52,299 –> 00:08:55,880She seemed to sense that I had come as a messenger from the Lord11100:08:55,880 –> 00:09:01,500I saw how much she was troubled and so I said to her don’t be afraid Mary11200:09:02,679 –> 00:09:04,679You have found favor11300:09:05,539 –> 00:09:07,539with God11400:09:07,700 –> 00:09:09,700See I’ve noticed11500:09:10,460 –> 00:09:12,400that with humans11600:09:12,460 –> 00:09:17,619When God comes close your first instinct is to assume the worst11700:09:19,059 –> 00:09:23,739You just assume that God coming near means trouble for you11800:09:25,380 –> 00:09:31,500No human conscience is completely clear before God and so your first instinct is to be more11900:09:31,760 –> 00:09:37,119Comfortable with God at a distance the near at hand. I guess that’s what Mary was thinking, too12000:09:38,580 –> 00:09:41,780That’s why I said to her you have found favor12100:09:42,400 –> 00:09:43,840with God12200:09:43,840 –> 00:09:47,619The word favor means grace, you know that word well12300:09:48,520 –> 00:09:54,159You have been graced by God. That’s what I told her and it wasn’t just her12400:09:54,840 –> 00:09:56,840It’s all of you as well12500:09:57,219 –> 00:10:03,400The whole human race has been graced by God in the coming of Jesus into the world12600:10:04,179 –> 00:10:07,619The only question is how you will respond to God’s grace12700:10:08,760 –> 00:10:11,659That is held out to you in his son Jesus12800:10:13,400 –> 00:10:15,460Well then I gave her this message12900:10:16,479 –> 00:10:19,059You will be with child I said and you13000:10:19,960 –> 00:10:21,960Will give birth to a son13100:10:22,580 –> 00:10:24,559You’re to give him the name13200:10:24,580 –> 00:10:25,900Jesus13300:10:25,900 –> 00:10:28,960He will be great. He will be the son of the Most High13400:10:29,500 –> 00:10:33,239And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David13500:10:33,239 –> 00:10:39,039He will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom will never end13600:10:40,539 –> 00:10:41,859I13700:10:41,960 –> 00:10:43,659paused and13800:10:43,659 –> 00:10:45,659I wondered what she’d say13900:10:46,559 –> 00:10:52,099It seemed like time stood still just as it does in eternity and then she spoke14000:10:53,659 –> 00:10:55,659How will this be14100:10:56,179 –> 00:10:58,820Since I am a virgin she asked me14200:10:59,820 –> 00:11:03,820Now that was when I realized that she had not grasped what I was really saying14300:11:04,500 –> 00:11:10,000She thought that I meant that she and her husband would at some time in the future have a son who would turn out to14400:11:10,000 –> 00:11:14,280Be one of the great figures of human history, but since she was not married that was not yet possible14500:11:15,559 –> 00:11:17,559so I tried to explain14600:11:18,280 –> 00:11:24,299It wasn’t easy to find words to express the greatest mystery your world or ours has ever known14700:11:25,979 –> 00:11:32,780But what I said to her was this the Holy Spirit will come upon you I said14800:11:33,780 –> 00:11:40,479The power of the most high will overshadow you so the holy one to be born will be14900:11:41,280 –> 00:11:43,280the Son of God15000:11:44,159 –> 00:11:48,619You’re listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and Gabriel story15100:11:49,099 –> 00:11:51,460originally part of our Christmas stories series15200:11:51,500 –> 00:11:58,159But now part of the listener favorite the 10 most requested and popular messages from the past year15300:11:58,679 –> 00:12:01,000back to the message now here’s Colin15400:12:01,479 –> 00:12:06,679how the light and life of heaven could take a human form is15500:12:07,239 –> 00:12:09,820beyond what even angels can grasp15600:12:11,460 –> 00:12:17,940How he could be helpless as a human child is beyond what we can fathom15700:12:19,179 –> 00:12:24,039It is a mystery to me still as much as it is and always will be to you15800:12:24,099 –> 00:12:26,979But what I tell you is it happened15900:12:27,719 –> 00:12:33,880all I can say is what I said to Mary, with God nothing is16000:12:35,419 –> 00:12:37,419Impossible16100:12:37,479 –> 00:12:40,039Well after that I held my breath16200:12:42,059 –> 00:12:49,700Actually angels don’t have breath, but it’s just a way of speaking that you would understand. I waited to see what she would say16300:12:50,539 –> 00:12:54,099God would never do this work through someone unwilling16400:12:54,159 –> 00:13:00,359He has his way of course of drawing our will but he he does not force his way or his will on anyone16500:13:01,960 –> 00:13:05,960No, Mary had a choice to make us all of us do in response to God16600:13:06,500 –> 00:13:09,679And I trembled as I waited to hear what she would say16700:13:11,239 –> 00:13:13,239Then she spoke16800:13:13,299 –> 00:13:16,640I am the Lord’s Servant she said16900:13:17,640 –> 00:13:19,640She said17000:13:24,000 –> 00:13:27,419And so it was that nine months later Jesus was born a17100:13:28,520 –> 00:13:30,580whole company of my colleagues17200:13:30,580 –> 00:13:36,280Appeared in the sky that night praising God and announcing the good news to men and women17300:13:37,359 –> 00:13:39,359and I have to tell you we17400:13:39,539 –> 00:13:41,599Marveled as we watched his life17500:13:42,320 –> 00:13:43,440he was17600:13:43,440 –> 00:13:46,359Everything God intended a human being to be17700:13:47,320 –> 00:13:49,320Imagine we said to each other17800:13:49,440 –> 00:13:53,260Imagine if other men and women could become like him17900:13:55,719 –> 00:13:59,640His ministry brought more good to the world than anything we had seen18000:14:00,359 –> 00:14:06,080In all of human history and that happened over a period of just three years18100:14:07,299 –> 00:14:10,859And that is why we could hardly believe what happened next18200:14:10,859 –> 00:14:12,859You people crucified him18300:14:12,859 –> 00:14:19,880I’ll never forget that day18400:14:21,260 –> 00:14:26,179We watched as he was scourged and bound and and lead away18500:14:28,359 –> 00:14:32,299We waited for him to call us for deliverance, but he never did18600:14:34,359 –> 00:14:40,059When he was nailed to that cross, we said to the Father, please let us go now, but he held us back18700:14:40,880 –> 00:14:45,919God’s forbearance at human sin has always amazed us18800:14:49,859 –> 00:14:51,760But this had to be humanity’s day of reckoning18900:14:53,859 –> 00:14:55,859We knew that God’s judgement must fall that day19000:14:57,859 –> 00:15:02,820But as we watched, we realized that the judgement for human sins was falling on Jesus19100:15:07,859 –> 00:15:09,859That he was absorbing human sin19200:15:10,859 –> 00:15:13,859Absorbing it in his own body on your behalf19300:15:17,859 –> 00:15:20,859That he was actually making himself the sacrifice19400:15:20,859 –> 00:15:22,859The sacrifice for your sins19500:15:27,859 –> 00:15:28,859And then he died19600:15:28,859 –> 00:15:29,859And heaven fell silent19700:15:32,859 –> 00:15:36,859Of course we fully expected his spirit to return to heaven where he belongs19800:15:37,859 –> 00:15:40,859But that would’ve meant abandoning his humanity19900:15:40,859 –> 00:15:42,859Which would have been of no help to you20000:15:44,859 –> 00:15:46,859So it wasn’t until the third day20100:15:46,859 –> 00:15:49,859That we understood what God was really doing20200:15:49,859 –> 00:15:52,859I will never forget that glorious morning20300:15:53,859 –> 00:15:57,859The corpse of Jesus had been laid out in a sealed tomb20400:15:58,859 –> 00:16:02,859And it was animated that morning with his life20500:16:02,859 –> 00:16:06,859His human body was transformed, it was energized20600:16:06,859 –> 00:16:08,859It was adapted for all eternity20700:16:09,859 –> 00:16:12,859Women came to the tomb that morning looking for his body20800:16:13,859 –> 00:16:16,859And one of my colleagues was sent to tell them20900:16:16,859 –> 00:16:17,859He is risen21000:16:18,859 –> 00:16:22,859After that he appeared to his disciples many times21100:16:22,859 –> 00:16:24,859And then he ascended into heaven21200:16:25,859 –> 00:16:28,859You can imagine our joy in receiving him back21300:16:28,859 –> 00:16:33,859But I’ll tell you, your joy should be greater than ours21400:16:35,859 –> 00:16:38,859You see, he didn’t die for angels21500:16:39,859 –> 00:16:42,859It wasn’t the nature of angels that he assumed21600:16:42,859 –> 00:16:44,859When he came into the world21700:16:45,859 –> 00:16:47,859He became a man21800:16:48,859 –> 00:16:52,859He died and rose for folks like you21900:16:53,859 –> 00:16:55,859And there is a man in heaven22000:16:55,859 –> 00:17:00,859And there’s a man in heaven and his name is Jesus22100:17:01,859 –> 00:17:03,859He’s there for you22200:17:04,859 –> 00:17:06,859He’s the pioneer22300:17:06,859 –> 00:17:11,859He’s the first of many men and women who will become like him and share22400:17:11,859 –> 00:17:14,859His resurrected body, soul22500:17:14,859 –> 00:17:18,859His risen new humanity into everlasting life22600:17:18,859 –> 00:17:20,859He’s your hope22700:17:20,859 –> 00:17:22,859He’s your saviour22800:17:22,859 –> 00:17:23,859He’s your king22900:17:23,859 –> 00:17:25,859He’s your Lord23000:17:26,859 –> 00:17:30,859Now all the talk up there is about the day of His second coming23100:17:30,859 –> 00:17:32,859I’ll be with Him then23200:17:32,859 –> 00:17:35,859So will Mary and Joseph and all of the disciples23300:17:35,859 –> 00:17:39,859Along with everyone else who has ever put their trust in Him23400:17:39,859 –> 00:17:43,859And all His people who are still living will rise to meet Him in the air23500:17:43,859 –> 00:17:45,859You’ll see me then23600:17:45,859 –> 00:17:50,859Though you’ll be much more interested in Him23700:17:51,859 –> 00:17:53,859You know talking about seeing angels23800:17:54,859 –> 00:17:57,859It reminds me sometimes we hear people say23900:17:57,859 –> 00:18:00,859Oh if only I could see an angel then I would believe24000:18:01,859 –> 00:18:04,859As if an appearance from one of us24100:18:04,859 –> 00:18:08,859Could be greater than what God has already done in Christ24200:18:10,859 –> 00:18:14,859My colleagues did a fair bit of appearing before He came24300:18:14,859 –> 00:18:18,859But since He’s come you shouldn’t expect to see us today24400:18:19,859 –> 00:18:21,859We’re always at work but since He’s come24500:18:21,859 –> 00:18:24,859There is nothing that we can add24600:18:24,859 –> 00:18:26,859To what God has revealed in him24700:18:26,859 –> 00:18:29,859Candles are of great value in the darkness24800:18:30,859 –> 00:18:32,859But what would be the point of lighting a candle24900:18:32,859 –> 00:18:34,859In the brilliance of the midday sun25000:18:37,859 –> 00:18:38,859I’ve only got a couple of minutes25100:18:38,859 –> 00:18:40,859And then I really must fly25200:18:42,859 –> 00:18:43,859So let me just say this25300:18:43,859 –> 00:18:48,859There are some things known to us25400:18:48,859 –> 00:18:50,859That are hidden from you25500:18:50,859 –> 00:18:53,859And there are some things known to you25600:18:53,859 –> 00:18:56,859That are hidden from us25700:18:58,859 –> 00:19:01,859We can’t imagine what it’s like25800:19:01,859 –> 00:19:02,859To be forgiven25900:19:03,859 –> 00:19:05,859To be reconciled26000:19:05,859 –> 00:19:08,859To share the nature of Christ26100:19:09,859 –> 00:19:12,859And to have his spirit living26200:19:12,859 –> 00:19:14,859Within your own being26300:19:15,859 –> 00:19:17,859See we have not experienced26400:19:17,859 –> 00:19:18,859Your tragedy26500:19:19,859 –> 00:19:20,859So we cannot imagine26600:19:20,859 –> 00:19:23,859The joy of your restoration26700:19:24,859 –> 00:19:25,859We’ve never been lost26800:19:25,859 –> 00:19:26,859So we cannot know26900:19:26,859 –> 00:19:27,859What it is to be found27000:19:28,859 –> 00:19:29,859We have not sinned27100:19:29,859 –> 00:19:30,859So we cannot know27200:19:30,859 –> 00:19:32,859What it really is to be forgiven27300:19:32,859 –> 00:19:34,859We are his servants27400:19:35,859 –> 00:19:38,859But you are his sons and his daughters27500:19:38,859 –> 00:19:41,859Adopted into his family for all of eternity27600:19:42,859 –> 00:19:45,859The intimacy with God that is possible for you27700:19:45,859 –> 00:19:47,859Is staggering to us27800:19:48,859 –> 00:19:50,859We see his presence27900:19:50,859 –> 00:19:53,859But you share his nature28000:19:55,859 –> 00:19:58,859He has made himself one with you28100:19:58,859 –> 00:20:01,859And bound himself to you forever28200:20:01,859 –> 00:20:06,859That’s why I said you can experience the love of God28300:20:06,859 –> 00:20:10,859In ways that are beyond anything that is possible for me28400:20:11,859 –> 00:20:16,859But then there are other things that are known to us28500:20:16,859 –> 00:20:18,859And hidden from you28600:20:19,859 –> 00:20:23,859You can’t imagine heaven or hell28700:20:23,859 –> 00:20:25,859I’ve seen them both28800:20:25,859 –> 00:20:31,859You can’t begin to imagine what he has saved you from28900:20:31,859 –> 00:20:34,859Or what he has saved you for29000:20:36,859 –> 00:20:38,859But having seen it29100:20:39,859 –> 00:20:43,859I tell you we find it staggering29200:20:43,859 –> 00:20:49,859That so many human beings give such little thought to their eternal future29300:20:50,859 –> 00:20:53,859Living as if this fleeting world that is passing away was everything29400:20:53,859 –> 00:20:59,859Totally unaware of the eternity that is just beyond the line of your sight29500:21:00,859 –> 00:21:07,859Jesus came into the world to seek and to save the lost29600:21:08,859 –> 00:21:11,859We see men and women losing their way all the time29700:21:12,859 –> 00:21:16,859I have to tell you whenever anyone repents and comes back to him29800:21:16,859 –> 00:21:20,859There is such joy and celebration among all the angels of heaven29900:21:20,859 –> 00:21:23,859God is for you30000:21:24,859 –> 00:21:27,859And however far you may be from him at this very moment30100:21:28,859 –> 00:21:31,859He wants you back and this is why Christ has come into the world30200:21:32,859 –> 00:21:35,859Believe in him and you will not be disappointed30300:21:36,859 –> 00:21:39,859Follow him and you will never go wrong30400:21:40,859 –> 00:21:45,859Live for him, you will find your life’s true meaning and your purpose30500:21:46,859 –> 00:21:53,859And I know that I speak for all of my colleagues when I say that Jesus Christ is our greatest joy30600:21:54,859 –> 00:21:57,859Is he yours?30700:21:58,859 –> 00:22:03,859See, that’s how you know if you belong to heaven30800:22:04,859 –> 00:22:08,859Christ is the joy of heaven30900:22:09,859 –> 00:22:14,859And he’s the joy of all who belong there too31000:22:15,859 –> 00:22:18,859That’s my story31100:22:19,859 –> 00:22:21,859And so may God bless you31200:22:22,859 –> 00:22:28,859and give to you a very very wonderful and a very happy Christmas31300:22:28,859 –> 00:22:31,859What a great insight into the Christmas story31400:22:31,859 –> 00:22:36,859to know that our capacity to inherit and appreciate eternal life with Jesus31500:22:36,859 –> 00:22:39,859is even greater than that of the angels31600:22:39,859 –> 00:22:42,859You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith31700:22:42,859 –> 00:22:44,859and Gabriel’s story31800:22:44,859 –> 00:22:46,859originally part of Christmas stories31900:22:46,859 –> 00:22:49,859but now we’re repeating it under the title32000:22:49,859 –> 00:22:50,859Listener Favourites32100:22:50,859 –> 00:22:55,859as one of the most requested and populous messages of the past year32200:22:55,859 –> 00:22:57,859If you ever miss one of the series32300:22:57,859 –> 00:22:58,859don’t forget you can always come online32400:22:58,859 –> 00:23:03,859go back and listen again to any of the previously broadcast messages32500:23:03,859 –> 00:23:05,859and those are available on our website32600:23:05,859 –> 00:23:07,859openthebible.org.uk32700:23:08,859 –> 00:23:10,859and also as a podcast on all the main podcast sites32800:23:10,859 –> 00:23:12,859search for Open the Bible UK32900:23:12,859 –> 00:23:16,859or indeed follow the links from our website33000:23:16,859 –> 00:23:20,859Fly Through the Bible is available in a number of different formats33100:23:20,859 –> 00:23:21,859and in the coming days33200:23:21,859 –> 00:23:23,859we’ll bring news of some exciting ways33300:23:23,859 –> 00:23:25,859that you can use this material33400:23:25,859 –> 00:23:28,859Colin Smith’s original book, Fly Through the Bible33500:23:28,859 –> 00:23:30,859is our gift to you this month33600:23:30,859 –> 00:23:33,859if you’re able to begin a new direct debit33700:23:33,859 –> 00:23:35,859you may do the work of Open The Bible33800:23:35,859 –> 00:23:39,859in the amount of five pounds per month or more33900:23:39,859 –> 00:23:41,859or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more34000:23:41,859 –> 00:23:42,859if you’re able to do that34100:23:42,859 –> 00:23:44,859we’d love to send you a copy of the book34200:23:44,859 –> 00:23:47,859Colin, why did you use the flying metaphor34300:23:47,859 –> 00:23:49,859to describe this book?34400:23:49,859 –> 00:23:51,859Well suppose you were making a visit34500:23:51,859 –> 00:23:52,859to the grand canyon34600:23:52,859 –> 00:23:54,859and exploring it for the first time34700:23:54,859 –> 00:23:56,859I mean I guess you could hike down34800:23:56,859 –> 00:23:57,859and you’d get a sense of34900:23:57,859 –> 00:23:59,859the depth of the canyon35000:23:59,859 –> 00:24:00,859you could drive around the rim35100:24:00,859 –> 00:24:02,859you’d get a sense of the length of it35200:24:02,859 –> 00:24:03,859but perhaps the best way35300:24:03,859 –> 00:24:05,859to get an overall sense35400:24:05,859 –> 00:24:07,859of the vastness and beauty35500:24:07,859 –> 00:24:08,859of the Grand Canyon35600:24:08,859 –> 00:24:10,859would be to take a flight over it35700:24:10,859 –> 00:24:12,859now when it comes to the bible35800:24:12,859 –> 00:24:15,859to get a high altitude overview35900:24:15,859 –> 00:24:18,859of what the Bibles story is all about36000:24:18,859 –> 00:24:21,859seems to me to be the best place to begin36100:24:21,859 –> 00:24:23,859the Bible really is one story36200:24:23,859 –> 00:24:24,859it begins in a garden36300:24:24,859 –> 00:24:25,859it ends in a city36400:24:25,859 –> 00:24:26,859and all the way through36500:24:26,859 –> 00:24:28,859it’s about the Lord Jesus Christ36600:24:28,859 –> 00:24:29,859and flying through the Bible36700:24:29,859 –> 00:24:31,859is kind of cookies-on-the-bottom-shelf36800:24:31,859 –> 00:24:33,859to change the analogy36900:24:33,859 –> 00:24:36,859it gives an overall picture37000:24:36,859 –> 00:24:38,859an introduction to the scripture37100:24:38,859 –> 00:24:40,859that I hope will help and encourage people37200:24:40,859 –> 00:24:42,859to want to explore more37300:24:42,859 –> 00:24:43,859when they get on the ground37400:24:43,859 –> 00:24:45,859well we’d love to send you37500:24:45,859 –> 00:24:46,859a copy of Colin’s book37600:24:46,859 –> 00:24:48,859Fly through the Bible37700:24:48,859 –> 00:24:49,859to say thank you37800:24:49,859 –> 00:24:51,859for setting up a new direct debit37900:24:51,859 –> 00:24:53,859to the work of Open the Bible38000:24:53,859 –> 00:24:55,859in the amount of £5 per month or more38100:24:55,859 –> 00:24:58,859or one-off gift of £50 more38200:24:58,859 –> 00:24:59,859this month38300:24:59,859 –> 00:25:00,859full terms and conditions38400:25:00,859 –> 00:25:02,859are on our website38500:25:02,859 –> 00:25:05,859at openthebible.org.uk38600:25:05,859 –> 00:25:07,859and you can give online38700:25:08,859 –> 00:25:09,859For Open the Bible38800:25:09,859 –> 00:25:10,859and Pastor Colin Smith38900:25:10,859 –> 00:25:11,859I’m David Fick39000:25:11,859 –> 00:25:12,859and I hope you’ll join us again39100:25:12,859 –> 00:25:14,859next time on Open the Bible39200:25:19,859 –> 00:25:20,859If you knew39300:25:20,859 –> 00:25:21,859that you were about to39400:25:21,859 –> 00:25:22,859speak with your loved ones39500:25:22,859 –> 00:25:23,859for the last time39600:25:23,859 –> 00:25:25,859what would you say?39700:25:25,859 –> 00:25:27,859Find out what Moses said39800:25:27,859 –> 00:25:29,859next time on Open the Bible