100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:09,800If you feel the darkness is closing in on you, if you find yourself saying what in the200:00:09,800 –> 00:00:20,420world am I going to do, if you find it difficult to sleep at night, this story is for you.300:00:20,420 –> 00:00:22,799Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.400:00:22,799 –> 00:00:24,299I am David Pick.500:00:24,299 –> 00:00:25,559Glad you’re listening today.600:00:25,559 –> 00:00:29,600And Colin there are many of us who have been through times of darkness and times where700:00:29,680 –> 00:00:31,920sleep is hard to come by.800:00:31,920 –> 00:00:34,799And we’re wondering what is the story we’re going to hear today.900:00:34,799 –> 00:00:40,779Well, it is one of the most extraordinary stories of fear in the Old Testament.1000:00:40,779 –> 00:00:48,279It’s the story of a young servant, Elisha’s servant, who woke up one morning to find that1100:00:48,279 –> 00:00:52,279his house was surrounded by an entire army.1200:00:52,279 –> 00:00:57,639I think that’s about as terrifying and fearful a thing as one could imagine.1300:00:57,639 –> 00:01:03,020An entire army coming to arrest one man and here’s this young guy, can you imagine him1400:01:03,020 –> 00:01:07,080pulling the curtains back in the morning and seeing what’s outside?1500:01:07,080 –> 00:01:09,120And he’s absolutely terrified.1600:01:09,120 –> 00:01:14,639He says to Elisha the prophet, my master, what shall we do?1700:01:14,639 –> 00:01:20,820And Elisha says, do not be afraid and you think, can you say it to this man?1800:01:20,820 –> 00:01:21,820Don’t be afraid.1900:01:21,820 –> 00:01:23,360But then he gives the reason.2000:01:23,360 –> 00:01:28,279For those who are with us are more than those who are with them.2100:01:28,279 –> 00:01:35,599It’s an amazing story of how the presence of God delivers his people in a time when2200:01:35,599 –> 00:01:38,980we find ourselves filling with fear.2300:01:38,980 –> 00:01:40,959It’s a wonderful story.2400:01:40,959 –> 00:01:45,260And it reminds us that whatever you face, God is with you.2500:01:45,260 –> 00:01:50,519Well, let’s look at the story from second Kings chapter six as we begin the message.2600:01:50,519 –> 00:01:51,919God will be with us.2700:01:52,879 –> 00:02:00,959We are looking today at another remarkable story from the life of Elisha.2800:02:00,959 –> 00:02:09,259And this story is especially for everyone who struggles with fear.2900:02:09,259 –> 00:02:15,320If you feel the darkness is closing in on you, if you find yourself saying what in the3000:02:15,320 –> 00:02:25,460world am I going to do?, if you find it difficult to sleep at night, this story is for you.3100:02:25,460 –> 00:02:31,740Now, in the stories from the life of Elisha that we’ve looked at so far it seems that3200:02:31,740 –> 00:02:37,899the ministry of Elisha in the early days was only known to a few people.3300:02:37,899 –> 00:02:39,940Think about the stories we’ve looked at.3400:02:40,119 –> 00:02:47,720Elijah served a widow who only had a jar of oil, and then another individual or3500:02:47,720 –> 00:02:55,720family, a wealthy woman whose son had died, and the sons of the prophets, a community3600:02:55,720 –> 00:02:58,699of perhaps a hundred or so.3700:02:58,699 –> 00:03:04,220You remember the story of how they had been served up some poisoned stew.3800:03:04,279 –> 00:03:12,279But it was a little girl who told the wife of Naaman that there was indeed a prophet3900:03:12,279 –> 00:03:13,440in Israel.4000:03:13,440 –> 00:03:18,279And you remember from last week, that when Naaman came to the king of Israel, he didn’t4100:03:18,279 –> 00:03:21,940seem to even know who Elisha was.4200:03:21,940 –> 00:03:25,880The king of Israel didn’t seem to know that there was a prophet in Israel.4300:03:25,880 –> 00:03:31,440And so Elisha had to send a message to the king and say, let Naaman now come to me, that4400:03:31,440 –> 00:03:34,360he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.4500:03:34,360 –> 00:03:40,039Probably the subtext is, unfortunately, you don’t seem to know, oh king.4600:03:40,039 –> 00:03:45,619But things of course changed very radically after Naaman was healed.4700:03:45,619 –> 00:03:51,600From that time on, both the king of Israel and of course, the king of Syria who had sent4800:03:51,600 –> 00:03:59,279Naaman to Elisha, they both knew for sure that there was indeed a prophet in Israel.4900:03:59,279 –> 00:04:04,440So at the point where we join the story today, Elisha’s ministry, that has been little known5000:04:04,440 –> 00:04:11,860and perhaps somewhat under the radar, Elisha’s ministry has actually risen to national prominence.5100:04:11,860 –> 00:04:18,799The prophet who had touched the lives of various individuals now has access to speak the Word5200:04:18,799 –> 00:04:23,320of God to kings.5300:04:23,640 –> 00:04:30,000We saw that from the story of Naaman that in those days raiders would come over the5400:04:30,000 –> 00:04:38,480border in their chariots and they would seize prisoners and they would take them back home5500:04:38,480 –> 00:04:40,559as slaves.5600:04:40,559 –> 00:04:46,799At the beginning of this story in chapter 6 in verse 8 we find the same thing happening.5700:04:47,260 –> 00:04:53,279When the king of Syria was warring against Israel he took counsel with his servants saying5800:04:53,279 –> 00:04:58,899at such and such a place shall be my camp.5900:04:58,899 –> 00:05:06,660Now you see what he’s saying, the king of Syria was setting up an ambush for the king6000:05:06,660 –> 00:05:07,660of Israel.6100:05:07,660 –> 00:05:14,859You can almost see him with his generals and his advisers and they’re poring over the6200:05:14,980 –> 00:05:15,980Camp.6300:05:15,980 –> 00:05:20,480And he’s pointing to the spot, that’s the place, we’ll go there, king of Israel6400:05:20,480 –> 00:05:25,899goes there, that’s where we’ll take him down.6500:05:25,899 –> 00:05:33,420But the Bible makes very clear that god frustrates the ways of the wicked isn’t that a wonderful6600:05:33,420 –> 00:05:34,540truth?6700:05:34,540 –> 00:05:39,380God frustrates the ways of the wicked.6800:05:39,420 –> 00:05:47,000And god did that here by revealing the enemy’s plans to Elisha the prophet.6900:05:47,000 –> 00:05:53,820And when Elisha received these revelations of the enemy’s plans receiving them directly7000:05:53,820 –> 00:05:58,739from god, he of course then went to the king of Israel and warned him.7100:05:58,739 –> 00:06:04,380He would say to him, look, the king of Syria has plans, god has revealed this to me.7200:06:04,380 –> 00:06:12,660He intends to ambush you at such and such a place, don’t go there.7300:06:12,660 –> 00:06:18,480And so of course the raiders would arrive in full expectation of making this ambush,7400:06:18,480 –> 00:06:19,660it’s all planned.7500:06:19,660 –> 00:06:23,920But when they arrive Israel’s king isn’t there.7600:06:23,920 –> 00:06:26,739And this happened again and again.7700:06:26,739 –> 00:06:31,459The king of Israel was always one step ahead of his enemies.7800:06:31,459 –> 00:06:36,920And you can imagine how frustrating this became for the king of Syria.7900:06:36,920 –> 00:06:42,519He has all these plans and none of them seemed to be working out as he had hoped.8000:06:42,519 –> 00:06:46,679He’s infuriated.8100:06:46,679 –> 00:06:52,980Every time we show up the king of Israel is already moved on.8200:06:52,980 –> 00:06:57,500Seems to me he knows when we’re coming.8300:06:57,500 –> 00:06:58,779So how can that be?8400:06:58,859 –> 00:07:02,559Well, of course, it’s pretty obvious what the king of Syria will think.8500:07:02,559 –> 00:07:04,940There must be a leak.8600:07:04,940 –> 00:07:12,799There must be a spy in our camp here in Damascus, a traitor who’s giving up our secrets to8700:07:12,799 –> 00:07:13,779the King of Israel.8800:07:13,779 –> 00:07:14,859Now, who is it?8900:07:14,859 –> 00:07:18,980So verse 11, the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled9000:07:18,980 –> 00:07:20,559because of this thing.9100:07:20,559 –> 00:07:23,279And he called his servants and he said to them,9200:07:23,339 –> 00:07:31,279Will you not show me who of us is for the King of Israel?’9300:07:31,279 –> 00:07:34,920And one of his servants told him,9400:07:34,920 –> 00:07:40,859King, there’s no spy in your court here.9500:07:40,859 –> 00:07:43,279It’s Elisha.9600:07:43,279 –> 00:07:46,420It’s the prophet of God.9700:07:46,420 –> 00:07:49,140Verse 12, Elisha the prophet who is in Israel9800:07:49,140 –> 00:07:54,359tells the King of Israel the words that you speak9900:07:54,359 –> 00:07:59,380in your bedroom.10000:07:59,380 –> 00:08:06,059God knows every word you have ever spoken.10100:08:06,059 –> 00:08:13,920He even knows the words you speak in your bedroom.10200:08:13,920 –> 00:08:15,799Now let’s pause here for just a moment10300:08:15,799 –> 00:08:18,220because this is telling us something very wonderful10400:08:18,220 –> 00:08:21,500and very important about God.10500:08:21,500 –> 00:08:27,559God knows everything about you.10600:08:27,559 –> 00:08:31,920You may remember the king David says in Psalm 13910700:08:31,920 –> 00:08:35,340where he is celebrating this wonderful truth.10800:08:35,340 –> 00:08:40,940He says, You know when I sit down10900:08:40,940 –> 00:08:44,140And when I rise up.11000:08:44,200 –> 00:08:49,200You search out my path, and my lying down,11100:08:49,200 –> 00:08:53,039And are acquainted with all my ways.11200:08:53,039 –> 00:08:55,719Even before a word is on my tongue11300:08:55,719 –> 00:09:00,979You know it, O Lord, altogether.11400:09:00,979 –> 00:09:06,219But notice that David, who is a child of God,11500:09:06,219 –> 00:09:11,840does not then say, And this truth terrifies me.11600:09:12,140 –> 00:09:18,880What he says is, Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.11700:09:18,880 –> 00:09:22,099Now you see the point.11800:09:22,099 –> 00:09:25,500Here’s a child of God, and he’s saying to his father,11900:09:25,500 –> 00:09:29,900Now you know every word that I speak.12000:09:29,900 –> 00:09:32,859You know every thought in my mind.12100:09:32,859 –> 00:09:36,739You know every fear that I ever face.12200:09:36,739 –> 00:09:40,580You know every move that I ever make.12300:09:40,580 –> 00:09:44,419And your knowledge of me is more wonderful than12400:09:44,419 –> 00:09:48,239I could ever put into words.12500:09:49,239 –> 00:09:53,260Now friends, we’re going to see from the story this morning12600:09:53,260 –> 00:09:56,700that there are four things for us to know and believe12700:09:56,700 –> 00:09:59,520whenever we are afraid.12800:09:59,520 –> 00:10:03,940And the first of these is that God really does know12900:10:03,940 –> 00:10:07,260everything about you.13000:10:07,299 –> 00:10:10,900God knows all that is troubling you today.13100:10:10,900 –> 00:10:13,479He knows all that you are thinking,13200:10:13,479 –> 00:10:15,400he knows all that you are fearing,13300:10:15,400 –> 00:10:17,559he knows what you wouldn’t even say to someone else13400:10:17,559 –> 00:10:19,599whose close to you.13500:10:19,599 –> 00:10:24,580And you can trust him completely.13600:10:26,000 –> 00:10:29,479Remember the wonderful words of Jesus.13700:10:29,479 –> 00:10:33,340In the time of Jesus, two sparrows were sold for a penny.13800:10:33,340 –> 00:10:36,479They were of very, very little value13900:10:36,479 –> 00:10:39,419in terms of the price that they would fetch.14000:10:40,460 –> 00:10:42,400And Jesus said,14100:10:42,400 –> 00:10:46,260not one of them will fall to the ground14200:10:46,260 –> 00:10:48,780apart from your Mother.14300:10:48,780 –> 00:10:51,239Fear not, therefore,14400:10:52,260 –> 00:10:55,320don’t fear because you’re of more value14500:10:56,520 –> 00:10:57,919than many sparrows.14600:10:59,260 –> 00:11:00,559You’re listening to Open the Bible14700:11:00,559 –> 00:11:01,940with Pastor Colin Smith14800:11:01,979 –> 00:11:03,080on a message called,14900:11:03,080 –> 00:11:04,940God Will Be With Us.15000:11:04,940 –> 00:11:06,500We’ve got to pause the message briefly,15100:11:06,500 –> 00:11:08,099but we’ll be back very shortly.15200:11:08,099 –> 00:11:10,359So please do stay with us.15300:11:10,359 –> 00:11:12,900The message is part of a series called15400:11:12,900 –> 00:11:14,539In God We Trust.15500:11:14,539 –> 00:11:16,840Don’t forget if you ever miss one of our messages15600:11:16,840 –> 00:11:17,820or if you want to go back15700:11:17,820 –> 00:11:19,859and listen to any of the ones in the series15800:11:19,859 –> 00:11:21,619which have already been broadcast,15900:11:21,619 –> 00:11:22,619that’s easy to do16000:11:22,619 –> 00:11:24,820by coming online to our website.16100:11:24,820 –> 00:11:27,539open thebible.org.uk16200:11:27,539 –> 00:11:29,380Or, by going to your favorite podcast site,16300:11:29,780 –> 00:11:32,580Search there for Open the Bible UK16400:11:32,580 –> 00:11:35,780and subscribe if you want to receive regular reminders.16500:11:35,780 –> 00:11:37,179Back to the message now.16600:11:37,179 –> 00:11:39,780Here again is Pastor Colin.16700:11:39,780 –> 00:11:43,859Now God’s perfect knowledge16800:11:43,859 –> 00:11:47,700is the most wonderful comfort to his friends16900:11:49,340 –> 00:11:52,940but it is absolutely infuriating to his enemies.17000:11:54,280 –> 00:11:57,299And you see, when the king of Syria heard17100:11:57,320 –> 00:12:02,140that Elisha the prophet was revealing his secret plans17200:12:02,140 –> 00:12:05,380to the king of Israel, well, he said, verse 13,17300:12:05,380 –> 00:12:10,380Go and see where he is that I may send and seize him!17400:12:11,859 –> 00:12:16,119So, no, Elisha becomes the target of the king’s fury.17500:12:17,539 –> 00:12:19,919Now, just by the way, it strikes me,17600:12:19,919 –> 00:12:23,659there is a very strange leap of logic17700:12:23,659 –> 00:12:26,119from the king of Syria here.17800:12:26,159 –> 00:12:27,380I mean, think about it.17900:12:27,380 –> 00:12:32,380Problem, he can’t catch the king of Israel.18000:12:34,099 –> 00:12:35,320Reason?18100:12:37,219 –> 00:12:39,700Elisha knows when the troops are coming.18200:12:41,159 –> 00:12:44,799Solution, I’ll send the troops to catch Elisha.18300:12:44,799 –> 00:12:48,099You think, how is that going to work?18400:12:49,719 –> 00:12:51,679Well, you can see from verse 1418500:12:51,679 –> 00:12:55,960that the king wasn’t taking any chances.18600:12:55,960 –> 00:13:00,960He sent there horses and chariots and a great army.18700:13:02,400 –> 00:13:05,780And they came at night and they surrounded the city.18800:13:05,780 –> 00:13:10,780My goodness, a great army to capture a single man?18900:13:12,559 –> 00:13:14,840Well, you see that’s how desperate19000:13:14,840 –> 00:13:16,880the enemies of God really were.19100:13:19,679 –> 00:13:21,400Now, at this point in the story,19200:13:21,400 –> 00:13:25,119we are introduced to a new character.19300:13:25,159 –> 00:13:27,880In verse 15, we are told about19400:13:27,880 –> 00:13:32,140the servant of the man of God.19500:13:32,140 –> 00:13:34,219Now you remember that Gehazi,19600:13:34,219 –> 00:13:36,880whose story, tragic story we looked at last week,19700:13:36,880 –> 00:13:39,520had been Elisha’s long-time servant19800:13:39,520 –> 00:13:44,179but Gehazi had proved to be unfaithful.19900:13:44,179 –> 00:13:47,840You remember he coveted Naaman’s money,20000:13:47,840 –> 00:13:52,380he lied, he deceived, then he got what he wanted.20100:13:52,380 –> 00:13:56,280He got Naaman’s money but then he got his leprosy as well.20200:13:56,280 –> 00:13:59,640Well, Gehazi’s defection must have been20300:13:59,640 –> 00:14:03,719absolutely heartbreaking for Elisha.20400:14:04,820 –> 00:14:08,419He needed to find another servant.20500:14:08,419 –> 00:14:10,820We’re not told this new servant’s name,20600:14:10,820 –> 00:14:12,599we’re only told one thing about him20700:14:12,599 –> 00:14:16,799and that’s in verse 17 that he was a young man.20800:14:16,799 –> 00:14:21,200And I expect, therefore, that Elisha found him20900:14:21,260 –> 00:14:23,260among the sons of the prophets21000:14:23,260 –> 00:14:24,900that we looked at a few weeks ago.21100:14:24,900 –> 00:14:27,119You remember the seminary students21200:14:27,119 –> 00:14:30,739who were preparing for a life of ministry?21300:14:31,679 –> 00:14:33,099And so can you picture now21400:14:33,099 –> 00:14:36,280Elisha coming to the college21500:14:36,280 –> 00:14:39,460and he sits down with one of the students21600:14:39,460 –> 00:14:44,460and he says Gehazi, my servant, has gone.21700:14:46,419 –> 00:14:49,419I want you to take his place21800:14:49,479 –> 00:14:51,640and to serve the lord with me.21900:14:52,419 –> 00:14:55,140What an opportunity.22000:14:56,640 –> 00:14:59,219Now put yourself in the shoes of this young man.22100:14:59,219 –> 00:15:01,940He’s been plucked out of seminary22200:15:01,940 –> 00:15:06,940and now he has this role as Elisha’s servant.22300:15:07,659 –> 00:15:08,880And we’re told verse 1522400:15:08,880 –> 00:15:10,799that when the servant of the man of God22500:15:10,799 –> 00:15:13,619rose early in the morning and went out,22600:15:13,619 –> 00:15:16,539behold, an army with horses and chariots22700:15:16,539 –> 00:15:18,900was all around the city22800:15:18,900 –> 00:15:20,520and this young seminary student22900:15:20,520 –> 00:15:24,320was thrown into a blind panic23000:15:24,619 –> 00:15:27,760and he says, alas, my master.23100:15:27,979 –> 00:15:29,859What shall we do?23200:15:30,380 –> 00:15:31,539Alas.23300:15:31,539 –> 00:15:33,640This is disastrous, catastrophic.23400:15:33,640 –> 00:15:35,880What in the world are we going to do?23500:15:37,059 –> 00:15:38,700And Elisha said, verse 16,23600:15:38,700 –> 00:15:41,900do not be afraid.23700:15:42,419 –> 00:15:44,880For those who are with us23800:15:45,200 –> 00:15:48,000are more than those who are with them.23900:15:48,500 –> 00:15:49,780Now, again, can you try for a moment24000:15:49,780 –> 00:15:51,419to put yourself in the shoes24100:15:51,419 –> 00:15:52,380of the servant?24200:15:52,380 –> 00:15:53,840What would you be thinking?24300:15:53,840 –> 00:15:56,580You hear these words from Elisha the prophet.24400:15:56,580 –> 00:15:58,840Those who are with us are more24500:15:58,840 –> 00:16:01,780than those who are with them?24600:16:02,400 –> 00:16:03,280Well, you see, you would24700:16:03,280 –> 00:16:04,359be saying would you not?24800:16:04,359 –> 00:16:05,700Well, surely not.24900:16:05,700 –> 00:16:09,200I mean, doesn’t Elisha have eyes to see?25000:16:09,479 –> 00:16:10,460I mean, I’ve been outside.25100:16:10,460 –> 00:16:11,520I opened the curtains.25200:16:11,520 –> 00:16:13,539I’ve seen what’s out there.25300:16:14,799 –> 00:16:17,659Elisha, there’s a vast army out there25400:16:17,960 –> 00:16:20,119enough to surround the entire city.25500:16:20,119 –> 00:16:21,039And who’s with us?25600:16:21,039 –> 00:16:23,500There’s only you and me.25700:16:23,500 –> 00:16:24,940And we’re trapped.25800:16:26,419 –> 00:16:28,659There’s no way out of this.25900:16:29,719 –> 00:16:32,940Now, remember, Elisha was a prophet.26000:16:32,940 –> 00:16:34,960So when he spoke these words,26100:16:34,960 –> 00:16:36,119do not be afraid26200:16:36,119 –> 00:16:36,940for those who are with us26300:16:36,940 –> 00:16:38,820are more than those who are with them,26400:16:38,820 –> 00:16:41,900he was speaking the very word of God.26500:16:43,559 –> 00:16:45,559But you see, Elisha’s servant26600:16:45,559 –> 00:16:48,140didn’t believe the word of God.26700:16:49,820 –> 00:16:52,919That’s always our challenge, isn’t it?26800:16:52,919 –> 00:16:54,840He was studying theology26900:16:57,260 –> 00:16:58,820and living in fear.27000:17:00,440 –> 00:17:01,859Think about that.27100:17:03,700 –> 00:17:05,140He had not applied27200:17:07,000 –> 00:17:10,500his faith to the realities of his own life.27300:17:11,959 –> 00:17:13,959He heard the word of God27400:17:15,920 –> 00:17:19,359but he didn’t actually believe it.27500:17:19,359 –> 00:17:23,780Elijah prayed a very, very wonderful prayer.27600:17:23,780 –> 00:17:26,839He asked God on behalf of his servant27700:17:26,839 –> 00:17:29,260that his eyes would be opened.27800:17:30,380 –> 00:17:32,060Here we come to the second thing27900:17:32,060 –> 00:17:34,359that we need to know and to believe28000:17:34,359 –> 00:17:36,140when we are afraid.28100:17:36,140 –> 00:17:38,880Not only that God knows everything about us28200:17:38,880 –> 00:17:41,839but that God really is present with us.28300:17:41,839 –> 00:17:43,260Verse 17,28400:17:43,339 –> 00:17:45,060And then Elijah prayed and said,28500:17:45,060 –> 00:17:48,819Oh Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.28600:17:52,800 –> 00:17:56,260So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man28700:17:56,260 –> 00:17:57,180and he saw.28800:17:58,839 –> 00:18:00,640And then we’re told what it was that he saw.28900:18:00,640 –> 00:18:04,540Behold, the mountain was full of horses29000:18:04,540 –> 00:18:07,619and chariots of fire all around Elijah.29100:18:07,619 –> 00:18:08,560So get the picture.29200:18:08,560 –> 00:18:12,979There’s this great army that’s surrounding the city,29300:18:14,079 –> 00:18:19,079but between Elijah and those who have come to arrest him,29400:18:19,660 –> 00:18:25,040there stands a greater army that is invisible29500:18:25,040 –> 00:18:26,640to the human eye.29600:18:26,640 –> 00:18:31,640The angels of God formed an invisible guard29700:18:32,079 –> 00:18:36,400and they were all around Elisha.29800:18:37,880 –> 00:18:40,819David says in Psalm 34 in verse seven,29900:18:40,939 –> 00:18:45,939The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him30000:18:46,400 –> 00:18:50,020and he delivers them.30100:18:51,699 –> 00:18:53,780Now, you see the point.30200:18:55,219 –> 00:18:58,319The seminary student was in a panic30300:18:59,099 –> 00:19:01,439because he did not see the full picture.30400:19:03,060 –> 00:19:07,339He saw all the forces that were arrayed against him.30500:19:07,339 –> 00:19:11,280What he didn’t see was who was for him,30600:19:13,660 –> 00:19:16,219and Elisha wants his servant to have peace.30700:19:16,219 –> 00:19:19,380He doesn’t want his servant to be living in fear30800:19:20,619 –> 00:19:22,260and so this is what he prays,30900:19:22,260 –> 00:19:28,560O Lord, please open his eyes.31000:19:31,020 –> 00:19:33,439Now, dear friends, we need this prayer don’t we?31100:19:34,199 –> 00:19:37,400We who hear the word of God31200:19:37,400 –> 00:19:39,040and sometimes may not believe it31300:19:39,040 –> 00:19:41,819when it comes to the realities of our own lives.31400:19:43,219 –> 00:19:45,579We need this prayer,31500:19:45,579 –> 00:19:50,579and here is a perfect model of how to pray for yourself31600:19:51,660 –> 00:19:55,300when you are afraid or how indeed to pray for someone else31700:19:55,300 –> 00:19:58,599you’re seeking to walk with and they are facing great fear.31800:19:58,660 –> 00:20:01,160Oh Lord, open my eyes.31900:20:03,099 –> 00:20:06,599Help me to see that You really are for me.32000:20:07,959 –> 00:20:09,780Help me to see and to believe32100:20:09,780 –> 00:20:12,520that You really are with me.32200:20:12,520 –> 00:20:14,380Help me to see and to believe32300:20:14,380 –> 00:20:17,359that Your power really is greater32400:20:18,819 –> 00:20:23,719than all the forces that are arrayed against me.32500:20:25,660 –> 00:20:26,920Now, dear friends, you know well32600:20:26,920 –> 00:20:29,839that this is absolutely fundamental32700:20:29,839 –> 00:20:32,180to living the Christian life.32800:20:32,180 –> 00:20:33,540Remember how the Apostle Paul32900:20:33,540 –> 00:20:36,099describes the Christian life?33000:20:36,099 –> 00:20:38,599We walk by faith not by sight.33100:20:42,560 –> 00:20:46,020Now, what does that actually mean?33200:20:46,020 –> 00:20:49,439Well, to walk by sight means very simply33300:20:49,439 –> 00:20:54,439that we are controlled by what we can see around us.33400:20:54,479 –> 00:20:57,359And if you’re controlled by what you see around you,33500:20:57,359 –> 00:21:01,359well, you’re always going to be living in fear.33600:21:02,180 –> 00:21:06,619But to walk by faith means that we truly believe33700:21:06,619 –> 00:21:08,699what our eyes cannot see,33800:21:09,800 –> 00:21:12,140that is that God is with us,33900:21:13,380 –> 00:21:15,719that His angels surround us,34000:21:16,959 –> 00:21:20,699that His Holy Spirit really does live in us.34100:21:21,420 –> 00:21:24,339You see the point, faith sees more34200:21:26,319 –> 00:21:29,619than the troubling realities that are around us.34300:21:29,619 –> 00:21:32,380And that of course is the point of Hebrews chapter 1134400:21:32,380 –> 00:21:34,579in verse 1 where we’re given this wonderful statement34500:21:34,579 –> 00:21:36,540about the nature of faith, what is faith?34600:21:36,540 –> 00:21:39,199Faith is the assurance of things hoped for,34700:21:39,199 –> 00:21:42,040the conviction of things not seen.34800:21:43,800 –> 00:21:45,880That’s what it is and it’s beautifully illustrated34900:21:45,880 –> 00:21:48,160in this wonderful story.35000:21:48,439 –> 00:21:52,619In this wonderful story, faith is not closing your eyes35100:21:53,579 –> 00:21:54,500to reality.35200:21:56,459 –> 00:22:00,199Faith is not burying your head in the sand.35300:22:00,199 –> 00:22:03,979Faith has eyes wide open to the dangers and darkness35400:22:03,979 –> 00:22:07,520that surround us but faith sees more than the dangers35500:22:07,520 –> 00:22:09,219in the darkness that surround us.35600:22:09,219 –> 00:22:12,180Faith opens our eyes to the greater reality35700:22:12,180 –> 00:22:15,839of God’s own presence and his power.35800:22:16,119 –> 00:22:19,140Faith sees the armies of God all around us35900:22:19,140 –> 00:22:22,140and therefore knows that nothing can touch us36000:22:22,140 –> 00:22:26,420apart from it being the Father’s own will.36100:22:27,819 –> 00:22:29,380You’ve been listening to Open The Bible36200:22:29,380 –> 00:22:31,800with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called36300:22:32,780 –> 00:22:34,459God Will Be With Us.36400:22:34,459 –> 00:22:36,380We’ve got to pause the message there36500:22:36,380 –> 00:22:38,260but we’ll be back with a message in our next broadcast.36600:22:38,260 –> 00:22:40,760I hope you’ll join us for that.36700:22:40,760 –> 00:22:41,859The message is part of a series called36800:22:41,859 –> 00:22:44,239In God we Trust and all of the messages36900:22:44,239 –> 00:22:47,040we’ve already broadcast are available to listen to37000:22:47,040 –> 00:22:52,040free on our website openthebible.org.uk.37100:22:52,400 –> 00:22:55,479Open the Bible is supported by our many listeners37200:22:55,479 –> 00:22:58,699and if you’re one of them, thank you so much.37300:22:58,699 –> 00:23:01,160It’s not just the radio programme,37400:23:01,160 –> 00:23:04,079the website and podcasts that you’re supporting.37500:23:04,079 –> 00:23:07,400Here’s Open the Bible’s Executive Director, John Martin.37600:23:07,400 –> 00:23:09,839David let me tell you about some stories37700:23:09,839 –> 00:23:12,199in Northern Ireland.37800:23:12,199 –> 00:23:14,939We are delighted at a growing network of churches37900:23:14,939 –> 00:23:17,219taking interest in Open the Bible resources38000:23:17,219 –> 00:23:19,880with Pastor Collin having been invited to speak38100:23:19,880 –> 00:23:23,319at Christian conferences for a number of years in a row.38200:23:23,319 –> 00:23:26,339This year, Pastor Collin taught Fly Through the Bible38300:23:26,339 –> 00:23:29,880based on his short book and he did this in an evening38400:23:29,880 –> 00:23:33,719at Hamilton Road Baptist Church in Bangor, Northern Ireland.38500:23:33,719 –> 00:23:35,520It was a packed auditorium.38600:23:35,520 –> 00:23:40,079Members from around 20 churches came, some bringing guests.38700:23:40,199 –> 00:23:43,540Pastor Sam Castles, from Lisner Breen Presbyterian Church38800:23:43,540 –> 00:23:47,859said, What I’ve really enjoyed and found tremendously useful38900:23:47,859 –> 00:23:49,780is that Pastor Collin is able to give39000:23:49,780 –> 00:23:53,760a good overview of the Bible, with rich theology,39100:23:53,760 –> 00:23:57,319in a very clear, concise and very understandable,39200:23:57,319 –> 00:23:58,560applicable way.39300:23:58,560 –> 00:24:01,839Following this event in Bangor, a number of churches39400:24:01,839 –> 00:24:04,199are helping us trial a three-session version39500:24:04,199 –> 00:24:08,880of Fly Through the Bible as a video based inquirer’s course.39600:24:08,880 –> 00:24:11,500One church had over 60 people attend,39700:24:11,500 –> 00:24:14,880including many exploring the Christian faith.39800:24:14,880 –> 00:24:18,099Their pastor, Keith McIlwain from Hamilton Road Baptist39900:24:18,099 –> 00:24:21,859Church, said this, We’ve never had an evangelistic course40000:24:21,859 –> 00:24:23,719night like it.40100:24:23,719 –> 00:24:27,140We had Catholics, atheists, Buddhists, all here40200:24:27,140 –> 00:24:31,780tonight, and a good number of newcomers from our church.40300:24:31,780 –> 00:24:34,660Unbelieving husbands, brothers, children, and parents40400:24:34,660 –> 00:24:36,180were all in the room.40500:24:36,180 –> 00:24:38,979We are very thankful for the inquirers’ course40600:24:38,979 –> 00:24:42,339and the people God brought along.40700:24:42,339 –> 00:24:44,540So, David, if any listeners out there40800:24:44,540 –> 00:24:47,900are interested in looking at the inquirers’ course based40900:24:47,900 –> 00:24:50,439on Fly Through the Bible, they can go to our website41000:24:50,439 –> 00:24:52,400and look for the course Fly Through the Bible41100:24:52,400 –> 00:24:55,300and click to access the free resources.41200:24:55,300 –> 00:24:57,099You can get involved in supporting41300:24:57,099 –> 00:25:00,020Open the Bible’s work by coming to our website41400:25:00,020 –> 00:25:02,739openthebible.org.uk.41500:25:02,739 –> 00:25:05,099You’ll find lots more information, terms41600:25:05,160 –> 00:25:07,520and conditions, and you can give online.41700:25:08,380 –> 00:25:10,680For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,41800:25:10,680 –> 00:25:12,020I’m David Pick.41900:25:12,020 –> 00:25:14,699Join us again next time on Open the Bible.42000:25:24,420 –> 00:25:27,260What does it mean to walk by sight?42100:25:27,260 –> 00:25:29,839Find out next time on Open the Bible.