100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:10,120I have to tell you we marveled as we watched His life. He was everything God200:00:10,120 –> 00:00:16,760intended a human being to be. Imagine we said to each other, imagine if other men300:00:16,760 –> 00:00:19,379and women could become like him.400:00:19,379 –> 00:00:24,020Welcome to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. Glad you could500:00:24,020 –> 00:00:27,240be with us today. And Colin, we often think about characters from the Christmas600:00:27,400 –> 00:00:32,119story like Mary, Joseph, the wise men. But today we’re looking at the Christmas700:00:32,119 –> 00:00:34,439story through the eyes of The Angel Gabriel.800:00:34,439 –> 00:00:38,619Here’s the story of Jesus viewed from heaven itself, and900:00:38,619 –> 00:00:42,799there’s a fascinating reference in the New Testament. Even angels long to look1000:00:42,799 –> 00:00:46,480into these things. So let’s take a look at the Christmas story from the1100:00:46,480 –> 00:00:50,580perspective of the angels who were witnesses to it, because they knew Christ1200:00:50,580 –> 00:00:54,560in his glory before he came. What an astonishing thing it must have been for1300:00:54,560 –> 00:00:56,360them to see him born as a baby.1400:00:56,480 –> 00:01:00,619So stay with us if you can, as we hear Gabriel’s story. Here’s1500:01:00,619 –> 00:01:01,119Colin.1600:01:01,119 –> 00:01:04,559It really is great to be here. And, you know, I guess the1700:01:04,559 –> 00:01:11,540first thing to say is it really doesn’t feel all that strange. Because you see,1800:01:11,540 –> 00:01:21,239every time you worship, my colleagues are here. So this is a familiar place.1900:01:21,239 –> 00:01:25,580And the truth is that my colleagues are around you far more than you probably2000:01:25,900 –> 00:01:33,300think. You know, the great privilege of my life is to stand in the presence2100:01:33,300 –> 00:01:40,940of God. I see how the divine love flows between the Father and the2200:01:40,940 –> 00:01:47,699Son and the Spirit and then from them to us all. But what I want you to2300:01:47,699 –> 00:01:53,360understand today is that you can experience the love of God in a way2400:01:53,360 –> 00:02:03,320that is beyond anything I can ever know. Let me tell you about it. See, our2500:02:03,320 –> 00:02:10,699Father has made three orders of creation. There are the animals, they2600:02:10,699 –> 00:02:17,160have bodies, but they don’t have souls. Then there are us the angels. We have2700:02:17,160 –> 00:02:21,399souls, but we do not have bodies. We can appear as you know, but we have no2800:02:22,119 –> 00:02:30,619physical form. Then there are you the humans. You are body and soul knit2900:02:30,619 –> 00:02:36,800together in a strange and wonderful union, which to us is endlessly3000:02:36,800 –> 00:02:45,240fascinating. You know, we are amazed at how often human beings miss the unique3100:02:45,240 –> 00:02:51,740glory of your creation. Now, I used to make us laugh, you know, in past3200:02:51,740 –> 00:02:59,000generations your scientific materialists dismiss the spiritual and3300:02:59,000 –> 00:03:03,800they placed all their interests in the physical. As if a human being were no3400:03:03,800 –> 00:03:08,360more than a highly developed animal or a programmable machine.3500:03:08,699 –> 00:03:14,139Had they never heard of love? Did they really believe that what they3600:03:14,139 –> 00:03:19,039experienced in the birth of a child or around the Christmas tree with the3700:03:19,039 –> 00:03:27,080family was just the chemical stimulus of something going on in the brain?3800:03:28,440 –> 00:03:33,000But if you think of yourself as a highly developed animal or a programmable3900:03:33,000 –> 00:03:39,460machine you have totally undersold yourself and misunderstood the glory4000:03:39,559 –> 00:03:48,419unique nature created by God. Of course today as we watch the human world we see4100:03:48,419 –> 00:03:56,639the opposite problem. Spirituality is back in vogue and so now folks have the4200:03:56,639 –> 00:04:01,520idea that as long as you are spiritual in some way it really doesn’t matter4300:04:01,520 –> 00:04:12,119what you do with your body. So we see kids spending hours and hours looking at4400:04:12,119 –> 00:04:20,500grotesque images on film and in video games completely unaware of how what4500:04:20,500 –> 00:04:26,679they see with their eyes goes through the body and right into the soul. And it4600:04:26,700 –> 00:04:35,000shrivels the emotions, it dulls the conscience and dampens spiritual life. In4700:04:35,000 –> 00:04:45,040fact it dulls all the senses which is exactly what your enemy wants. Now just a4800:04:45,040 –> 00:04:48,920word of personal introduction before I get into my story. Did you know that4900:04:48,920 –> 00:04:55,600there are only two angels mentioned by name in the Bible? Apart from the other5000:04:55,679 –> 00:05:00,920Fallen one who I want to speak about today. But one’s name is Michael, my5100:05:00,920 –> 00:05:08,359colleague, the archangel. The other is me, Gabriel. I was chosen to be God’s special5200:05:08,359 –> 00:05:16,540messenger. A great privilege. Not on one but on three occasions. The first was5300:05:16,540 –> 00:05:21,739when I was sent to the Prophet Daniel. He’d been given a vision that he didn’t5400:05:21,739 –> 00:05:25,839understand. Actually Christians have struggled to understand it a great deal5500:05:25,839 –> 00:05:30,380ever since as well. But I was sent at least to help him to make sense of it5600:05:30,380 –> 00:05:36,440all. I remember when I appeared to him he was utterly devastated. Prostrate on the5700:05:36,440 –> 00:05:40,720floor he was trembling. It took him days to recover.5800:05:43,239 –> 00:05:47,679The second time I was sent on a mission was to a man called Zechariah, the5900:05:47,720 –> 00:05:53,239priest serving in the temple of God. My mission then was to announce the birth6000:05:53,239 –> 00:05:59,160of John the Baptist. When I appeared to Zechariah it seemed the same he also6100:05:59,160 –> 00:06:03,959was gripped with fear. I told him the word of God but he didn’t believe it.6200:06:03,959 –> 00:06:08,600Well you can’t have spiritual leaders going around speaking unbelief can you?6300:06:08,600 –> 00:06:15,899And so speech was taken from him. Until his son was born and then his speech6400:06:15,899 –> 00:06:22,720returned and he used it to praise and glorify God. I tell you that so that you6500:06:22,720 –> 00:06:29,239understand that my previous visits to Daniel and Zechariah had obviously been6600:06:29,239 –> 00:06:35,640quite devastating for them and so when I was summoned for my third mission and6700:06:35,640 –> 00:06:43,500told that it was to visit a country girl in her early teens, my first instinct was6800:06:43,500 –> 00:06:50,679to say, are you sure you have the right angel for this? There is a young woman I6900:06:50,679 –> 00:06:59,019was told, to whom you must give this message. It is the most important7000:06:59,019 –> 00:07:08,239announcement we have ever made and the future of the world hangs upon it.7100:07:08,239 –> 00:07:11,799When I heard the message I was to give, I was the one who couldn’t speak. I could7200:07:11,839 –> 00:07:19,160not entirely take it in and the truth is I still can’t. If you had seen his glory7300:07:19,160 –> 00:07:28,359as I did, if you knew him as I do, you would have been staggered and speechless7400:07:28,359 –> 00:07:34,880as well. Well, I took down the details and off I went,7500:07:34,880 –> 00:07:40,600not to Jerusalem, not to the temple, not to a daughter of Caiaphas, the high7600:07:40,600 –> 00:07:49,299priest, but to a peasant girl in a despised down-in-the-heel community7700:07:49,299 –> 00:07:59,320called Nazareth. Why she was chosen I cannot say. God’s choices are as7800:07:59,320 –> 00:08:06,679inscrutable as they are glorious. All I can tell you is that he also has the7900:08:06,679 –> 00:08:13,459right to choose. Her name was Mary, and she was a virgin.8000:08:13,459 –> 00:08:18,079She was already pledged to be married to a man called Joseph who was in the line8100:08:18,079 –> 00:08:22,760of descent that came from David. Their marriage was planned, but it had not yet8200:08:22,760 –> 00:08:29,279taken place. When I appeared I gave her my warmest greeting.8300:08:29,279 –> 00:08:36,960Greetings, I said, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you. Honestly, I8400:08:36,960 –> 00:08:43,559don’t know who was more afraid, she of what was happening, or me as to how she8500:08:43,559 –> 00:08:47,200might respond. I mean, if she were to scream and run away, what was I to do8600:08:47,200 –> 00:08:55,640next? It was obvious to me that she was a woman of great faith, and she seems to8700:08:56,059 –> 00:09:00,539sense that I had come as a messenger from the Lord. I saw how much she was8800:09:00,539 –> 00:09:07,880troubled, and so I said to her, don’t be afraid, Mary. You have found favour with8900:09:07,880 –> 00:09:18,520God. See, I’ve noticed that with humans, when God comes close, your first instinct9000:09:18,880 –> 00:09:26,059is to assume the worst. You just assume that God coming near means trouble for9100:09:26,059 –> 00:09:32,820you. No human conscience is completely clear before God, and so your first9200:09:32,820 –> 00:09:37,140instinct is to be more comfortable with God at a distance than near at hand. I9300:09:37,140 –> 00:09:43,500guess that’s what Mary was thinking too. That’s why I said to her, you have found9400:09:44,219 –> 00:09:51,599favour with God. The word favour means grace, you know that word well. You have9500:09:51,599 –> 00:09:58,239been graced by God, that’s what I told her. And it wasn’t just her, it’s all of9600:09:58,239 –> 00:10:04,559you as well. The whole human race has been graced by God in the coming of9700:10:04,559 –> 00:10:10,799Jesus into the world. The only question is how you will respond to God’s grace9800:10:11,619 –> 00:10:13,500response there to this.9900:10:16,299 –> 00:10:18,299Well, then I gave her this message.10000:10:25,260 –> 00:10:33,159a son, you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great, he will be the son of the most high and the Lord10100:10:33,159 –> 00:10:37,260God will give him the throne of his father David He will reign over the10200:10:38,179 –> 00:10:42,200Kingdom for ever and his kingdom will never end,10300:10:44,580 –> 00:10:47,960I paused and I wondered what she’d say.10400:10:49,619 –> 00:10:52,859Seemed like time stood still just as it does in eternity10500:10:54,000 –> 00:10:54,919And then she spoke10600:10:56,619 –> 00:10:57,960How will this be?10700:10:59,000 –> 00:11:01,520Since I am a virgin, she asked me10800:11:02,820 –> 00:11:03,500Now that was10900:11:03,500 –> 00:11:06,700When I realized that she had not grasped what I was really saying11000:11:07,359 –> 00:11:11,260she thought that I meant that she and her husband would sometime in the future11100:11:11,260 –> 00:11:14,700have a son who would turn out to be one of the great figures of human history11200:11:14,859 –> 00:11:17,219But since she was not married, that was not yet possible11300:11:18,500 –> 00:11:19,719So I tried to explain11400:11:21,260 –> 00:11:25,719It wasn’t easy to find words to express the greatest mystery your world11500:11:25,719 –> 00:11:27,419or ours has ever known11600:11:28,960 –> 00:11:30,500But what I said to her was this11700:11:31,619 –> 00:11:35,559The Holy Spirit will come upon you, I said11800:11:35,559 –> 00:11:39,799The power of the Most High will overshadow you11900:11:39,799 –> 00:11:45,559So the Holy One to be born will be the Son of God12000:11:53,700 –> 00:11:55,700Back to Gabriel’s story now, here’s Colin12100:11:56,099 –> 00:12:00,760How the light and life of heaven could take a human form12200:12:00,760 –> 00:12:05,020is beyond what even angels can grasp12300:12:06,179 –> 00:12:12,219How He could be helpless as a human child is beyond what we can fathom12400:12:13,700 –> 00:12:17,599It is a mystery to me still as much as it is and always12500:12:17,599 –> 00:12:21,200will be to you, but what I tell you is, it happened12600:12:22,640 –> 00:12:25,239All I can say is what I said to Mary12700:12:25,880 –> 00:12:30,059With God nothing is impossible12800:12:32,059 –> 00:12:34,280Well, after that I held my breath12900:12:35,859 –> 00:12:38,400Well, actually angels don’t have breath13000:12:38,400 –> 00:12:41,640But it’s just a way of speaking that you would understand13100:12:41,960 –> 00:12:44,359I waited to see what she would say13200:12:45,159 –> 00:12:49,159God would never do this work through someone unwilling13300:12:49,159 –> 00:12:51,700He has his way of course of drawing our will13400:12:51,700 –> 00:12:55,799But he does not force his way or his will on anyone13500:12:56,760 –> 00:13:01,640No, Mary had a choice to make as all of us do in response to God13600:13:02,039 –> 00:13:05,640And I trembled as I waited to hear what she would say13700:13:06,440 –> 00:13:08,679Then she spoke13800:13:08,679 –> 00:13:12,039I am the Lord’s servant she said13900:13:13,080 –> 00:13:16,460Let it be to me as you have said14000:13:18,039 –> 00:13:20,840And so it was that nine months later, Jesus was born14100:13:22,359 –> 00:13:26,380A whole company of my colleagues appeared in the sky that night14200:13:26,380 –> 00:13:30,200Praising God and announcing the good news to men and women14300:13:31,159 –> 00:13:35,239I have to tell you we marvelled as we watched His life14400:13:36,119 –> 00:13:39,859He was everything God intended a human being to be14500:13:40,580 –> 00:13:46,840Imagine, we said to each other, imagine if other men and women could become like Him14600:13:49,320 –> 00:13:51,880His ministry brought more good to the world14700:13:51,880 –> 00:13:56,520Than anything we had seen in all of human history14800:13:56,520 –> 00:13:59,479And that happened over a period of just three years14900:14:01,000 –> 00:14:04,119And that is why we could hardly believe what happened next15000:14:06,280 –> 00:14:08,919You people crucified Him15100:14:11,239 –> 00:14:12,760I’ll never forget that day15200:14:14,760 –> 00:14:19,719We watched as He was scourged and bound and led away15300:14:21,719 –> 00:14:25,400We waited for Him to call us for deliverance but He never did15400:14:25,479 –> 00:14:31,559When he was nailed to that cross, we said to the Father, please let us go now!15500:14:32,119 –> 00:14:35,000But He held us back15600:14:36,359 –> 00:14:43,159God’s forbearance at human sin has always amazed us15700:14:43,719 –> 00:14:47,559But this had to be humanity’s day of reckoning15800:14:47,559 –> 00:14:50,280We knew that God’s judgment must fall that day15900:14:51,239 –> 00:14:56,679But as we watched, we realized that the judgment16000:14:56,679 –> 00:14:59,559for human sins was falling on Jesus16100:15:01,559 –> 00:15:06,679That He was absorbing it in His own body on your behalf16200:15:08,679 –> 00:15:11,080That He was actually making Himself16300:15:11,479 –> 00:15:12,799the sacrifice16400:15:12,799 –> 00:15:13,960THE sacrifice16500:15:13,960 –> 00:15:15,960for YOUR sins16600:15:15,960 –> 00:15:22,159And then He died16700:15:22,159 –> 00:15:25,520and heaven fell silent16800:15:25,599 –> 00:15:30,320Of course we fully expected his spirit to return to heaven where he belongs16900:15:30,320 –> 00:15:33,840But that would have meant abandoning His humanity17000:15:33,840 –> 00:15:36,640Which would have been of no help to you17100:15:37,679 –> 00:15:39,760So it wasn’t until the third day17200:15:39,760 –> 00:15:42,640that we understood what God was really doing17300:15:42,640 –> 00:15:46,479I will never forget that glorious morning17400:15:46,479 –> 00:15:51,679The corpse of Jesus had been laid out in a sealed tomb17500:15:51,679 –> 00:15:55,739And it was animated that morning with His life17600:15:55,739 –> 00:15:57,940His human body was transformed17700:15:57,940 –> 00:15:59,039It was energized17800:15:59,039 –> 00:16:03,320It was adapted for all eternity17900:16:03,320 –> 00:16:06,080Women came to the tomb that morning looking for His body18000:16:06,080 –> 00:16:09,479and one of my colleagues was sent to tell them18100:16:09,479 –> 00:16:12,059He is risen18200:16:12,140 –> 00:16:15,440After that, he appeared to his disciples many times18300:16:15,440 –> 00:16:18,359and then He ascended into heaven18400:16:18,359 –> 00:16:24,559You can imagine our joy in receiving him back18500:16:24,559 –> 00:16:28,219But I’ll tell you, your joy should be greater than ours18600:16:29,419 –> 00:16:34,340You see, he didn’t die for angels18700:16:34,340 –> 00:16:40,599It wasn’t the nature of angels that he assumed when he came into the world18800:16:40,700 –> 00:16:42,739He became a man18900:16:43,580 –> 00:16:48,239He died and rose for folks like you19000:16:48,239 –> 00:16:53,780and there’s a man in heaven, and his name is Jesus19100:16:53,780 –> 00:16:57,380He’s there for you19200:16:57,380 –> 00:16:59,039He’s the pioneer19300:16:59,039 –> 00:17:03,059He’s the first of many men and women who will become like him19400:17:03,059 –> 00:17:07,000and share his resurrected body, soul19500:17:07,040 –> 00:17:11,380his risen new humanity into everlasting life19600:17:11,380 –> 00:17:12,420He’s your hope19700:17:12,780 –> 00:17:14,239He’s your saviour19800:17:14,239 –> 00:17:15,780He’s your king19900:17:15,780 –> 00:17:17,560He’s your Lord20000:17:18,359 –> 00:17:22,640Now all the talk up there is about the day of his Second Coming20100:17:22,640 –> 00:17:24,180I’ll be with him then20200:17:24,619 –> 00:17:27,839So will Mary and Joseph and all of the disciples20300:17:27,839 –> 00:17:31,339along with everyone else who has ever put their trust in him20400:17:31,339 –> 00:17:35,439And all his people who’re still living will rise to meet him in the air20500:17:35,479 –> 00:17:37,280But you’ll see me then20600:17:38,040 –> 00:17:41,920though you’ll be much more interested in him20700:17:43,119 –> 00:17:45,239You know, talking about seeing angels20800:17:46,920 –> 00:17:48,939it reminds me – sometimes we hear people say20900:17:48,939 –> 00:17:52,119Oh, if only I could see an angel then I would believe21000:17:53,439 –> 00:17:57,319as if an appearance from one of us could be greater21100:17:57,319 –> 00:18:00,560than what God has already done in Christ21200:18:01,359 –> 00:18:04,760My colleagues did a fair bit of appearing before he came21300:18:06,040 –> 00:18:09,640but since he’s come, you shouldn’t expect to see us today21400:18:10,959 –> 00:18:13,239We’re always at work but since he’s come21500:18:13,239 –> 00:18:17,560there is nothing that we can add to what God has revealed in him21600:18:17,560 –> 00:18:20,160Candles are of great value in the darkness21700:18:21,280 –> 00:18:23,920but what would be the point of lighting a candle21800:18:23,920 –> 00:18:25,680in the brilliance of the midday sun?21900:18:28,239 –> 00:18:29,520I’ve only got a couple of minutes22000:18:30,959 –> 00:18:32,280And then I really must fly22100:18:34,400 –> 00:18:35,439So let me just say this22200:18:37,359 –> 00:18:42,000There are some things known to us that are hidden from you22300:18:43,439 –> 00:18:48,000and there are some things known to you that are hidden from us22400:18:49,760 –> 00:18:54,160We can’t imagine what it’s like to be forgiven22500:18:55,040 –> 00:18:56,579To be reconciled22600:18:57,719 –> 00:19:00,680To share the nature of Christ22700:19:01,300 –> 00:19:05,640And to have His spirit living within your own being22800:19:06,839 –> 00:19:10,079See, we have not experienced your tragedy22900:19:11,119 –> 00:19:14,959So we cannot imagine the joy of your restoration23000:19:15,979 –> 00:19:19,540We’ve never been lost so we cannot know what it is to be found23100:19:19,540 –> 00:19:23,920We have not sinned so we cannot know what it really is to be forgiven23200:19:24,040 –> 00:19:26,140We are His servants23300:19:26,660 –> 00:19:32,660But you are His sons and His daughters adopted into His family for all eternity23400:19:33,400 –> 00:19:39,280The intimacy with God that is possible for you is staggering to us23500:19:40,060 –> 00:19:44,520We see His presence but you share His nature23600:19:46,540 –> 00:19:52,540He has made Himself one with you and bound Himself to you forever23700:19:52,979 –> 00:20:00,540That’s why I said you can experience the love of God in ways that are beyond anything that is possible for me23800:20:02,439 –> 00:20:08,099But then there are other things that are known to us and hidden from you23900:20:10,459 –> 00:20:13,339You can’t imagine heaven or hell24000:20:15,040 –> 00:20:17,040I’ve seen them both24100:20:18,000 –> 00:20:22,660You can’t begin to imagine what he has saved you from24200:20:24,459 –> 00:20:26,459Or what he has saved you for24300:20:28,959 –> 00:20:30,959But having seen it24400:20:32,079 –> 00:20:34,939I tell you we find it staggering24500:20:35,900 –> 00:20:40,660That so many human beings give such little thought to their eternal future24600:20:40,979 –> 00:20:44,760Living as if this fleeting world that is passing away was everything24700:20:45,300 –> 00:20:50,339Totally unaware of the eternity that is just beyond the line of your sight24800:20:52,780 –> 00:20:57,119Jesus came into the world to seek and to save the lost24900:20:59,199 –> 00:21:02,000We see men and women losing their way all the time25000:21:02,000 –> 00:21:06,819I have to tell you that whenever anyone repents and comes back to him25100:21:06,819 –> 00:21:11,040There is such joy and celebration among all the angels of heaven25200:21:11,859 –> 00:21:13,859God is for you and25300:21:14,459 –> 00:21:21,300However far you may be from him at this very moment. He wants you back and this is why Christ has come into the world25400:21:22,739 –> 00:21:25,819Believe in him and you will not be disappointed25500:21:27,359 –> 00:21:30,099Follow him and you will never go wrong25600:21:31,500 –> 00:21:35,300Live for him. You will find your life’s true meaning and your purpose25700:21:37,140 –> 00:21:43,199And I know that I speak for all of my colleagues when I say that Jesus Christ is our greatest joy25800:21:44,459 –> 00:21:46,459Is he yours?25900:21:47,540 –> 00:21:53,400See that’s how you know if you belong to heaven26000:21:55,099 –> 00:21:58,219Christ is the joy of heaven and26100:21:59,859 –> 00:22:03,660He’s the joy of all who belong there too26200:22:03,859 –> 00:22:07,180That’s my story26300:22:09,579 –> 00:22:11,579and so may God bless you26400:22:12,719 –> 00:22:14,880and give to you very very wonderful26500:22:15,979 –> 00:22:17,979and a very happy Christmas26600:22:19,219 –> 00:22:22,579You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible and26700:22:23,180 –> 00:22:26,760Gabriel’s story, it’s part of our series Christmas stories26800:22:26,760 –> 00:22:30,719and if you’ve missed any of the series so far or you want to go back and listen again26900:22:30,780 –> 00:22:32,979You can do that by coming online to our website27000:22:33,599 –> 00:22:35,599openthebible.org.uk27100:22:36,680 –> 00:22:40,540Open the Bible is able to stay on this station and the internet and27200:22:40,900 –> 00:22:45,119Available as a podcast because of the generous financial support of our listeners27300:22:45,160 –> 00:22:49,439That’s people like you, and if you already give to support the work27400:22:49,599 –> 00:22:55,560Thank you so much. If supporting Open the Bible is something you’d like to start doing this month27500:22:55,560 –> 00:22:57,560We’re delighted to offer a free gift27600:22:57,979 –> 00:23:03,760Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham to tell us about it. Thanks David. Yes this month27700:23:03,760 –> 00:23:08,280we are really excited to be giving away Colin Smith’s newest book and27800:23:08,560 –> 00:23:12,780the final book in the fly and drive through the Bible series27900:23:14,420 –> 00:23:21,439Hike through the Bible. This book takes you on a guided 50 session journey through the whole storyline of Scripture28000:23:21,599 –> 00:23:26,459It’s a little bit like taking a steady hike with a trusted pastor by your side28100:23:27,319 –> 00:23:31,060Colin helps you navigate the rugged terrain of the Old Testament28200:23:31,219 –> 00:23:38,439pause at places of grace and promise and then climb the peaks where the glory of Jesus shines most clearly28300:23:39,239 –> 00:23:41,520Each chapter is short and accessible28400:23:42,160 –> 00:23:48,939With simple reflection questions to help you apply what you’re learning whether you read it on your own or with a small group28500:23:48,939 –> 00:23:53,040I also particularly like the fact that at the end of each chapter28600:23:53,040 –> 00:23:59,420There is a short verse to memorize if you’ve enjoyed life through the Bible or drive through the Bible28700:23:59,819 –> 00:24:04,060this final installment completes the journey helping you see how all of28800:24:04,560 –> 00:24:07,520Scripture fits together as one great story and28900:24:07,959 –> 00:24:11,880We would love to send you a copy for free this month29000:24:12,300 –> 00:24:18,959when you set up a new direct debit of at least 5 pounds or give a one-off gift of at least29100:24:19,439 –> 00:24:25,400£50.00 to support the ministry of open the Bible UK and with Christmas just around the corner29200:24:25,400 –> 00:24:32,359I think it would be a lovely treat and a really encouraging way to begin the new year in God’s Word29300:24:33,099 –> 00:24:38,599just don’t forget to leave your address when you donate so that we can make sure we can post your gift well29400:24:38,599 –> 00:24:42,959we’d love to send you Collin’s new book when you set up a new direct debit of29500:24:43,920 –> 00:24:45,920per month or more or a29600:24:46,079 –> 00:24:52,079One-off gift of £50 or more this month full terms and conditions online at our website29700:24:52,239 –> 00:24:56,500Open the Bible org UK and you can give online29800:24:56,979 –> 00:25:00,839Don’t forget to leave your name and address so we can send you your gift29900:25:01,800 –> 00:25:08,400For Open the Bible and Pastor Collen Smith. I’m David Pick and I look forward to being with you again next time30000:25:13,959 –> 00:25:15,959You30100:25:17,800 –> 00:25:20,800Abraham experienced God’s blessing during his lifetime30200:25:21,180 –> 00:25:27,959But he was still waiting and looking for something when he died. Find out what that was next time on Open the Bible