Get the Right Diagnosis, Part 2

100:00:00,880 –> 00:00:02,880I200:00:03,080 –> 00:00:09,260Find it hard to think of any point at which the Bible and our culture are in quite such obvious300:00:10,740 –> 00:00:16,360Disagreement our culture proclaims the goodness of people at the core400:00:17,760 –> 00:00:19,760Bible says that is completely false500:00:20,680 –> 00:00:23,799Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and Colin600:00:23,799 –> 00:00:27,600It sounds like you’re saying there that where evil to our very core700:00:27,980 –> 00:00:33,380Well, it’s not me that’s saying that I’m thinking of the scripture that says that the heart of man is deceitful and800:00:34,119 –> 00:00:37,360Desperately wicked ouch. Yeah, it hurts now900:00:37,360 –> 00:00:41,419Nobody likes to be told that but that’s what the Word of God actually says1000:00:41,439 –> 00:00:49,060We prefer to live in this illusion that actually we’re so good inside and that all the problems there for our external1100:00:49,060 –> 00:00:53,060They’re all outside of me. And what the scripture says is no they’re inside1200:00:53,580 –> 00:00:57,240There are the effects of sin in our fallen nature1300:00:57,240 –> 00:01:03,900And therefore we’re dependent on the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to change us not from the outside in but from the inside out1400:01:03,900 –> 00:01:07,199So as we begin to understand that, how do we start to change?1500:01:07,959 –> 00:01:10,419Well, that’s where we come to the truth of the new birth1600:01:10,620 –> 00:01:15,400Because if it’s my heart that has to change then I have to be born again1700:01:15,400 –> 00:01:20,239And that’s something I don’t have the capacity to do for myself. God has to do that for me1800:01:20,239 –> 00:01:25,379So as soon as you really grasp the doctrine of sin, the problem that’s wrong in my heart1900:01:25,599 –> 00:01:31,559That’s what brings us to cast ourselves upon the grace and the mercy of God as long as we think we’re ok2000:01:31,559 –> 00:01:35,220We’ll merely see God as someone out there to help us a little bit at the edges2100:01:35,400 –> 00:01:38,959But once you see that the heart is desperately wicked you say Lord2200:01:38,959 –> 00:01:41,480I need a new heart and only You can give it to me2300:01:41,480 –> 00:01:47,839So join us if you can in Psalm 51 as we continue our message, get the right diagnosis2400:01:48,620 –> 00:01:51,980Now as we go through this diagnosis will you follow me with your Bible open, please?2500:01:51,980 –> 00:01:55,459We’re going to look at the terms that he uses that begin to2600:01:56,000 –> 00:01:57,660explain and open up for us2700:01:57,660 –> 00:02:04,160Just want the problem with the human condition really is and I want you to notice first of all in verse 1 there that he2800:02:04,160 –> 00:02:06,160speaks of my2900:02:06,260 –> 00:02:08,259Transgressions3000:02:09,860 –> 00:02:15,759Verse one have mercy on me O God according to your unfailing love according to your great compassion3100:02:16,320 –> 00:02:18,320Blot out my3200:02:20,059 –> 00:02:22,059Transgressions3300:02:22,479 –> 00:02:26,979Now to transgress is to step over a3400:02:27,679 –> 00:02:29,679boundary line and3500:02:29,720 –> 00:02:37,759very simply the Bible gives to us boundary lines that God has set for us in human behavior and3600:02:38,320 –> 00:02:42,979To transgress or to trespass is to cut across these boundaries3700:02:43,539 –> 00:02:47,339God has said you shall not commit adultery and3800:02:48,779 –> 00:02:53,619If you read the teaching of Jesus, you’ll find that that does not include just specific acts3900:02:53,619 –> 00:02:59,000But it includes the whole area of sexual sin in the mind as well as in the body4000:03:00,940 –> 00:03:02,940You shall not kill4100:03:02,960 –> 00:03:04,940but if you read the teaching of Jesus4200:03:04,940 –> 00:03:11,979You will find very clearly that that includes the whole area of the abuse of other people including our words4300:03:13,279 –> 00:03:16,699including the ways in which we suppress other personalities4400:03:18,600 –> 00:03:21,139You shall not steal you shall not covet4500:03:23,259 –> 00:03:26,039Includes that craving to be in another person’s position4600:03:28,300 –> 00:03:30,339You shall not give false testimony4700:03:31,419 –> 00:03:37,100Including the whole area of the masks that we wear the images that we knowingly and falsely present4800:03:39,020 –> 00:03:41,380Now David says I’ve stepped over the line God4900:03:43,440 –> 00:03:45,440And I’m worried about my transgression5000:03:47,660 –> 00:03:52,720But it doesn’t stop there notice first to he talks about my sin5100:03:55,380 –> 00:03:58,580Because of your mercy blot out my transgression and5200:03:59,580 –> 00:04:01,580cleanse me5300:04:01,660 –> 00:04:04,220From my sin the word sin in the Bible5400:04:04,860 –> 00:04:07,779Slightly different range of meaning it means to come up short5500:04:08,399 –> 00:04:10,399off the mark5600:04:11,059 –> 00:04:17,420Also remember one occasion back in London a few years ago now when a friend of mine who was a missionary in Africa5700:04:17,640 –> 00:04:21,980had brought back a genuine African hunters bow and arrow5800:04:22,700 –> 00:04:24,700magnificent thing four feet long5900:04:24,899 –> 00:04:26,899seemed to weigh a ton and6000:04:27,440 –> 00:04:33,000He gave me this demonstration kind of stands there puts this arrow and holds this thing looks absolutely magnificent6100:04:33,359 –> 00:04:36,739there were fields way way way behind their house and6200:04:37,679 –> 00:04:39,760He shoots for the Sun and this thing6300:04:40,399 –> 00:04:42,399gliding beautifully6400:04:43,320 –> 00:04:45,320This is to me. Have a turn6500:04:46,239 –> 00:04:48,339Well just before my inaugural6600:04:48,339 –> 00:04:50,040experience of archery6700:04:50,040 –> 00:04:54,760He said to me noticing that just about where the sound desk is there about ten feet away6800:04:55,119 –> 00:04:57,459the children had a rabbit hutch and6900:04:58,079 –> 00:05:00,959He said just before you try. I’m gonna take the rabbit out7000:05:01,880 –> 00:05:03,880rather insulting and7100:05:04,019 –> 00:05:06,019But7200:05:06,179 –> 00:05:09,559I tell you I’ve never in all my life been so thankful7300:05:10,040 –> 00:05:11,019for7400:05:11,019 –> 00:05:12,799for the prevention of7500:05:12,799 –> 00:05:19,100Disaster I took this thing and aiming for the Sun as best I could it kind of slid off at the optimum7600:05:19,380 –> 00:05:23,500Moment and skated along the path and landed up just in front of the rabbit hutch7700:05:24,920 –> 00:05:29,640Unbelievably embarrassing well if you can get that picture in your mind that arrow7800:05:30,559 –> 00:05:31,859sinned7900:05:32,260 –> 00:05:34,279It was destined to8000:05:36,179 –> 00:05:38,179Shoot for the sky8100:05:39,079 –> 00:05:43,299But the reality was it skated limply along the ground8200:05:44,500 –> 00:05:46,500Sin is literally8300:05:46,820 –> 00:05:48,700missing the mark8400:05:48,700 –> 00:05:50,700but missing the mark by8500:05:51,579 –> 00:05:53,339That’s what the word means8600:05:53,339 –> 00:05:59,059You say well. What is the target? What is the mark Jesus said it out very simply he said you love the Lord your God8700:05:59,260 –> 00:06:02,440Your heart soul and mind and strength and love your neighbour as yourself8800:06:02,440 –> 00:06:07,779You are made by God to fly in love for God and in love for your neighbour8900:06:07,920 –> 00:06:09,440I9000:06:09,440 –> 00:06:10,600Look at my life9100:06:10,600 –> 00:06:11,700I love God9200:06:11,700 –> 00:06:12,959I love my neighbour9300:06:12,959 –> 00:06:18,739but to love God with all my heart all my soul all my mind and all my strength as there been one day in my9400:06:18,739 –> 00:06:20,739life when I’ve done that9500:06:22,700 –> 00:06:27,739David says it’s not just that I’m worried about the places where I’ve broken your law9600:06:29,260 –> 00:06:34,359I’m worried also about the fact that there is my sin. I just am9700:06:34,880 –> 00:06:37,279Miserably short of everything you’ve called me to beg9800:06:38,619 –> 00:06:44,739And then he uses a third word in verse 2 again notice how he speaks there about my9900:06:45,359 –> 00:06:47,059iniquity10000:06:47,059 –> 00:06:49,059Now iniquity literally means10100:06:49,700 –> 00:06:52,339Twistedness you think of a piece of shrapnel10200:06:52,980 –> 00:07:01,220The remains of a bomb case after an explosion has taken place if ever held a piece of shrapnel in your hand10300:07:01,220 –> 00:07:08,100I mean you wonder how it could ever have been a flat piece of metal. It is so clinkered twisted in every dimension10400:07:10,220 –> 00:07:16,299That’s what the word iniquity means he says there is something within me that is twisted10500:07:17,019 –> 00:07:23,700So, God, here’s the problem. I’m beginning to diagnose and bring before you. I’ve transgressed your law10600:07:23,739 –> 00:07:30,140I have come up short of your calling and the reason is that there is something twisted in my very nature10700:07:31,940 –> 00:07:35,940Now try and follow this for a moment the bible’s teaching is primarily10800:07:38,140 –> 00:07:42,279Not that we are sinners because we sin10900:07:44,040 –> 00:07:46,040But that we sin11000:07:46,679 –> 00:07:48,679Because we are sinners11100:07:50,720 –> 00:07:56,959Let me say that again the bible’s teaching at its heart on this subject is not that we are sinners because we sin11200:07:57,760 –> 00:08:01,920In other words some people think you know that we’re all going along very nicely basically good people at heart11300:08:02,000 –> 00:08:05,820And occasionally we stumble over the odd break we make a mistake and that makes us sinners11400:08:06,079 –> 00:08:11,679No, that is not what the bible is saying to us. It’s saying it the other way around it is saying the reason we sin11500:08:12,959 –> 00:08:14,959Is because we are sinners11600:08:15,619 –> 00:08:18,420The reason that there is bad fruit in our lives11700:08:19,299 –> 00:08:21,299Is that there’s something wrong with the tree11800:08:22,260 –> 00:08:25,959The reason david is now beginning to diagnose that there are these11900:08:26,420 –> 00:08:32,020Symptoms of actions that are foul in god’s sight my transgressions and my sin12000:08:32,260 –> 00:08:36,340It arises from the fact that there’s something twisted that goes to the very core of me12100:08:38,380 –> 00:08:40,460The problem is not only what I did12200:08:41,239 –> 00:08:43,239But what is what I did12300:08:44,159 –> 00:08:46,380The problem is the reason I did it12400:08:48,299 –> 00:08:50,299It’s a heart problem12500:08:51,159 –> 00:08:57,400And if my idea of repentance is just that I say sorry what an earth will stop me from doing exactly the same thing again12600:08:59,340 –> 00:09:03,700Being sorry is hardly an adequate defense against the pool of the quicksand12700:09:05,219 –> 00:09:07,219I’m sorry I stepped12800:09:07,799 –> 00:09:13,179Transgressed your law gone over the boundary lines I admit that12900:09:13,700 –> 00:09:20,320But I’ve also fallen short the reason for these things there’s something twisted within me next question David13000:09:20,320 –> 00:09:22,320If there’s something twisted within you ended that begin13100:09:24,080 –> 00:09:26,460Notice how he answers that question in verse 513200:09:28,020 –> 00:09:31,200Surely I have been a sinner from birth13300:09:32,580 –> 00:09:36,020sinful from the time my mother conceived me13400:09:37,520 –> 00:09:39,520Fascinating statement13500:09:39,640 –> 00:09:45,059He’s not saying of course that he was born as the result of a sinful relationship that his mother once had13600:09:45,260 –> 00:09:47,840But what he is saying is that the problem of this?13700:09:48,200 –> 00:09:54,280Sinful nature this inner twistedness has its origin as far back as his very conception13800:09:55,140 –> 00:09:56,299in other words13900:09:56,299 –> 00:10:00,919The twisted of my nature is not the result of some bad things that have happened in my life14000:10:01,039 –> 00:10:03,039It was there from the very beginning14100:10:03,799 –> 00:10:10,380Very significant verse it is not only telling us about human life in the womb14200:10:10,380 –> 00:10:12,380That’s very important14300:10:13,039 –> 00:10:15,979But it’s also telling us about fallen life14400:10:16,599 –> 00:10:18,659in the womb14500:10:19,280 –> 00:10:21,280think about that I14600:10:22,039 –> 00:10:27,840Find it hard to think of any point at which the Bible and our culture are in quite such obvious14700:10:29,640 –> 00:10:31,640disagreement our14800:10:32,159 –> 00:10:35,840culture proclaims the goodness of people at the core14900:10:37,140 –> 00:10:42,500Problems around the edges maybe but basically we’re good unless something happens to make us go terribly wrong15000:10:45,239 –> 00:10:47,239Bible says that is completely false15100:10:50,159 –> 00:10:54,039The problem of the sinful nature is there right in conception15200:10:55,039 –> 00:10:57,039And it’s right at the heart15300:10:57,039 –> 00:11:03,799There is no one righteous says Paul in Romans 3 not even one…15400:11:03,900 –> 00:11:06,000There is no one who understands15500:11:06,380 –> 00:11:08,380no one who’s15600:11:09,440 –> 00:11:15,380You’re listening to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith and a message called get the right diagnosis15700:11:15,500 –> 00:11:19,799It’s part of our series changing direction a look at Psalm 5115800:11:20,200 –> 00:11:22,280And if you ever miss one of the series15900:11:22,320 –> 00:11:26,799It’s very easy to catch up or go back and listen again online at our website16000:11:27,080 –> 00:11:33,359Open the Bible dot org dot UK or find us as a podcast on all the main podcast sites16100:11:33,400 –> 00:11:37,020Search for open the Bible UK or follow the link from our website16200:11:37,719 –> 00:11:41,979Back to the message now we are in Psalm 51. Here again is Colin16300:11:42,640 –> 00:11:49,559There’s a game played very popular in England not really seeing it here. It’s called crown balls. I16400:11:50,440 –> 00:11:55,159Explain it very simply to you, it’s played on a square and very beautiful lawn and16500:11:56,479 –> 00:11:58,760What happens is you take a small white ball?16600:11:59,520 –> 00:12:01,520For the size of a tennis ball16700:12:01,840 –> 00:12:07,000Called the jack and you pull the Jack up the other end off the lawn16800:12:07,000 –> 00:12:12,679And then the two bowlers will take bowls rather larger and the way in which a bowl is16900:12:13,080 –> 00:12:17,979Constructed it’s very interesting. It has a lead weight in one side17000:12:18,580 –> 00:12:24,059The idea is that as you ball you’ve got to get your bowl as near as possible to the jack and the problem of course17100:12:24,059 –> 00:12:25,599Is every time you bowl your ball?17200:12:25,599 –> 00:12:27,080It always curves17300:12:27,080 –> 00:12:31,260Depending on which way you hold it in your hand it may curve to the left or it may curve to the right17400:12:31,260 –> 00:12:34,419But it always curves it is a physical impossibility17500:12:35,059 –> 00:12:37,359for that ball to go straight up the middle17600:12:39,380 –> 00:12:42,799Now that is what the bible is saying about our human nature17700:12:43,700 –> 00:12:47,539Right from the very moment and the beginning of life17800:12:48,900 –> 00:12:52,900Human nature is such that it has this17900:12:53,200 –> 00:12:59,080Bias this waiting that causes it to curve towards sin that causes us to curve18000:12:59,880 –> 00:13:02,900Instinctively away from God and to hide from him18100:13:04,380 –> 00:13:06,119So there’s what he did?18200:13:06,119 –> 00:13:06,619transgression18300:13:06,619 –> 00:13:07,940That’s what he didn’t do sin18400:13:07,940 –> 00:13:12,239There’s the nature that it flows from iniquity and there’s the problem that goes right back to the beginning18500:13:12,599 –> 00:13:17,900Fifthly notice how he confesses that the problem with His sin is that it is against God verse 418600:13:18,599 –> 00:13:19,940against you18700:13:19,940 –> 00:13:21,640You only18800:13:21,640 –> 00:13:23,539Have I sinned?18900:13:23,539 –> 00:13:25,539Such an important statement19000:13:27,280 –> 00:13:32,260You noticed how difficult it is to decide in our culture today on the standard of right and wrong19100:13:33,440 –> 00:13:38,719Who decides what a high crime or misdemeanor is on what basis would they make that decision?19200:13:39,119 –> 00:13:42,119How do we calibrate the seriousness of sin?19300:13:42,679 –> 00:13:44,679that’s19400:13:44,940 –> 00:13:51,580Why we constantly hear phrases like it’s just sex, or it’s just lies about sex19500:13:53,219 –> 00:13:55,559Who calibrates what matters?19600:13:59,080 –> 00:14:04,260We see once. We’ve turned our back on God. We’re left floundering around in the sea of19700:14:04,859 –> 00:14:07,359Relativism in which every man makes up his own moral values19800:14:07,359 –> 00:14:09,359Is our plastic?19900:14:09,619 –> 00:14:11,619See this is the great difference between20000:14:11,859 –> 00:14:18,640Repentance and remorse remorse is that we’re sorry and there’s lots of reasons why we can be sad for something that we did20100:14:19,919 –> 00:14:24,380but repentance comes when I see that I have offended God and20200:14:25,400 –> 00:14:28,739I want to turn back to him and this is where David is coming to20300:14:29,979 –> 00:14:32,039the real issue here20400:14:33,000 –> 00:14:35,619Beyond all that I have done God I’ve20500:14:36,599 –> 00:14:38,599offended you and20600:14:38,880 –> 00:14:42,580It’s not just that I’m struggling with some guilt feelings that is actually20700:14:43,119 –> 00:14:47,820My record in heaven there is a breach in this relationship20800:14:49,359 –> 00:14:51,359How is it to be dealt with20900:14:54,200 –> 00:14:56,200God thinks it’s serious21000:14:57,320 –> 00:15:00,559And then Lotus lastly that21100:15:02,039 –> 00:15:07,960David makes no excuses verse 4 you are proved right when you speak and21200:15:09,440 –> 00:15:11,960Justified when you judge21300:15:14,960 –> 00:15:18,400Now when something’s wrong our first instinct is to hide as we said21400:15:19,880 –> 00:15:22,400Second instinct is to minimize I wasn’t a big deal21500:15:24,159 –> 00:15:28,039Third instinct is to blame oh well it was someone else’s fault21600:15:29,039 –> 00:15:31,760It’s partly mine partly someone else’s21700:15:33,039 –> 00:15:35,039Adam said it was the woman21800:15:35,960 –> 00:15:37,960The woman said it was the serpent21900:15:39,099 –> 00:15:41,739Someone pointed out the serpent didn’t have a leg to stand on22000:15:47,119 –> 00:15:50,320But you know so long as a person is saying well, it wasn’t wholly my fault22100:15:52,039 –> 00:15:56,119As long as we’re trying to deflect blame we’re not at the place of repentance22200:15:56,880 –> 00:15:59,820Repentance comes really when we say22300:16:01,239 –> 00:16:03,239Lord, I’ve transgressed your law22400:16:03,239 –> 00:16:06,739I’ve fallen short of the mark. The problem is something that is within me22500:16:06,760 –> 00:16:11,559It goes right back from the beginning my sin is against you and I’m not wanting to make any excuses22600:16:13,679 –> 00:16:16,640That’s the beginning of repentance22700:16:19,419 –> 00:16:21,419Two questions with which to close22800:16:22,179 –> 00:16:26,099The first is this are you interested in diagnosis?22900:16:30,419 –> 00:16:34,000How many of us would admit this morning that oh sure we’re not perfect23000:16:36,880 –> 00:16:41,559But when it really comes to looking at what God says about human nature and23100:16:42,000 –> 00:16:46,979The extent of sin this corruption that runs throughout human nature23200:16:48,320 –> 00:16:50,760We find ourselves uncomfortable. We don’t want to know23300:16:52,419 –> 00:16:54,419You23400:16:54,700 –> 00:16:59,559Listen if you don’t understand the seriousness of sin, how will you ever appreciate the cross?23500:17:02,159 –> 00:17:07,199How are you ever going to sustain a life of devotion to a redeemer23600:17:08,699 –> 00:17:14,619If all that you really think you needed redeemed from is a few kind of surface problems that appeared now and again on your23700:17:14,619 –> 00:17:16,619life23800:17:17,520 –> 00:17:23,459No, sinced through the generations who have lived a life of devoted love to Jesus Christ23900:17:23,680 –> 00:17:27,599Have done so on the basis that they have discovered their need of Christ24000:17:27,599 –> 00:17:33,619They have sensed from the Scripture the depth of sin within them and they have come to a position of saying I need24100:17:35,219 –> 00:17:39,479And I need him every day of my life, and I can hardly fathom24200:17:40,640 –> 00:17:42,239That he would love me24300:17:42,319 –> 00:17:47,199And go to a cross for me. That is why the Bible says the work of the Holy Spirit is24400:17:47,300 –> 00:17:49,380to convince people off24500:17:50,439 –> 00:17:51,959sin24600:17:51,959 –> 00:17:55,459How else will we ever come to Christ? However will we appreciate?24700:17:56,099 –> 00:17:58,640Christ, however will we cling to Christ?24800:17:59,699 –> 00:18:02,760He came to save his people from their24900:18:03,339 –> 00:18:07,979Sins if we do not understand this issue the rest of the Gospel will never make any25000:18:08,800 –> 00:18:09,880lasting sense25100:18:09,880 –> 00:18:16,660It will only seem like something for the periphery of Life and worthy of little more than an hour on Sunday morning25200:18:18,099 –> 00:18:20,099You interested in diagnosis25300:18:21,319 –> 00:18:23,319Do you want to know what’s wrong with you?25400:18:24,839 –> 00:18:29,939CS Lewis has this wonderful passage in mere Christianity when I was a child he says I25500:18:30,540 –> 00:18:31,459often had a25600:18:31,459 –> 00:18:31,959toothache25700:18:31,959 –> 00:18:37,479And I knew that if I went to my mother she would give me something which would deaden the pain for the night and let25800:18:37,479 –> 00:18:39,079me get some sleep25900:18:39,079 –> 00:18:44,020but I did not go to my mother at least not until the pain became very bad and26000:18:44,599 –> 00:18:46,599The reason I did not go was this I26100:18:47,260 –> 00:18:49,979Did not doubt that she would give me the aspirin26200:18:50,680 –> 00:18:56,719But I knew that she would give me something else. I knew that she would take me to the dentist the next morning26300:18:57,640 –> 00:19:04,300I could not get what I wanted out of her without getting something more which I did not want26400:19:04,859 –> 00:19:06,099I26500:19:06,099 –> 00:19:08,099Wanted immediate relief from the pain26600:19:09,500 –> 00:19:17,040But I could not get it without having my teeth permanently set right and I knew those dentists I26700:19:17,979 –> 00:19:23,819Knew that they start fiddling around with all sorts of other teeth that have not yet even started to ache26800:19:25,900 –> 00:19:28,540They would not let sleeping dogs lie26900:19:29,300 –> 00:19:35,760Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile then says Louis brilliantly if I may put it this way27000:19:37,579 –> 00:19:39,579God is like the dentist27100:19:40,459 –> 00:19:42,459Think of it27200:19:42,579 –> 00:19:48,939Dozens of people he says go to him to be cured of one particular sin, which they’re ashamed of and27300:19:49,500 –> 00:19:51,500He will cure it alright27400:19:52,619 –> 00:19:54,619But he will not stop there27500:19:55,579 –> 00:19:57,579That may be all you asked27600:19:58,380 –> 00:20:03,180But once you call him in he’ll give you the full treatment27700:20:06,280 –> 00:20:12,239You see either we go through life in denial of the deep unseen problem27800:20:13,939 –> 00:20:15,939Which will only get worse27900:20:16,939 –> 00:20:19,680Or we call in the great physician28000:20:19,680 –> 00:20:26,599but call in the great Physician our Lord Jesus Christ, and28100:20:27,260 –> 00:20:29,300He will give you the full treatment and28200:20:30,339 –> 00:20:34,359The full treatment will not take a day or a week or a month or a year28300:20:35,819 –> 00:20:38,760the full treatment takes a lifetime28400:20:41,239 –> 00:20:43,239Sometimes it’s painful28500:20:44,500 –> 00:20:46,500But the outcome is wonderful28600:20:46,739 –> 00:20:48,739Wonderful28700:20:49,000 –> 00:20:55,420For what the full treatment does is this it raises a man or a woman from the quicksand of sin and28800:20:57,680 –> 00:21:04,060It prepares them for eternity in the glory of God Himself28900:21:06,339 –> 00:21:08,560This is authentic Christianity29000:21:09,920 –> 00:21:11,800the Spirit of God29100:21:11,900 –> 00:21:17,780operating on the human soul in this long and sometimes painful process29200:21:17,780 –> 00:21:23,859But preparing a man or a woman for nothing less than reflecting the image of God in all eternity29300:21:23,859 –> 00:21:29,599And David when he thought of where he was and where God could take him said I want that29400:21:31,459 –> 00:21:33,459Do you want that this morning29500:21:34,180 –> 00:21:36,180You29600:21:36,599 –> 00:21:41,780Go into hospital for an exploratory operation be asked to sign a form29700:21:44,380 –> 00:21:47,439Basically, it’s expressing this it’s saying to the doctor I29800:21:49,079 –> 00:21:51,079Sense there’s something wrong29900:21:51,140 –> 00:21:52,060but30000:21:52,060 –> 00:21:55,339I want you to find out the full extent of what it is and30100:21:56,579 –> 00:21:58,859If you find out anything in me30200:21:59,780 –> 00:22:01,780That should not be there30300:22:02,359 –> 00:22:03,500You30400:22:03,500 –> 00:22:05,500Take it out30500:22:05,619 –> 00:22:07,619That’s what I’m asking you to do. I30600:22:08,219 –> 00:22:13,920Give you my permission. I trust myself into your hands. Will you do that with the great physician?30700:22:13,920 –> 00:22:16,000This first step of repentance this morning30800:22:17,500 –> 00:22:19,500Search me30900:22:19,599 –> 00:22:21,599Know me31000:22:22,680 –> 00:22:26,300Show to me and reveal that the depth of the issue and31100:22:27,099 –> 00:22:33,140And whatever is there that should not be there31200:22:34,920 –> 00:22:36,920You take it out31300:22:37,640 –> 00:22:39,640But I want the full treatment31400:22:40,739 –> 00:22:42,739And I place myself holy31500:22:44,319 –> 00:22:45,739Into your hands31600:22:45,739 –> 00:22:51,780You’ve been listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called get the right diagnosis31700:22:51,979 –> 00:22:55,119It’s part of our series about Psalm 51 called31800:22:55,420 –> 00:23:00,300Changing direction, and if you’ve ever missed one of the series or if you want to go back and listen again31900:23:00,380 –> 00:23:02,619You can do that by coming online to our website32000:23:03,140 –> 00:23:10,339open the Bible org UK or you can find us as a podcast and those are on all the main podcast sites32100:23:10,619 –> 00:23:14,780Search for open the Bible UK or follow the link from our website32200:23:15,060 –> 00:23:18,119Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners32300:23:18,160 –> 00:23:25,760It’s you that keep us on the air and online and we’re extremely grateful for the financial support that we get from our listeners32400:23:26,040 –> 00:23:29,260If that’s something you’d like to begin to do for the first time32500:23:29,359 –> 00:23:31,660We have a special offer for you this month32600:23:31,819 –> 00:23:37,180if you’re able to set up a new direct debit of five pounds per month or more or a32700:23:37,500 –> 00:23:41,180One-off gift of 50 pounds or more we’d love to say32800:23:41,180 –> 00:23:45,619Thank you by sending you two copies of Pastor Collins book Christmas stories32900:23:46,459 –> 00:23:50,979Along with five lovely Christmas cards featuring illustrations from the books33000:23:51,439 –> 00:23:55,079Here’s Colin to talk about one of the characters from Christmas stories33100:23:55,079 –> 00:23:59,000It’s the story of Jesus birth from the point of view of King Herod33200:23:59,000 –> 00:23:59,859Yeah, that’s right33300:23:59,859 –> 00:24:07,540And not everyone welcomed the Lord Jesus Christ and Herod certainly did not he was someone who did not receive the Lord Jesus Christ33400:24:07,540 –> 00:24:13,000I’ve been moved by thinking about what that’s like for him now as someone who was so clearly33500:24:13,680 –> 00:24:14,640Apart from Jesus33600:24:14,640 –> 00:24:20,420And opposed to Jesus my prayer for today is that we’re going to get a fresh perspective on the Christmas story33700:24:20,699 –> 00:24:25,540That is going to give us every reason to open our lives to receive Jesus Christ today33800:24:25,540 –> 00:24:29,420So that’s our free gift to you of 2 copies of Christmas stories33900:24:29,520 –> 00:24:34,579Along with 5 Christmas cards if you are able to begin to support open the Bible34000:24:35,060 –> 00:24:38,859Financially this month full terms and conditions are on our website34100:24:39,500 –> 00:24:41,739openthebible.org.uk34200:24:41,739 –> 00:24:45,000And you can give online on the website34300:24:45,500 –> 00:24:48,660Don’t forget though to include your full name and address34400:24:49,239 –> 00:24:53,140Don’t give anonymously so that we can send you your free gift34500:24:54,060 –> 00:25:00,359For open the Bible and pastor Colin Smith, I’m david pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time34600:25:01,359 –> 00:25:03,359You34700:25:06,060 –> 00:25:12,060You’ll never be able to make more than surface changes in your life until you discover this34800:25:12,500 –> 00:25:15,880Find out what it is next time on open the Bible