100:00:00,880 –> 00:00:02,560The origin of revelation200:00:03,520 –> 00:00:08,320We walk by faith, not by sight.300:00:09,920 –> 00:00:11,280And what does that actually mean?400:00:13,120 –> 00:00:19,840Well to walk by sight means very simply that we are controlled by what we can see around us.500:00:21,280 –> 00:00:24,160And if you’re controlled by what you see around you,600:00:24,160 –> 00:00:26,320well you’re always going to be living in fear!700:00:27,040 –> 00:00:30,879Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick.800:00:30,879 –> 00:00:34,959Glad you could join us today, and Colin, maybe for those who are listening900:00:34,959 –> 00:00:41,200who might identify with the idea of walks by sight, how do we begin to walk by faith?1000:00:41,200 –> 00:00:45,279Well I think that faith is best understood as having two sides.1100:00:45,279 –> 00:00:47,840It’s believing and it’s trusting.1200:00:48,480 –> 00:00:50,320And I like to put it this way.1300:00:50,320 –> 00:00:54,080That faith involves trusting God in what he’s kept secret1400:00:54,880 –> 00:00:58,240and believing God in what he has revealed.1500:00:58,240 –> 00:01:01,360So these are the two parts of what it means to walk by faith.1600:01:01,360 –> 00:01:03,439There are many things that God has kept secret,1700:01:03,439 –> 00:01:10,160we have to trust him in them all the questions that begin with why, that we can’t answer.1800:01:10,160 –> 00:01:15,440They’re all things that God has kept secret, and I have to trust him in them.1900:01:16,000 –> 00:01:17,680Now, how am I to do that?2000:01:17,680 –> 00:01:22,879Well, the other side of faith is that I believe God in what he has revealed.2100:01:22,879 –> 00:01:30,080So it seems to me that faith is strengthened as I take in what God has revealed and believe it.2200:01:30,080 –> 00:01:31,279That’s why it’s so important,2300:01:31,279 –> 00:01:37,040why we’re constantly encouraging people to take in some part of the promise of God,2400:01:37,040 –> 00:01:41,279the word of God, to believe what God has revealed2500:01:41,279 –> 00:01:45,839and that’s what enables us to trust God in what he has kept secret2600:01:45,839 –> 00:01:50,480and that’s what it looks like to walk by faith rather than walk by sight.2700:01:50,480 –> 00:01:52,720And that really is the challenge of the Christian life2800:01:52,959 –> 00:01:55,360because if we don’t walk by faith,2900:01:55,360 –> 00:01:59,120we’re simply going to find ourselves wading through discouragement3000:01:59,120 –> 00:02:01,360because of the darkness that’s around us.3100:02:01,360 –> 00:02:06,320I hope that the programme today is going to help people see3200:02:06,320 –> 00:02:10,720that we really can trust God in what he’s kept secret3300:02:10,720 –> 00:02:16,399and we really can believe God in the wonderful promises that he has revealed.3400:02:16,399 –> 00:02:18,779Well, let’s continue to look at this message3500:02:18,779 –> 00:02:22,139God will be with us from 2 Kings chapter 6.3600:02:22,139 –> 00:02:23,899Here is Pastor Colin.3700:02:23,899 –> 00:02:26,860Here we come to the second thing that we need to know3800:02:26,860 –> 00:02:29,500and to believe when we are afraid.3900:02:29,500 –> 00:02:32,300Not only that God knows everything about us,4000:02:32,300 –> 00:02:35,179but that God really is present with us.4100:02:35,179 –> 00:02:36,460Verse 174200:02:36,460 –> 00:02:38,300And then Elisha prayed and said,4300:02:38,300 –> 00:02:43,740Oh Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.4400:02:45,820 –> 00:02:48,539So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man4500:02:49,419 –> 00:02:50,300and he saw,4600:02:51,979 –> 00:02:53,740and then we’re told what it was that he saw.4700:02:53,740 –> 00:02:59,100Behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire4800:02:59,100 –> 00:03:00,699all around Elisha.4900:03:00,699 –> 00:03:01,820So get the picture.5000:03:01,820 –> 00:03:06,300There’s this great army that’s surrounding the city,5100:03:08,059 –> 00:03:13,660but between Elisha and those who have come to arrest him5200:03:13,660 –> 00:03:20,139there stands a greater army that is invisible to the human eye.5300:03:20,139 –> 00:03:25,660The angels of God formed an invisible guard5400:03:25,660 –> 00:03:29,660and they were all around Elisha.5500:03:31,259 –> 00:03:32,940Now, you see the point.5600:03:34,779 –> 00:03:37,820The seminary student was in a panic5700:03:38,619 –> 00:03:40,619because he did not see the full picture.5800:03:40,619 –> 00:03:45,820He saw all the forces that were arrayed against him.5900:03:46,779 –> 00:03:51,259What he didn’t see was who was for him.6000:03:53,100 –> 00:03:55,740And Elisha wants his servant to have peace.6100:03:55,740 –> 00:03:58,460He doesn’t want his servant to be living in fear.6200:04:00,139 –> 00:04:01,979And so this is what he prays.6300:04:01,979 –> 00:04:07,419Oh Lord, please open his eyes.6400:04:07,899 –> 00:04:09,979Now dear friends, we need this prayer, don’t we?6500:04:12,059 –> 00:04:15,259And here is a perfect model of6600:04:15,259 –> 00:04:19,019how to pray for yourself when you are afraid,6700:04:19,019 –> 00:04:21,019or indeed how to pray for someone else6800:04:21,019 –> 00:04:24,540you’re seeking to walk with and they are facing great fear.6900:04:24,540 –> 00:04:27,660Oh Lord, open my eyes.7000:04:29,339 –> 00:04:32,859Help me to see that you really are for me.7100:04:32,940 –> 00:04:37,739Help me to see and to believe7200:04:37,739 –> 00:04:40,220that you really are with me.7300:04:40,220 –> 00:04:42,380Help me to see and to believe7400:04:42,380 –> 00:04:45,019that your power really is greater7500:04:46,459 –> 00:04:51,260than all the forces that are arrayed against me.7600:04:53,179 –> 00:04:54,540Now dear friends, you know well7700:04:54,540 –> 00:04:57,100that this is absolutely fundamental7800:04:57,820 –> 00:04:59,500to living the Christian life.7900:04:59,500 –> 00:05:01,100Remember how the Apostle Paul8000:05:01,100 –> 00:05:02,779describes the Christian life?8100:05:03,739 –> 00:05:08,700We walk by faith not by sight.8200:05:10,540 –> 00:05:11,899Now what does that actually mean?8300:05:13,739 –> 00:05:17,100Well, to walk by sight means very simply8400:05:17,100 –> 00:05:20,459that we are controlled by what we can see around us8500:05:22,140 –> 00:05:25,019and if you’re controlled by what you see around you8600:05:25,019 –> 00:05:27,179well, you’re always going to be living in fear,8700:05:29,660 –> 00:05:32,859but to walk by faith means8800:05:32,859 –> 00:05:36,380that we truly believe what our eyes cannot see,8900:05:37,500 –> 00:05:39,739that is, that God is with us,9000:05:41,100 –> 00:05:43,820that his angels surround us,9100:05:44,940 –> 00:05:48,779that his Holy Spirit really does live in us.9200:05:51,100 –> 00:05:51,820You see the point?9300:05:52,700 –> 00:05:54,779Faith sees more9400:05:55,899 –> 00:05:58,299than the troubling realities that are around us.9500:05:59,260 –> 00:06:02,380And that of course is the point of Hebrews chapter 11 in verse 1,9600:06:02,380 –> 00:06:05,339where we’re given this wonderful statement about the nature of faith.9700:06:05,339 –> 00:06:06,220What is faith?9800:06:06,220 –> 00:06:08,940Faith is the assurance of things hoped for,9900:06:08,940 –> 00:06:11,980the conviction of things not seen.10000:06:13,179 –> 00:06:13,899That’s what it is,10100:06:13,899 –> 00:06:17,179and it’s beautifully illustrated in this wonderful story.10200:06:18,380 –> 00:06:22,299Faith is not closing your eyes to reality.10300:06:23,980 –> 00:06:27,739Faith is not burying your head in the sand.10400:06:27,739 –> 00:06:32,700Faith has eyes wide open to the dangers and darkness that surround us,10500:06:32,700 –> 00:06:36,619but faith sees more than the dangers and the darkness that surround us.10600:06:36,619 –> 00:06:43,179Faith opens our eyes to the greater reality of God’s own presence and his power.10700:06:43,179 –> 00:06:47,420Faith sees the armies of God all around us and therefore10800:06:47,420 –> 00:06:53,980knows that nothing can touch us apart from it being the Father’s own will.10900:06:53,980 –> 00:07:01,179Now, this wonderful truth, dear friends, is what will give us endurance11000:07:02,459 –> 00:07:04,619in all that God has called us to do.11100:07:06,859 –> 00:07:12,140It is made very clear in Hebrews 11 that this actually is the secret11200:07:12,779 –> 00:07:17,420of enduring and persevering over the long haul.11300:07:18,859 –> 00:07:23,660And the outstanding example of this, of course, in the Bible is Moses.11400:07:24,940 –> 00:07:31,579How was it that Moses could endure all the trials that he faced11500:07:32,459 –> 00:07:35,899during 40 years of ministry in the desert?11600:07:37,660 –> 00:07:42,220Well, the Bible tells us, Hebrews 11 and verse 27, very important verse,11700:07:43,820 –> 00:07:52,299by faith, he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the King,11800:07:52,299 –> 00:08:00,700Why? for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.11900:08:03,500 –> 00:08:07,339Moses knew all about the anger of Pharaoh, but he saw more than the anger of Pharaoh.12000:08:09,420 –> 00:08:14,779He had to endure the endless complaining and constant unbelief of God’s people in the desert,12100:08:14,779 –> 00:08:21,899but he saw more than the endless complaining and unbelief of God’s people in the desert.12200:08:21,899 –> 00:08:34,539He endured because of what or rather who he saw. He endured as seeing him who is invisible.12300:08:34,539 –> 00:08:46,140That’s what faith does. Faith counts on God as much as you would if you could see him sitting12400:08:46,140 –> 00:08:54,780in the seat right next to you. Faith counts on God as much as you would if you could hear him12500:08:54,780 –> 00:09:04,859speak to you in an audible voice. Do you see, walking by sight always leads to fear.12600:09:07,020 –> 00:09:14,940But walking by faith will lead you into peace. Do you remember how the apostle Paul describes12700:09:14,940 –> 00:09:24,299this in the New Testament? He speaks about the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,12800:09:25,900 –> 00:09:31,900that guards our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Now do you see that is what12900:09:31,900 –> 00:09:36,940Elisha had right here in this story? He’s in the house with his servant.13000:09:38,219 –> 00:09:41,979The city is surrounded by this great army who’ve come to get him.13100:09:42,460 –> 00:09:50,859The servant’s in a panic but Elisha is not. He is peace. And why does he have peace?13200:09:52,460 –> 00:09:58,700Because God has opened his eyes and he prays that his servant’s eyes will be opened13300:09:58,700 –> 00:10:04,859because when the eyes are opened, Elisha and the servant will both see13400:10:05,659 –> 00:10:13,979that the power of God that is for them is greater than all that is arrayed against them.13500:10:15,820 –> 00:10:24,700Do you see today and do you really believe that God truly stands with you13600:10:25,219 –> 00:10:28,520and that He really is for you?13700:10:29,359 –> 00:10:39,080Do you see and know and believe today that nothing can ever touch you apart from your Father’s will?13800:10:40,500 –> 00:10:49,280Because if you can really see that and believe it, you will have peace, you’ll be delivered from fear.13900:10:50,200 –> 00:10:51,559You will have peace.14000:10:52,299 –> 00:10:55,299You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith14100:10:55,440 –> 00:10:58,400and a message called God Will Be With Us.14200:10:58,460 –> 00:11:03,260It’s part of our series, In God We Trust, and will be back to the message very shortly.14300:11:03,559 –> 00:11:08,200If you missed any of the message today or any of the messages in the series,14400:11:08,539 –> 00:11:11,539it’s very easy to catch up or go back and listen again,14500:11:11,719 –> 00:11:13,799by coming to our website that’s at14600:11:16,039 –> 00:11:20,419or go to your favourite podcast site search there for Open the Bible UK.14700:11:20,919 –> 00:11:23,919Back to the message now, here again is Pastor Colin.14800:11:24,640 –> 00:11:27,739Now there are four things in this story14900:11:28,299 –> 00:11:31,219that we need to know and believe when we are afraid.15000:11:31,880 –> 00:11:35,000God knows everything about you.15100:11:35,619 –> 00:11:38,640God is present with you.15200:11:39,340 –> 00:11:44,679Third, God is working for you.15300:11:45,960 –> 00:11:52,659Now it might be that there is someone who at this point would think or perhaps even say,15400:11:52,820 –> 00:11:57,559Well, I know that God is with me, but…15500:11:58,200 –> 00:12:02,359And then you might list all that is against you15600:12:02,619 –> 00:12:09,239and you find yourself right back where the seminary student was before God wonderfully opened his eyes.15700:12:10,820 –> 00:12:15,059Now if that’s where you are it may be15800:12:15,260 –> 00:12:22,859that you have been infected by an old faith-sapping heresy15900:12:23,440 –> 00:12:28,299that’s called Deism.16000:12:29,619 –> 00:12:34,580And Deism thinks of God being with us16100:12:34,859 –> 00:12:39,719in much the same way as friends on the bleachers are with you when you’re playing in a game.16200:12:40,640 –> 00:12:43,460That is they’re there to sort of cheer you on.16300:12:43,820 –> 00:12:45,820They’re there to give you moral support.16400:12:47,159 –> 00:12:53,659They are with you, they are for you, but they cannot do anything to actually influence what’s happening in the game.16500:12:55,280 –> 00:12:59,460Now dear friends that is not the God of the Bible and16600:13:00,340 –> 00:13:05,719this story very clearly reminds us not only that God is with us, but that God16700:13:06,479 –> 00:13:08,479actively works for us.16800:13:09,020 –> 00:13:12,719Think of all the things that God does in the story.16900:13:13,020 –> 00:13:17,119God frustrates the plans of the powerful King.17000:13:18,280 –> 00:13:24,359God opens the eyes of a young believer to see what is invisible.17100:13:25,179 –> 00:13:27,719And now we’re going to see that God17200:13:28,500 –> 00:13:31,140closes the eyes, blinds the eyes, of17300:13:31,280 –> 00:13:37,979a vast army. Verse 18- when the Syrian’s came down against him, Elijah prayed to the Lord and said please17400:13:38,020 –> 00:13:45,080strike these people with blindness, so he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.17500:13:46,020 –> 00:13:51,580So this great army comes down on Elisha’s house and suddenly these folks don’t see.17600:13:51,580 –> 00:13:57,359The very opposite of what Elisha had prayed for his servant- their sight becomes befuddled17700:13:58,020 –> 00:14:04,820and we’re not told how this happens, the single fact that we’re told here is that it was God who did it.17800:14:05,780 –> 00:14:13,140He struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha17900:14:14,739 –> 00:14:21,619so the God who intervened to open the eyes of the servant so that he would see what is invisible18000:14:22,739 –> 00:14:28,020then intervenes again to close the eyes of the enemy army so they can’t see what’s actually there18100:14:28,659 –> 00:14:37,940then Elisha said to them I’m gonna love this this is not the way and this is not the city18200:14:39,219 –> 00:14:44,340follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek18300:14:46,900 –> 00:14:53,700and of course the man they were seeking ultimately was the king of Israel the only reason18400:14:54,099 –> 00:14:59,059the only reason they wanted to capture Elisha was that he was giving inside information that18500:14:59,059 –> 00:15:06,500was supporting the big picture plan which was to ambush the king of Israel. Oh Elisha says,18600:15:06,500 –> 00:15:09,539well I know who you’re actually seeking and I’ll take you right to him.18700:15:11,460 –> 00:15:19,780And so Elisha leads these men about 10 miles from Dotham to Samaria right into the king’s18800:15:19,780 –> 00:15:26,820own residence where of course all the power of the state is arrayed there around him.18900:15:28,500 –> 00:15:34,900And then when they get there Elisha said verse 20 oh lord open the eyes of these men19000:15:35,619 –> 00:15:42,659that they may see. And when the lord opened their eyes they got the shock of their lives19100:15:43,859 –> 00:15:48,659because they had been led right into the hands of the king they were seeking to destroy.19200:15:50,739 –> 00:15:57,059Do you know as i was thinking about this it struck me what they experienced on that day19300:15:59,140 –> 00:16:07,219must have been a kind of taste of the awful terror that will seize19400:16:07,219 –> 00:16:09,619the enemies of god on the days of judgment.19500:16:09,619 –> 00:16:18,500What would it be like to have your eyes opened and to find yourself in19600:16:18,500 –> 00:16:23,219the awesome presence of the god you have defied and blasphemed all your life19700:16:24,979 –> 00:16:26,580and you’re right there in his hands.19800:16:28,419 –> 00:16:34,900Well when the king of israel saw that the enemies who wanted to kill him19900:16:35,460 –> 00:16:42,179had been delivered right into his hands it’s not surprising that he wanted to destroy them20000:16:42,179 –> 00:16:49,219completely. Verse 21. As soon as the king of israel saw them he said to elijah my father20100:16:49,219 –> 00:16:53,859shall i strike them down shall i strike them down. The fact that he says it twice20200:16:53,859 –> 00:16:59,380seems to indicate his eagerness don’t you think? I …I let me at them, let me at them20300:17:00,299 –> 00:17:02,979But you see this was not the day of judgment20400:17:04,739 –> 00:17:08,180and so these men were in for a second surprise,20500:17:09,859 –> 00:17:16,500Elisha said you shall not strike them down. And here we see something very very wonderful indeed20600:17:17,939 –> 00:17:26,579that these men an enemy army, whose ultimate objective was to ambush capture and kill20700:17:27,219 –> 00:17:35,619the king of Israel find that this king who they sought to kill showed them mercy,20800:17:37,619 –> 00:17:42,500and that brings us to the fourth thing in this wonderful story that we need to know and to grasp20900:17:42,500 –> 00:17:49,300and believe when we are afraid. God knows everything about you, God is present with you,21000:17:49,380 –> 00:18:02,180God is working for you, and God is merciful toward you. He prepared for them a great feast.21100:18:03,619 –> 00:18:09,219Isn’t it beautiful? The king they wanted to kill showed them mercy,21200:18:10,979 –> 00:18:16,420and when they were delivered into his hand, and he could have done anything he wanted with them,21300:18:16,579 –> 00:18:21,140he prepared for them a great feast.21400:18:23,459 –> 00:18:30,660Now I want us in these last few moments here to see how this whole story points us very,21500:18:30,660 –> 00:18:38,979very wonderfully, and clearly to our Lord Jesus Christ and to the mercy that is ours in Him.21600:18:39,619 –> 00:18:49,219In Him the King of Syria sent a great army to arrest just one man.21700:18:51,219 –> 00:18:54,900And do you remember that’s exactly what happened in the garden of Gethsemane?21800:18:56,420 –> 00:19:02,739Judas had procured a band, probably a cohort of soldiers, that would have been several hundred21900:19:02,900 –> 00:19:09,939and in addition to that, the chief priests had a great crowd with swords and with clubs.22000:19:09,939 –> 00:19:17,459So there were actually two armies that were sent at the same time, two armies to arrest just one22100:19:17,459 –> 00:19:24,500man. And you remember how Peter was ready to go down fighting, he drew his sword, Jesus said,22200:19:24,500 –> 00:19:30,900do you put that away? Remember what Jesus said next, do you think that I cannot appeal to my22300:19:30,900 –> 00:19:37,060Father? And He will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels.22400:19:40,180 –> 00:19:44,099Jesus could have called on the invisible armies of God.22500:19:46,579 –> 00:19:48,260Would have delivered Him in a moment.22600:19:51,380 –> 00:19:59,219But He didn’t do that. He could easily have destroyed all His enemies right there and then,22700:19:59,300 –> 00:20:04,500make it the day of judgement. But He didn’t do that.22800:20:07,060 –> 00:20:10,500When they nailed Him to the cross,22900:20:13,459 –> 00:20:18,979He said, father forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.23000:20:21,780 –> 00:20:25,780Now friends, we were God’s enemies.23100:20:27,540 –> 00:20:27,780We23200:20:28,339 –> 00:20:33,459were blind to His glory, we were blind to His truth.23300:20:34,979 –> 00:20:40,819And justice would have condemned and destroyed us forever.23400:20:43,140 –> 00:20:45,459But God is merciful toward us.23500:20:46,979 –> 00:20:50,180And in Jesus Christ, instead of condemning us,23600:20:50,979 –> 00:20:53,619He invites us to a feast.23700:20:56,020 –> 00:21:00,099God showed mercy when we were His enemies,23800:21:00,099 –> 00:21:03,540and therefore, we can count on Him23900:21:03,540 –> 00:21:07,859to deliver us, now that we are His friends.24000:21:09,219 –> 00:21:14,660This is the inescapable logic of Romans 5, in verse 10.24100:21:14,660 –> 00:21:18,420If while we were enemies we were reconciled to God24200:21:18,500 –> 00:21:20,260by the death of His Son,24300:21:20,260 –> 00:21:22,579how much more now that we’ve been reconciled24400:21:22,579 –> 00:21:25,380shall we be saved by His life.24500:21:27,939 –> 00:21:29,380Dear friend, do you see today24600:21:30,339 –> 00:21:34,660that the armies of God are all around you24700:21:36,099 –> 00:21:38,020and nothing can touch you24800:21:39,219 –> 00:21:43,859apart from The Will of your loving Heavenly Father24900:21:43,859 –> 00:21:48,099who always works for your ultimate good.25000:21:48,579 –> 00:21:50,579You don’t need anything else from Him.25100:21:50,579 –> 00:21:52,900So here are four things to know and believe25200:21:52,900 –> 00:21:53,939when you are afraid,25300:21:55,140 –> 00:21:57,780that God knows everything about you25400:21:58,979 –> 00:22:01,300that God is present with you25500:22:02,579 –> 00:22:04,500that God is working for you25600:22:05,780 –> 00:22:10,260and that God truly is merciful toward you25700:22:11,459 –> 00:22:14,660and when you know and believe these things25800:22:14,660 –> 00:22:18,739you will not be consumed by fear25900:22:20,099 –> 00:22:22,339when you know and believe these things26000:22:23,540 –> 00:22:26,260you will have peace26100:22:28,020 –> 00:22:30,020You’ve been listening to pastor Colin Smith26200:22:30,020 –> 00:22:31,459on Open the Bible26300:22:31,459 –> 00:22:34,180and a message called God will be with us26400:22:34,180 –> 00:22:36,420part of our series in God, we trust26500:22:36,420 –> 00:22:38,180taken from Two Kings26600:22:38,180 –> 00:22:40,739and all about the life of Elisha26700:22:40,739 –> 00:22:42,579if you’ve enjoyed today’s message26800:22:42,579 –> 00:22:44,900you might enjoy other messages in the series26900:22:44,900 –> 00:22:46,260if you haven’t heard them already27000:22:46,260 –> 00:22:47,699or if you want to hear them again27100:22:47,699 –> 00:22:48,979come to our website27200:22:48,979 –> 00:22:51,939that’s at openthebible.org.uk27300:22:51,939 –> 00:22:53,219or if you prefer27400:22:53,219 –> 00:22:54,579find it as a podcast27500:22:54,579 –> 00:22:56,420on all the main podcast sites27600:22:56,420 –> 00:22:58,660by searching for Open the Bible UK27700:22:59,619 –> 00:23:02,020Open the Bible isn’t just about the program27800:23:02,020 –> 00:23:04,339the website and podcasts27900:23:04,339 –> 00:23:06,739here’s Open the Bible’s Executive Director28000:23:06,739 –> 00:23:07,699John Martin28100:23:07,699 –> 00:23:09,540with news about Open the Bible’s28200:23:09,540 –> 00:23:10,900bible study course28300:23:10,900 –> 00:23:12,339Fly Through the Bible28400:23:12,339 –> 00:23:14,180and the Open the Bible film28500:23:14,180 –> 00:23:15,699Heaven How I Got Here28600:23:15,699 –> 00:23:17,699being used in local churches28700:23:17,699 –> 00:23:18,579David we’ve got an28800:23:18,579 –> 00:23:20,099interesting story from Wales28900:23:20,099 –> 00:23:21,300that I’d love to tell you about29000:23:22,020 –> 00:23:24,579Eden Gate is a christian charity29100:23:24,579 –> 00:23:25,859in South Wales29200:23:25,859 –> 00:23:26,819that exists to serve29300:23:26,819 –> 00:23:28,339those who are homeless or vulnerable29400:23:28,339 –> 00:23:29,939providing practical help29500:23:29,939 –> 00:23:31,619and sharing the message of Jesus29600:23:32,500 –> 00:23:33,699Amanda Cunningham29700:23:33,699 –> 00:23:35,380our Communications Manager29800:23:35,380 –> 00:23:37,859saw an opportunity to help Liam29900:23:37,859 –> 00:23:38,660one of the team30000:23:38,660 –> 00:23:40,420who runs weekly bible studies30100:23:40,420 –> 00:23:42,260with those Eden Gate serves30200:23:43,060 –> 00:23:44,020Liam was delighted30300:23:44,020 –> 00:23:45,699to hear about our various resources30400:23:45,699 –> 00:23:46,339including30500:23:46,339 –> 00:23:48,500the Fly Through the Bible materials30600:23:48,500 –> 00:23:49,780and the one-hour film30700:23:49,780 –> 00:23:52,020of the story of the thief on the cross30800:23:52,020 –> 00:23:53,219Heaven How I Got Here30900:23:54,339 –> 00:23:55,219Liam said this31000:23:55,859 –> 00:23:57,459the Fly Through the Bible course31100:23:57,459 –> 00:23:58,339has worked well31200:23:59,140 –> 00:24:00,180the short videos31300:24:00,180 –> 00:24:02,180have been a fantastic resource31400:24:02,180 –> 00:24:04,180and serve as a brilliant springboard31500:24:04,180 –> 00:24:06,339for really positive group conversations31600:24:07,140 –> 00:24:08,020I appreciate the way31700:24:08,020 –> 00:24:09,699the program follows key figures31800:24:09,780 –> 00:24:10,979from the Old Testament31900:24:10,979 –> 00:24:13,619and highlights God’s covenantal promises32000:24:13,619 –> 00:24:14,660ultimately showing32100:24:14,660 –> 00:24:16,260how they are fulfilled in Jesus32200:24:16,900 –> 00:24:18,020Liam also said32300:24:18,020 –> 00:24:19,699we also recently watched32400:24:19,699 –> 00:24:21,140the Heaven How I Got Here film32500:24:21,699 –> 00:24:22,900with one of our groups32600:24:22,900 –> 00:24:24,180and it was truly moving32700:24:24,739 –> 00:24:26,180you could have heard a pin drop32800:24:26,180 –> 00:24:27,619in a room full of men32900:24:27,619 –> 00:24:28,979who would never normally33000:24:28,979 –> 00:24:30,579sit through a one hour showing33100:24:30,579 –> 00:24:33,140let alone watch in complete silence33200:24:33,140 –> 00:24:35,219it clearly resonated deeply33300:24:36,339 –> 00:24:38,339we’re delighted about this partnership33400:24:38,339 –> 00:24:39,459and if listeners would like33500:24:39,459 –> 00:24:40,500to support it33600:24:40,500 –> 00:24:42,359they can just go to the website33700:24:42,359 –> 00:24:44,339openthebible.org.uk33800:24:44,339 –> 00:24:46,020and click on the button donate33900:24:46,579 –> 00:24:47,699you can get involved34000:24:47,699 –> 00:24:49,140in supporting Open The Bible’s34100:24:49,140 –> 00:24:51,300work by coming to our website34200:24:51,300 –> 00:24:54,000openthebible.org.uk34300:24:54,000 –> 00:24:56,020you’ll find lots more information34400:24:56,020 –> 00:24:57,140terms and conditions34500:24:57,140 –> 00:24:58,579and you can give online34600:24:59,699 –> 00:25:00,739for Open The Bible34700:25:00,739 –> 00:25:02,180and pastor Colin Smith34800:25:02,180 –> 00:25:03,300i’m David Pick34900:25:03,300 –> 00:25:04,660join us again next time35000:25:04,660 –> 00:25:06,180on Open The Bible35100:25:09,300 –> 00:25:15,060Oh35200:25:19,939 –> 00:25:20,900one story35300:25:21,459 –> 00:25:23,380three responses to the gospel35400:25:23,939 –> 00:25:25,619which one do you relate to35500:25:26,339 –> 00:25:27,859find out next time on35600:25:27,859 –> 00:25:29,060Open The Bible