100:00:00,980 –> 00:00:06,200This takes us to the heart of repentance.200:00:06,420 –> 00:00:12,100David is concerned not only with what he’s done, and not only with the effects of what he has done,300:00:12,100 –> 00:00:14,980but with the reason for what he has done.400:00:15,160 –> 00:00:16,860Why did I do it?500:00:17,080 –> 00:00:19,879And he knows that the problem is in the heart.600:00:19,879 –> 00:00:22,879Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.700:00:23,160 –> 00:00:25,799I’m David Pick and I’m glad you could be with us today.800:00:25,940 –> 00:00:29,920And Colin, it’s so important to get to that point that David got to,900:00:29,920 –> 00:00:31,879to ask the why question.1000:00:32,119 –> 00:00:33,000Yeah, that’s right.1100:00:33,000 –> 00:00:37,400So, David asks for forgiveness in Psalm 51 that we’re looking at today.1200:00:37,400 –> 00:00:38,980But he doesn’t stop there.1300:00:38,980 –> 00:00:43,799He knows that if he is only forgiven, but remains the same person as he was before,1400:00:43,799 –> 00:00:47,400he’ll go back and do the same thing that he just had to ask forgiveness for.1500:00:47,400 –> 00:00:48,599So, he says,1600:00:51,360 –> 00:00:53,299God, I need you to forgive me,1700:00:53,299 –> 00:00:55,980but I also need you to change my heart.1800:00:55,980 –> 00:00:59,119Otherwise, I’ll just go back and do the same things again.1900:00:59,119 –> 00:01:01,680And so, this gets us to the heart of repentance,2000:01:01,680 –> 00:01:04,199not only being washed, which is wonderful,2100:01:04,199 –> 00:01:08,000but being changed so that we’re able to move in a new direction.2200:01:08,080 –> 00:01:11,080We see how that happens for David, in Psalm 51,2300:01:11,080 –> 00:01:16,080so join us there if you can, as we continue the message Get the Right Prescription.2400:01:16,080 –> 00:01:17,040Here is Colin.2500:01:17,040 –> 00:01:23,239Some of you will remember, back on the 17th of March, 1978,2600:01:23,239 –> 00:01:29,82020 years ago, a super tanker, by the name of the Amoco Cadiz,2700:01:29,820 –> 00:01:33,019ran aground off the coast of Brittany.2800:01:33,019 –> 00:01:35,260It’s really hard to imagine the scale of this,2900:01:35,260 –> 00:01:41,059but this tanker was carrying 233 million tons3000:01:41,059 –> 00:01:45,839of crude oil, nearly a quarter million tons of oil.3100:01:46,699 –> 00:01:51,320And it runs aground 20 years ago off the coast of Brittany,3200:01:51,320 –> 00:01:57,980tipping tons of this crude oil into the Atlantic Ocean.3300:01:57,980 –> 00:01:59,720Now as the disaster progressed, oil3400:01:59,720 –> 00:02:03,620was swept up onto more than 130 beaches3500:02:03,620 –> 00:02:06,199on the coast of Brittany.3600:02:06,199 –> 00:02:12,059Some of them were covered with crude oil up to one foot deep.3700:02:12,460 –> 00:02:15,580An amazing disaster.3800:02:15,580 –> 00:02:18,899The damage was incredible.3900:02:18,899 –> 00:02:21,740But when you think about that, you4000:02:21,740 –> 00:02:24,839see a disaster like this gives rise to more than one problem,4100:02:24,839 –> 00:02:27,860doesn’t it?4200:02:27,860 –> 00:02:29,259I mean, for a start, there’s obviously4300:02:29,259 –> 00:02:30,380the issue of compensation.4400:02:30,380 –> 00:02:32,460There are legal issues, which actually were dealt4500:02:32,460 –> 00:02:34,919with here in Chicago, where a judge4600:02:34,919 –> 00:02:41,020award damages against the company of $85.2 million.4700:02:41,300 –> 00:02:42,139$85.2 million.4800:02:42,139 –> 00:02:47,979There were legal issues and costs to be dealt with.4900:02:47,979 –> 00:02:51,039But there are other problems to be addressed.5000:02:51,039 –> 00:02:54,539Justice may be served in the courts,5100:02:54,539 –> 00:02:56,039but there’s still a massive cleanup5200:02:56,039 –> 00:02:58,500to be done on the beaches.5300:02:58,500 –> 00:03:01,259It is one thing to pay compensation.5400:03:01,259 –> 00:03:05,000It is another thing to deal with the mess.5500:03:05,000 –> 00:03:09,520Now, when God deals with our sin problem,5600:03:09,520 –> 00:03:11,979you see, he not only deals with the cost,5700:03:11,979 –> 00:03:16,479the penalty, sin, and forgiveness,5800:03:16,479 –> 00:03:22,220he also deals with the issue of pollution and cleansing.5900:03:22,220 –> 00:03:23,899Remember how it’s beautifully brought together6000:03:23,899 –> 00:03:26,179in 1 John chapter 1 and verse 9,6100:03:26,179 –> 00:03:28,000if we confess our sins,6200:03:28,000 –> 00:03:33,039he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.6300:03:33,039 –> 00:03:36,779He deals with these matters of justice, mercy.6400:03:36,779 –> 00:03:38,000He clears the record.6500:03:38,000 –> 00:03:39,619Nothing to pay.6600:03:39,619 –> 00:03:40,940But remember, it goes on.6700:03:40,940 –> 00:03:46,339Not only that, he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness.6800:03:46,339 –> 00:03:47,839And these are distinct things.6900:03:47,839 –> 00:03:51,600Sin causes an offense against God,7000:03:51,600 –> 00:03:56,139which leaves a price to be paid that was paid by Jesus.7100:03:56,139 –> 00:04:00,619But sin also causes pollution in our hearts,7200:04:00,619 –> 00:04:04,100a pollution that only God can cleanse.7300:04:04,100 –> 00:04:06,679And God always acts in these two spheres7400:04:06,679 –> 00:04:10,399together, they’re part of the same prescription.7500:04:10,399 –> 00:04:14,759You cannot have forgiveness if you do not also7600:04:14,759 –> 00:04:17,760want to be clean.7700:04:17,760 –> 00:04:20,260Notice how David puts it here in verse seven.7800:04:20,260 –> 00:04:23,720Having explored the mercy of God that leads to forgiveness,7900:04:23,720 –> 00:04:26,100he now comes in verse seven and he says,8000:04:26,100 –> 00:04:30,000cleanse me with hyssop and I shall be clean.8100:04:30,000 –> 00:04:35,640Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.8200:04:35,679 –> 00:04:37,399You see, he’s saying to himself, Lord,8300:04:37,399 –> 00:04:40,160it’s not just that I’m guilty,8400:04:40,160 –> 00:04:44,279it’s that I feel dirty.8500:04:45,600 –> 00:04:49,239I find it hard to stand with joy before you8600:04:49,239 –> 00:04:51,119because I know I’ve offended you,8700:04:51,119 –> 00:04:52,600but there’s another problem, God,8800:04:52,600 –> 00:04:55,279I find it hard to live with myself8900:04:55,279 –> 00:04:57,040because of what I know I’ve done.9000:04:58,920 –> 00:05:00,160That’s why we read from Zechariah9100:05:00,160 –> 00:05:01,519in chapter three this morning.9200:05:01,519 –> 00:05:04,600Isn’t that a full picture of this man9300:05:05,079 –> 00:05:07,600standing dressed in filthy clothes?9400:05:08,519 –> 00:05:11,440Most of you look pretty well dressed this morning,9500:05:11,440 –> 00:05:14,040but imagine yourself for a moment in filthy clothes.9600:05:14,040 –> 00:05:16,440Imagine yourself spending an afternoon9700:05:16,440 –> 00:05:18,519trudging through one of the Brittany beaches9800:05:18,519 –> 00:05:22,51920 years ago, a foot deep in crude oil.9900:05:23,600 –> 00:05:24,760And after one afternoon,10000:05:24,760 –> 00:05:27,519the stench of it is through all your clothes.10100:05:28,519 –> 00:05:32,600The stain of it is up to you, your knees.10200:05:33,600 –> 00:05:35,359You look at your clothes and you think10300:05:35,359 –> 00:05:37,559they could never be made clean.10400:05:39,359 –> 00:05:41,359They’re only fit to be burned.10500:05:43,920 –> 00:05:45,760It’s something of how David feels10600:05:45,760 –> 00:05:50,760as this filth seems to cling to his conscience.10700:05:55,079 –> 00:05:57,720He says, cleanse me with hyssop.10800:05:57,720 –> 00:06:00,880Hyssop was used as part of the ritual10900:06:01,079 –> 00:06:03,779of cleansing of lepers.11000:06:04,619 –> 00:06:07,700I think the fact that he makes that reference11100:06:07,700 –> 00:06:08,959just gives you an indication11200:06:08,959 –> 00:06:09,899of how he feels.11300:06:09,899 –> 00:06:11,920I just feel like a leper.11400:06:15,839 –> 00:06:17,679If the first problem with sin11500:06:17,679 –> 00:06:19,760is what it does as an offense to God,11600:06:19,760 –> 00:06:21,239the second problem is what it does11700:06:21,239 –> 00:06:22,140to you and me.11800:06:23,320 –> 00:06:26,200It pollutes our hearts.11900:06:26,720 –> 00:06:28,600Think what it does to us.12000:06:30,920 –> 00:06:35,339Think of the beauty of a line of sandy beaches.12100:06:37,040 –> 00:06:41,739Think of crystal clear water lapping up.12200:06:42,940 –> 00:06:47,940Think of the joyful life of birds and plants and fish.12300:06:50,779 –> 00:06:54,600And now think of that pumping crude oil12400:06:54,619 –> 00:06:59,200in the mid of the tanker, and devastating the beauty.12500:07:02,700 –> 00:07:04,440That’s what sin does.12600:07:04,440 –> 00:07:09,440It does that in our minds, it does that in our hearts.12700:07:11,260 –> 00:07:13,279It spoils who we are.12800:07:16,239 –> 00:07:20,019That’s why when we get into it, we feel dirty.12900:07:20,799 –> 00:07:25,619Perhaps, and sometimes you look at the stain.13000:07:25,619 –> 00:07:27,700You look at your own life, and13100:07:27,700 –> 00:07:29,720you sense some of these feelings that13200:07:29,720 –> 00:07:31,579are part of the conviction of sin,13300:07:31,579 –> 00:07:34,000and you say, can I ever be clean?13400:07:34,000 –> 00:07:35,540Oh, David must’ve said that.13500:07:37,859 –> 00:07:39,720To make a man clean after this sort of thing13600:07:39,720 –> 00:07:40,760will take a miracle.13700:07:41,839 –> 00:07:46,579And that’s exactly what David is asking for, cleanse me.13800:07:46,579 –> 00:07:49,500See what he saying, lord, if I could just look13900:07:49,559 –> 00:07:53,279at that lady Bathsheba, and looking at her14000:07:53,279 –> 00:07:55,839could lead me to what I did.14100:07:55,839 –> 00:07:59,500God, I need you to in that case to scrub my mind.14200:08:02,980 –> 00:08:06,200And if seeing this difficulty with Uriah14300:08:06,200 –> 00:08:10,019could lead me to a scheme that was designed14400:08:10,019 –> 00:08:13,100to put an end to him, lord, I need14500:08:13,100 –> 00:08:17,059to have you purge my heart.14600:08:17,700 –> 00:08:22,839This word, cleanse, or purge, literally means de-sin.14700:08:24,279 –> 00:08:26,320It’s like the idea of detoxification.14800:08:26,320 –> 00:08:29,500Lord, I need you to de-sin me.14900:08:31,019 –> 00:08:36,000There’s stuff sticking to me that I need you to deal with.15000:08:38,400 –> 00:08:40,260But think of the miracle.15100:08:40,260 –> 00:08:43,159Cleanse me with hyssop, he says,15200:08:43,979 –> 00:08:45,799and I shall be clean.15300:08:47,500 –> 00:08:51,000Can a man who has done what David did ever be clean?15400:08:52,320 –> 00:08:56,419David says, let me introduce you to the great physician.15500:08:56,419 –> 00:08:59,979There is a god in heaven and he’s not only big in mercy,15600:09:01,380 –> 00:09:05,380but he can clean the foulest stains.15700:09:06,299 –> 00:09:11,099Wash me, he says, and if you wash me,15800:09:12,099 –> 00:09:15,559if you wash me, even I will be clean.15900:09:16,859 –> 00:09:19,400God never does anything by halves.16000:09:19,400 –> 00:09:22,380I shall be whiter than snow, he says,16100:09:22,380 –> 00:09:24,299and the great physician is able to cleanse16200:09:24,299 –> 00:09:26,080the mind and the conscience.16300:09:26,080 –> 00:09:31,080The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from every sin,16400:09:32,200 –> 00:09:36,320when God forgives he also cleanses.16500:09:37,739 –> 00:09:38,780And we need to understand this.16600:09:38,780 –> 00:09:41,159Let me ask this honest question this morning.16700:09:41,159 –> 00:09:45,440Is there anyone in this congregation who feels dirty?16800:09:49,859 –> 00:09:53,979Perhaps for some, an area of sexual sin16900:09:53,979 –> 00:09:55,880and you’ve confessed it to God17000:09:55,880 –> 00:09:58,080and yet what we’ve described here17100:09:58,080 –> 00:09:59,419is exactly where you’re at.17200:10:01,280 –> 00:10:04,460Perhaps someone in the aftermath of an abortion.17300:10:06,020 –> 00:10:07,619You’ve asked God’s forgiveness.17400:10:09,179 –> 00:10:11,580But, oh, you’re struggling to live with yourself.17500:10:13,500 –> 00:10:14,979See, this is what we’re talking about.17600:10:14,979 –> 00:10:18,059David says, I feel dirty17700:10:19,659 –> 00:10:23,900but I’ve discovered that if God washes me17800:10:25,780 –> 00:10:28,760I can live with myself again, I can be clean.17900:10:30,340 –> 00:10:32,840And this is why Jesus went to the cross.18000:10:32,840 –> 00:10:37,840The blood of Jesus Christ was spilled to cleanse you18100:10:37,840 –> 00:10:40,820from all unrighteousness.18200:10:42,400 –> 00:10:43,979It’s part of the prescription18300:10:45,419 –> 00:10:47,640and it is His wonderful gift18400:10:47,640 –> 00:10:50,500to all who will place themselves holy18500:10:50,500 –> 00:10:53,299in the hand of the great physician.18600:10:54,760 –> 00:10:57,039He breaks the power says the hymn writer18700:10:57,039 –> 00:10:58,219of canceled sin.18800:10:59,080 –> 00:11:00,700He sets the prisoner free.18900:11:01,619 –> 00:11:06,359His blood can make the foulest clean.19000:11:07,260 –> 00:11:11,260His blood availed for me.19100:11:12,919 –> 00:11:14,599We’ve got to pause the message right there19200:11:14,599 –> 00:11:16,479but we’ll be back shortly.19300:11:16,479 –> 00:11:17,919You’re listening to Open the Bible19400:11:17,919 –> 00:11:19,460with Pastor Colin Smith19500:11:19,460 –> 00:11:22,239and a message called get the right prescription19600:11:22,239 –> 00:11:23,440part of our series.19700:11:23,440 –> 00:11:26,799Changing direction based on Psalm 5119800:11:26,799 –> 00:11:28,599and if you’ve missed any of the series19900:11:28,599 –> 00:11:30,440don’t forget you can easily catch up20000:11:30,440 –> 00:11:32,119or go back and listen again20100:11:32,119 –> 00:11:34,299by coming online to our website20200:11:34,359 –> 00:11:37,179openthebible.org.uk20300:11:37,179 –> 00:11:41,059or also by checking out your favorite podcast site20400:11:41,059 –> 00:11:44,479and searching for Open the Bible UK there.20500:11:44,479 –> 00:11:47,619You can also follow a link from our website.20600:11:47,619 –> 00:11:49,179Back to the message now.20700:11:49,179 –> 00:11:51,059We’re in Psalm 51 as I say20800:11:51,059 –> 00:11:53,059and here again is Colin.20900:11:53,059 –> 00:11:55,979The blood of Jesus Christ was spilled21000:11:55,979 –> 00:11:58,020to cleanse you21100:11:58,020 –> 00:12:00,940from all unrighteousness.21200:12:02,059 –> 00:12:03,659It’s part of the prescription.21300:12:04,979 –> 00:12:07,159And it is his wonderful gift21400:12:07,159 –> 00:12:09,979to all who will place their selves wholly21500:12:09,979 –> 00:12:11,460in the hand21600:12:11,460 –> 00:12:12,799of the great physician.21700:12:14,479 –> 00:12:16,640So, he will forgive the guilt of sin.21800:12:17,719 –> 00:12:20,880He will cleanse the pollution of sin.21900:12:22,380 –> 00:12:24,059And then there is one22000:12:24,059 –> 00:12:24,900third thing.22100:12:27,140 –> 00:12:28,960He will subdue the power of sin.22200:12:31,380 –> 00:12:32,580Now, think again for a moment22300:12:32,679 –> 00:12:34,599of that image of the Omoko Cadiz22400:12:34,599 –> 00:12:36,260off the coast of Brittany.22500:12:37,219 –> 00:12:40,200Oil begins to leak from this supertanker.22600:12:41,679 –> 00:12:42,539A little at first22700:12:42,539 –> 00:12:43,380and then more22800:12:43,380 –> 00:12:44,200and then a lot22900:12:44,200 –> 00:12:45,820and then the television cameras come in23000:12:45,820 –> 00:12:46,700and they’re focusing on23100:12:46,700 –> 00:12:48,359the devastation of the beaches.23200:12:49,820 –> 00:12:51,140And the cleanup is beginning23300:12:51,140 –> 00:12:53,940but actually there are still something23400:12:53,940 –> 00:12:57,219like 200 million tons of crude23500:12:57,219 –> 00:12:58,900inside that cracked hull.23600:13:02,739 –> 00:13:05,179Not all the oil has come out straight away.23700:13:06,859 –> 00:13:08,460So there is not only the problem23800:13:08,460 –> 00:13:12,359of the effects of this disaster23900:13:13,580 –> 00:13:14,700there is also the issue24000:13:14,700 –> 00:13:18,179of the source that is continuing24100:13:18,179 –> 00:13:20,580to produce more and more24200:13:20,580 –> 00:13:22,059and more devastation.24300:13:23,599 –> 00:13:24,979What’s the point in cleaning up24400:13:24,979 –> 00:13:27,739what has leaked out already24500:13:27,739 –> 00:13:30,020if we do not at the same time24600:13:30,020 –> 00:13:33,159deal with the stricken vessel itself24700:13:33,159 –> 00:13:36,059from which more crude is continuing to pour?24800:13:38,400 –> 00:13:41,039That’s the issue David comes to in verse 10, you see.24900:13:42,260 –> 00:13:47,260Create in me a pure heart, Oh God.25000:13:48,500 –> 00:13:50,140He’s moving to another dimension.25100:13:51,599 –> 00:13:54,140I need forgiveness for the guilt of what I’ve done.25200:13:54,979 –> 00:13:58,739I need cleansing for the effects of what I’ve done.25300:14:00,140 –> 00:14:04,260But God, I need you to deal with the very source25400:14:04,260 –> 00:14:05,640of what I have done.25500:14:07,099 –> 00:14:09,940It’s not just cleaning up what’s out there,25600:14:09,940 –> 00:14:12,580it’s cleaning up what is in here.25700:14:13,559 –> 00:14:16,059Because if something doesn’t happen in here,25800:14:16,059 –> 00:14:18,099in 10 years time, I’m gonna do the same thing again25900:14:18,099 –> 00:14:19,200and probably sooner.26000:14:21,260 –> 00:14:23,919This takes us to the heart of repentance.26100:14:25,239 –> 00:14:27,659David is concerned not only with what he’s done26200:14:27,659 –> 00:14:30,200and not only with the effects of what he has done,26300:14:30,200 –> 00:14:33,260but with the reason for what he has done.26400:14:33,260 –> 00:14:34,940Why did I do it?26500:14:36,780 –> 00:14:39,080And he knows that the problem is in the heart.26600:14:40,359 –> 00:14:43,619Listen to these words of Jesus from Mark in chapter seven.26700:14:45,140 –> 00:14:46,520Jesus said,26800:14:47,520 –> 00:14:52,520what comes out of a man is what makes him unclean.26900:14:54,179 –> 00:14:56,299It is from within.27000:14:57,280 –> 00:15:01,919Out of men’s hearts come evil thoughts,27100:15:01,919 –> 00:15:06,179sexual immorality, theft, murder, and adultery.27200:15:06,179 –> 00:15:07,020See what he’s saying?27300:15:07,020 –> 00:15:08,340These things don’t just happen.27400:15:08,340 –> 00:15:10,340They’re not accidents.27500:15:10,340 –> 00:15:12,140Don’t fool yourself.27600:15:12,140 –> 00:15:15,080They come out of the heart, says Jesus.27700:15:16,739 –> 00:15:18,619As does greed,27800:15:18,619 –> 00:15:20,039malice,27900:15:20,039 –> 00:15:21,640deceit,28000:15:21,640 –> 00:15:24,140lewdness,28100:15:24,159 –> 00:15:26,460envy, slander,28200:15:26,460 –> 00:15:28,039arrogance,28300:15:28,039 –> 00:15:29,559folly.28400:15:29,559 –> 00:15:31,219All these evils, says Jesus,28500:15:31,219 –> 00:15:33,340come from inside.28600:15:35,500 –> 00:15:37,099And they make a man unclean.28700:15:39,460 –> 00:15:40,299So you see,28800:15:40,299 –> 00:15:43,479the Christian is never content simply to be forgiven.28900:15:44,780 –> 00:15:46,940If you’ve understood the issue of sin29000:15:46,940 –> 00:15:49,440and if you’ve understood what Christ has come to do,29100:15:49,440 –> 00:15:51,260you will never be content just to know29200:15:51,260 –> 00:15:54,559that God won’t hold the deed against you.29300:15:54,559 –> 00:15:58,080The deeper question than what I did is why did I do it.29400:15:59,000 –> 00:16:01,359And David knows it was a choice of the heart.29500:16:02,200 –> 00:16:05,159And all our sins are choices of the heart.29600:16:05,159 –> 00:16:08,159Sin has an addictive quality to it29700:16:08,159 –> 00:16:10,200and the heart forms its own habits.29800:16:10,200 –> 00:16:12,039How am I going to break the habit?29900:16:12,039 –> 00:16:13,020Is his question.30000:16:14,760 –> 00:16:16,440He is not content merely30100:16:16,440 –> 00:16:19,500to be a forgiven version of the same man.30200:16:22,140 –> 00:16:24,840You see repentance is much more than saying sorry.30300:16:28,020 –> 00:16:30,000The Christian is never content merely30400:16:30,000 –> 00:16:31,719to be forgiven and to go on30500:16:31,719 –> 00:16:33,880into the same patterns of behavior.30600:16:35,820 –> 00:16:39,599No, create in me a pure heart oh God.30700:16:41,299 –> 00:16:43,500Literally means an undivided heart30800:16:43,500 –> 00:16:45,359because Lord, I do love you30900:16:46,500 –> 00:16:48,299but there was enough split in this heart31000:16:48,299 –> 00:16:50,700for me to love this other thing more.31100:16:52,179 –> 00:16:56,280It’s interesting that David uses the word create.31200:16:57,739 –> 00:16:59,500God, do you know what I need?31300:16:59,500 –> 00:17:01,179I need you to put something in me31400:17:01,179 –> 00:17:03,239that is not there right now.31500:17:03,239 –> 00:17:07,359I need something new and the only hope for me31600:17:07,359 –> 00:17:09,920is if you who created the world out of nothing31700:17:09,920 –> 00:17:13,140and you who formed me in my mother’s womb,31800:17:13,140 –> 00:17:15,780if you should create in me something31900:17:15,780 –> 00:17:19,040that has not been there, a pure heart.32000:17:22,260 –> 00:17:25,380That is the fundamental need of every life.32100:17:26,939 –> 00:17:30,000And operation of God at the center of our being.32200:17:31,020 –> 00:17:33,520See, this is the New Testament gospel, isn’t it?32300:17:34,819 –> 00:17:36,839See, the gospel, becoming a Christian,32400:17:36,839 –> 00:17:40,040is not just about changing behavior,32500:17:40,040 –> 00:17:43,500it is about changing nature.32600:17:43,500 –> 00:17:45,920It is about being crucified with Christ32700:17:45,920 –> 00:17:48,560and about knowing the power of a new life within.32800:17:48,660 –> 00:17:52,260See, Dr. Lloyd-Jones puts this so clearly32900:17:52,260 –> 00:17:54,579in one passage where he asks the question,33000:17:54,579 –> 00:17:56,859why did Christ come into the world?33100:17:58,219 –> 00:18:00,900Did he come so that you and I might be forgiven33200:18:00,900 –> 00:18:02,500and then go on sinning?33300:18:03,839 –> 00:18:06,579Did he come so that we should sin and come back33400:18:06,579 –> 00:18:09,680and then live from sin to repentance33500:18:09,680 –> 00:18:12,339and then repentance back to sin again?33600:18:12,339 –> 00:18:16,180And then somehow just slink into heaven, he says,33700:18:16,199 –> 00:18:19,280barely avoiding the consequences of hell33800:18:19,280 –> 00:18:21,040and the awfulness of judgment.33900:18:22,339 –> 00:18:26,959And then he answers, that is a blasphemous thought.34000:18:30,459 –> 00:18:35,459He went to the cross so that you should be forgiven.34100:18:37,540 –> 00:18:42,540He went to the cross so that you should be clean.34200:18:43,479 –> 00:18:48,479He went to the cross so that you should be different.34300:18:51,800 –> 00:18:54,579And in Psalm 51, David takes us34400:18:54,579 –> 00:18:57,219through these dimensions of repentance34500:18:57,219 –> 00:19:01,520that are opened up to us because of the mercy of God,34600:19:01,520 –> 00:19:05,760because of the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus,34700:19:05,760 –> 00:19:08,300and because of the renewing power34800:19:08,300 –> 00:19:11,719of the Holy Spirit within us.34900:19:11,719 –> 00:19:15,280Oh, says David, there is a great physician,35000:19:16,819 –> 00:19:19,380and if he can do what he’s done for a man who did35100:19:19,380 –> 00:19:23,439what I did, then what could he not do for you?35200:19:25,760 –> 00:19:26,719So come to him.35300:19:28,119 –> 00:19:31,380Ask him to break the power of sinful habit.35400:19:34,140 –> 00:19:36,239Talk to the physician about your problem.35500:19:37,300 –> 00:19:38,800Talk to him about your pride.35600:19:39,719 –> 00:19:42,040Talk to him around the table about your lust.35700:19:43,719 –> 00:19:45,819Talk to him about your crippling fear.35800:19:47,540 –> 00:19:49,579Tell him about the habits of your heart.35900:19:51,180 –> 00:19:54,140Tell him about the power of greed that you struggle with.36000:19:55,280 –> 00:19:59,219Tell him about bitterness, and how your heart is divided,36100:19:59,219 –> 00:20:01,400and how you need him to create something new36200:20:01,400 –> 00:20:02,979within him, and ask him.36300:20:05,260 –> 00:20:07,900Create within me a pure heart.36400:20:09,520 –> 00:20:12,599And renew a right spirit within me.36500:20:15,000 –> 00:20:16,380That’s the prescription.36600:20:17,520 –> 00:20:19,260In Christ, there is forgiveness.36700:20:20,459 –> 00:20:22,380In Christ, there is cleansing.36800:20:23,540 –> 00:20:27,520And in Christ, there is the power to be different.36900:20:29,880 –> 00:20:33,060Now we ended last week by asking the simple question,37000:20:34,160 –> 00:20:36,540are you interested in diagnosis?37100:20:37,459 –> 00:20:40,160I end today by asking this question,37200:20:41,680 –> 00:20:43,479will you take the prescription?37300:20:46,719 –> 00:20:49,280You see, God does not offer to us37400:20:49,280 –> 00:20:52,420the weak pills of religion.37500:20:54,780 –> 00:20:59,199He offers to us the radical surgery of the holy spirit.37600:21:01,500 –> 00:21:03,060Will you take the prescription?37700:21:03,199 –> 00:21:05,540Will you take the prescription?37800:21:07,239 –> 00:21:09,199But for anyone who has understood37900:21:09,199 –> 00:21:12,000the diagnosis of human sinfulness,38000:21:12,000 –> 00:21:14,599what God offers to us in Christ38100:21:14,599 –> 00:21:17,219is the most wonderful good news.38200:21:18,459 –> 00:21:20,239The surgery may be painful,38300:21:21,839 –> 00:21:25,079but it does lead to life,38400:21:25,079 –> 00:21:29,000and God has never yet failed with a patient.38500:21:29,900 –> 00:21:32,280Will you put yourself in the hands38600:21:33,640 –> 00:21:35,780of the Great Physician?38700:21:36,880 –> 00:21:38,199Will you place yourself38800:21:38,199 –> 00:21:40,760in the hands of the Great Physician?38900:21:40,760 –> 00:21:44,199What a great question to end today’s broadcast.39000:21:44,199 –> 00:21:45,760You’ve been listening to Open the Bible39100:21:45,760 –> 00:21:47,439with Pastor Colin Smith39200:21:47,439 –> 00:21:50,439and a message called get the right prescription.39300:21:50,439 –> 00:21:52,439Part of our series, Changing Direction,39400:21:52,439 –> 00:21:54,880based on Psalm 51,39500:21:54,880 –> 00:21:56,520and if you’ve missed any of the series39600:21:56,520 –> 00:21:58,479or if you ever want to go back and listen again,39700:21:58,479 –> 00:22:00,640you can come online to our website,39800:22:00,640 –> 00:22:03,339openthebible.org.uk,39900:22:03,339 –> 00:22:05,359and there you’ll find all the messages40000:22:05,359 –> 00:22:07,199which have already gone out on air.40100:22:07,199 –> 00:22:08,439And you can also find them40200:22:08,439 –> 00:22:12,160as a podcast and those are on all the podcasts sites,40300:22:12,160 –> 00:22:14,239search for Open The Bible UK40400:22:14,239 –> 00:22:17,099or follow the link from our website.40500:22:17,099 –> 00:22:18,199While you’re on the website,40600:22:18,199 –> 00:22:20,800why not check out Open The Bible Daily?40700:22:20,800 –> 00:22:22,359That’s our series of short40800:22:22,359 –> 00:22:24,760two to three minute daily reflections40900:22:24,760 –> 00:22:26,739based on Pastor Colin’s teaching41000:22:26,819 –> 00:22:28,920and read in the UK by Sue MacLeish.41100:22:29,920 –> 00:22:33,540Open The Bible is supported by our listeners financially.41200:22:33,540 –> 00:22:36,459And if that’s something you’ve been considering doing,41300:22:36,459 –> 00:22:38,540this month we have an offer for you.41400:22:38,540 –> 00:22:41,500If you were able to set up a new direct debit41500:22:41,500 –> 00:22:44,219in the amount of five pounds per month or more,41600:22:44,219 –> 00:22:47,180or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,41700:22:47,180 –> 00:22:49,819this month we’ll send you two copies41800:22:49,819 –> 00:22:52,939of the book Christmas Stories by Colin Smith41900:22:52,939 –> 00:22:55,859and also five beautiful Christmas cards42000:22:55,880 –> 00:22:58,819with illustrations from the book.42100:22:58,819 –> 00:23:02,119Christmas Stories is a retelling of the Christmas Story42200:23:02,119 –> 00:23:05,599from the point of view of several biblical characters.42300:23:05,599 –> 00:23:08,219Characters like Adam, Joseph,42400:23:08,219 –> 00:23:10,540Herod, Mary’s cousin Elizabeth,42500:23:10,540 –> 00:23:12,520and even the angel Gabriel.42600:23:12,520 –> 00:23:17,400You know, I have really enjoyed telling the Christmas Story42700:23:17,400 –> 00:23:19,520from the perspective of different characters42800:23:19,520 –> 00:23:22,859who were involved, and the one exception to that is Herod.42900:23:22,859 –> 00:23:25,180I can’t say I enjoyed that because, of course,43000:23:25,839 –> 00:23:28,060he was on the wrong side of the Christmas Story,43100:23:28,060 –> 00:23:30,260absolutely opposed the coming43200:23:30,260 –> 00:23:32,819of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world,43300:23:32,819 –> 00:23:36,339and whereas telling the story from Mary and Joseph’s43400:23:36,339 –> 00:23:39,099perspective, or Simeon’s perspective,43500:23:39,099 –> 00:23:41,859you’re able to think about well, here’s a person43600:23:41,859 –> 00:23:45,619who’s in heaven looking back on this most marvelous43700:23:45,619 –> 00:23:48,579good news of the birth of Jesus into the world.43800:23:48,579 –> 00:23:50,619Well, Herod’s certainly not there,43900:23:50,619 –> 00:23:54,300and the message that comes from his rejection of Jesus44000:23:54,459 –> 00:23:57,300is it’s too late now for him to change direction,44100:23:57,300 –> 00:23:59,400but it’s not too late for you.44200:23:59,400 –> 00:24:01,260And what a marvelous thing it is44300:24:01,260 –> 00:24:04,979that we are in the day of God’s grace44400:24:04,979 –> 00:24:07,339where mercy and love are extended44500:24:07,339 –> 00:24:10,000towards every person in Jesus Christ.44600:24:10,000 –> 00:24:12,180And what a marvelous thing to be able to invite44700:24:12,180 –> 00:24:13,859our friends and our loved ones44800:24:13,859 –> 00:24:16,260to receive that mercy and that grace.44900:24:16,260 –> 00:24:19,439I hope that this book will be a real help45000:24:19,439 –> 00:24:22,140to many folks in sharing the gospel.45100:24:22,140 –> 00:24:24,140It’d be a lovely gift just to give to someone.45200:24:24,239 –> 00:24:26,920It’s 24 pages, beautifully produced.45300:24:26,920 –> 00:24:28,339And it tells the Christmas story45400:24:28,339 –> 00:24:31,739from these different angles in the first person45500:24:31,739 –> 00:24:34,199through the eyes of people who are actually involved.45600:24:34,199 –> 00:24:37,020Well, we’d love to send you two copies of this book45700:24:37,020 –> 00:24:39,640and the five beautiful Christmas cards.45800:24:39,640 –> 00:24:42,239If you are able to set up a new direct debit45900:24:42,239 –> 00:24:44,619of 5 pounds per month or more46000:24:44,619 –> 00:24:48,500or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more this month,46100:24:48,500 –> 00:24:51,040full terms, and conditions are on our website.46200:24:51,040 –> 00:24:54,020openthebible.org.uk46300:24:54,140 –> 00:24:55,160And please remember,46400:24:55,160 –> 00:24:57,479if you want to take advantage of this offer,46500:24:57,479 –> 00:24:59,819don’t give anonymously46600:24:59,819 –> 00:25:02,579and remember to leave your full name and address46700:25:02,579 –> 00:25:05,459so we can send you your free gift.46800:25:05,459 –> 00:25:06,459For Open the Bible46900:25:06,459 –> 00:25:07,760and Pastor Colin Smith,47000:25:07,760 –> 00:25:08,880I’m David Pick47100:25:08,880 –> 00:25:10,180and I hope you’ll join us again47200:25:10,180 –> 00:25:18,239next time on Open the Bible.47300:25:18,239 –> 00:25:22,579Many people are uneasy about the idea of repentance.47400:25:22,579 –> 00:25:25,599Find out how to put that uneasy feeling behind you47500:25:25,599 –> 00:25:27,420next time on Open the Bible.
