100:00:00,520 –> 00:00:14,720If you give yourself to trusting God, to obeying God, to serving God, to walking with God,200:00:14,720 –> 00:00:20,780if you give yourself to that kind of life, what can you expect?300:00:20,780 –> 00:00:25,820Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. I’m glad you joined400:00:26,100 –> 00:00:31,000us today. And Colin, let’s try and answer that question. If we devote ourselves fully500:00:31,000 –> 00:00:34,779to Jesus, what kind of life can we expect?600:00:34,779 –> 00:00:39,700Well, if we devote ourselves to following Jesus, we should expect a life that reflects700:00:39,700 –> 00:00:44,919the pattern of His. And that is one that will be greatly blessed, but it is also one that800:00:44,919 –> 00:00:51,919will involve great sorrow, great loss, great times of testing, and times of trial. And900:00:52,279 –> 00:00:58,360it strikes me that this is a really important question. I saw a survey not so long ago of1000:00:58,360 –> 00:01:03,720folks who had been in pastoral ministry and had left and the number one reason that was1100:01:03,720 –> 00:01:10,220given was, it wasn’t what I expected. You know, you read that and you say, well what1200:01:10,220 –> 00:01:16,839did a person expect, and on what basis was that expectation formed? If you look at the1300:01:16,839 –> 00:01:21,279New Testament, you look at the life of Jesus, you look at the experience of the Apostles,1400:01:21,400 –> 00:01:26,239you look at any of the stories of the Bible, the story we’re looking at today, you see1500:01:26,239 –> 00:01:32,019that those who are God’s children are greatly blessed and that those who are God’s children1600:01:32,019 –> 00:01:38,279experience real trial, real sorrow and sometimes great loss. So it’s really important to1700:01:38,279 –> 00:01:44,440take that in so that our expectations of a life of following Christ are actually1800:01:44,440 –> 00:01:50,139shaped by the Bible and not by some naive kind of hope that has simply come1900:01:50,139 –> 00:01:52,800from our own minds and from our imagination.2000:01:52,800 –> 00:01:59,120Today’s story I think is just a wonderful encouragement and for anyone who experiences2100:01:59,120 –> 00:02:02,680loss it’s a story that gives us great, great hope.2200:02:02,680 –> 00:02:08,940So join us today—if you can—in II Kings chapter 4 as we begin the message,2300:02:08,940 –> 00:02:12,839God will comfort us. Here is Pastor Colin.2400:02:13,000 –> 00:02:20,279The story that we are looking at today, which is about the son of this Shunamite woman,2500:02:20,279 –> 00:02:27,339is rather like the story of the son of the widow of Zarathoth, again back in the time2600:02:27,339 –> 00:02:34,059of Elijah, that story being told to us in I Kings and chapter 17.2700:02:34,059 –> 00:02:41,779And of course, critics seize on this and say well, you know these stories are duplicates2800:02:41,779 –> 00:02:50,460and some editor has become confused about when and to whom these things happened.2900:02:50,460 –> 00:02:59,759But we believe that the Bible is the Word of God and the Bible tells us that God moved3000:02:59,759 –> 00:03:08,220in miraculous power at different times, in different places, and on behalf of different3100:03:08,419 –> 00:03:17,259people. And the point here is surely this, that the same God who worked through Elijah3200:03:17,259 –> 00:03:25,339also worked through Elisha. And so the point of these stories, surely, is to remind us3300:03:25,339 –> 00:03:31,860that God’s work continues, even though His servants change.3400:03:32,300 –> 00:03:39,360Now we’re looking in this series, at six stories from the life of Elijah, and3500:03:39,360 –> 00:03:47,259each of these stories involves a miracle, but none is more remarkable than the3600:03:47,259 –> 00:03:53,660story we are looking at today. Now we’re introduced then in this story to a3700:03:53,660 –> 00:04:01,220godly woman who is a marvelous example to us of a life of faith, of service, and3800:04:01,979 –> 00:04:07,639of obedience. We’re not told this lady’s name, we only know that she lived in3900:04:07,639 –> 00:04:14,699Shunem and that is why she has come to be known as the Shunemite woman. This4000:04:14,699 –> 00:04:21,600lady is a marvelous model of serving God. And this story therefore speaks very4100:04:21,600 –> 00:04:29,380directly to all who would live a devoted life of service to God. Here’s the4200:04:29,380 –> 00:04:38,859question. If you give yourself to trusting God, to obeying God, to serving4300:04:38,859 –> 00:04:46,459God and to walking with God, if you give yourself to that kind of life, what can4400:04:46,459 –> 00:04:54,260you expect? And I want to point out four realities from the story today. If you4500:04:54,260 –> 00:04:59,940devote yourself to serving the Lord Jesus Christ, these four things will be4600:04:59,940 –> 00:05:07,480true of you. And the first is that God’s servants are greatly blessed. We begin at4700:05:07,480 –> 00:05:16,220verse 8, one day Elisha went on to Shunem where a wealthy woman lived. So the first4800:05:16,220 –> 00:05:21,640thing that we’re told about this woman is that she was blessed financially. Now4900:05:21,679 –> 00:05:27,260last week you remember we were looking at a story of a widow who was very poor.5000:05:27,260 –> 00:05:32,679Today we’re looking at the story of a woman with great wealth. And this is5100:05:32,679 –> 00:05:36,260surely a reminder the fact that these stories come together back-to-back in5200:05:36,260 –> 00:05:40,480the book of Kings. They’re surely reminding us that God works in the lives5300:05:40,480 –> 00:05:47,260of all kinds of people, and that there are faithful godly people among the5400:05:47,540 –> 00:05:56,540as well as among the poor. Now God had blessed this lady richly, and she wanted5500:05:56,540 –> 00:06:03,519to be a blessing to others. And one way in which she was able to do this was to5600:06:03,519 –> 00:06:10,179open her home, and to give hospitality to the Prophet Elisha. Verse eight,5700:06:10,179 –> 00:06:16,140one day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat5800:06:16,140 –> 00:06:23,579some food. So whenever he passed that way he would turn in there to eat food. So5900:06:23,579 –> 00:06:29,059this lady then gave Elisha a meal, and clearly the warmth of her hospitality6000:06:29,059 –> 00:06:35,559was such that whenever Elisha was in the area it was just natural for him to stop6100:06:35,559 –> 00:06:40,160at this woman’s house. He always knew that there would be kind hospitality and6200:06:40,420 –> 00:06:47,480a warm welcome for him there. Then we read in verse 9 that she said to her6300:06:47,480 –> 00:06:48,899husband,6400:06:58,679 –> 00:07:06,679Elisha is described as a man of God no less than nine times in this one story.6500:07:06,679 –> 00:07:13,480You’ll find that in verse 9, verse 14, verse 16, verse 21, verse 22, twice in6600:07:13,480 –> 00:07:21,279verse 25, and twice in verse 27. A man of God, a man of God, the man of God. How6700:07:21,279 –> 00:07:28,640wonderful to be known as a person who walks with God. And this woman discerned6800:07:28,640 –> 00:07:36,480that Elisha really was someone who truly walked with God. And so she says6900:07:36,480 –> 00:07:45,000to her husband, I know that this is a holy man of God. Now here’s something7000:07:45,000 –> 00:07:52,459very important for us to remember. The woman loved God, and because she loved7100:07:52,459 –> 00:08:00,059God, she was drawn to Elisha, because he walked with God. Now you see the7200:08:00,059 –> 00:08:08,220application of that to us, if God is not much to you, then fellowship with his7300:08:08,220 –> 00:08:15,339people won’t be much to you either! Any company will do, but if you really love7400:08:15,339 –> 00:08:22,160God, you will find that you are drawn towards other people who really love God7500:08:22,160 –> 00:08:29,339too, and that was true of this woman. She had already shown great kindness to7600:08:29,700 –> 00:08:34,799Elisha, but now she wanted to take her kindness a step further. And so we read7700:08:34,799 –> 00:08:39,900verse 9 that she said to her husband, behold, I know that this is a holy man of7800:08:39,900 –> 00:08:45,299God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof7900:08:45,299 –> 00:08:50,859with walls, and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that8000:08:50,859 –> 00:08:59,559whenever he comes to us, he can go in there. Now you see, she’s saying, well God8100:08:59,559 –> 00:09:06,700has given us this home, how can we use it in a way that honors God? How can8200:09:06,700 –> 00:09:12,640we use it in a way that brings blessing to others? And evidently, it had become a8300:09:12,640 –> 00:09:18,700pattern for Elisha to come and to eat in this home, and presumably, he8400:09:18,700 –> 00:09:23,940stayed there also. They would have made him as comfortable as they could within8500:09:23,940 –> 00:09:29,000the existing frame of the house. But now, after a time, and she’s saying to her8600:09:29,000 –> 00:09:34,059husband, you know, why don’t we build an extension? Why don’t we have a guestroom8700:09:34,059 –> 00:09:39,159that’s just dedicated for Elisha’s use? He comes here often, and let’s put in8800:09:39,159 –> 00:09:44,059everything that a prophet could ever need. Let’s give him a bed, a table, a8900:09:44,140 –> 00:09:49,020chair, and a lamp. That’s all that the man of God is really going to need. And let9000:09:49,020 –> 00:09:57,859us make that guest room available to him. This would one was blessed, and she9100:09:57,859 –> 00:10:03,599wanted to be a blessing to others. She’s a marvelous example to us. And then I9200:10:03,599 –> 00:10:09,880want you to see here too, that she was content in the blessing that she had9300:10:09,900 –> 00:10:14,760received. Elisha wanted to do something for the woman, because of all the9400:10:14,760 –> 00:10:20,239kindness that she had shown to him. So he told his servant Gehazi to go and9500:10:20,239 –> 00:10:25,599ask if there was something that Elisha could do for her. And I love her answer9600:10:25,599 –> 00:10:35,679in verse 13. She answered, I dwell among my own people. Now that is a wonderful9700:10:35,679 –> 00:10:43,400expression of contentment. You see what she’s saying? I have my home and I live9800:10:43,400 –> 00:10:50,619among my own people, what else in the world could I possibly want? And you see9900:10:50,619 –> 00:10:54,960that is a very striking answer because, of course, although she was a wealthy10000:10:54,960 –> 00:11:01,599woman, she certainly did not have everything. She had a husband but she did10100:11:01,739 –> 00:11:07,799not have a child. And I expect that that had been, at least at one point in her10200:11:07,799 –> 00:11:13,260life, a great disappointment to her. There may have been a time when she really10300:11:13,260 –> 00:11:19,679wrestled with this, but it’s clear that she had come to a point where she had10400:11:19,679 –> 00:11:27,280accepted it. God has not given me all that I would have wanted in life, there10500:11:27,280 –> 00:11:33,659are some gifts that other people enjoy and that I don’t, but God has blessed me10600:11:33,659 –> 00:11:42,080and I am content, and so this woman had no request but Gehazi’s I had a10700:11:42,080 –> 00:11:49,140suggestion. He says to Elisha this woman verse 14, has a husband but she has no10800:11:49,140 –> 00:11:55,780son, and so Elisha told Gehazi to call the woman and then said to her, verse 16,10900:11:56,440 –> 00:12:04,400at this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son. The prophet was11000:12:04,400 –> 00:12:10,200telling her by the direct inspiration of God, that God would give her an11100:12:10,200 –> 00:12:16,080extraordinary gift, as he had given an extraordinary gift to Sarah and to11200:12:16,080 –> 00:12:24,780Rebecca and to Rachel and to Hannah. And notice that the woman’s reaction was11300:12:25,380 –> 00:12:31,520one of great caution. Verse 16, she said, no, my Lord, oh man of God,11400:12:31,859 –> 00:12:38,020do not lie to your servant. You see what she’s saying? Oh, I’ve been through11500:12:38,020 –> 00:12:44,000all that and I’ve come to terms with this. So please don’t give me hope11600:12:44,020 –> 00:12:48,619that’s only going to lead to disappointment. Don’t make me a promise11700:12:48,679 –> 00:12:51,200that is only going to lead to pain.11800:12:53,059 –> 00:12:59,179But God was true to his Word and sure enough, verse 17, the woman conceived11900:12:59,559 –> 00:13:06,940and she bore a son about that time the following spring, as Elisha had said to12000:13:06,940 –> 00:13:11,820her. So that’s really the first scene of the story. Now I want us to take this12100:13:11,820 –> 00:13:18,559in and to take it to heart, that God’s servants are greatly blessed.12200:13:19,820 –> 00:13:23,539That’s an encouraging place to pause for a moment. But stay with us.12300:13:23,539 –> 00:13:26,940And we’ll get back to the message very shortly. If you ever miss one12400:13:26,940 –> 00:13:30,299of our messages, you can catch up or go back and listen again by coming12500:13:30,299 –> 00:13:31,640online to our website.12600:13:31,900 –> 00:13:37,359That’s at openthebible.org.uk also on your favourite podcast site, search12700:13:37,359 –> 00:13:39,780there for open the Bible UK.12800:13:40,080 –> 00:13:43,320Back to the message now, here again is Pastor Colin.12900:13:43,320 –> 00:13:52,659God’s servants are greatly blessed. And if you are in Christ today, you are13000:13:52,659 –> 00:13:58,239greatly blessed. Whatever hardship you may be facing today, whatever13100:13:58,239 –> 00:14:01,919disappointments you may have had in your life, whatever loss you may have13200:14:01,919 –> 00:14:07,400experienced. If you are in Jesus Christ, you are greatly blessed.13300:14:08,520 –> 00:14:09,700Think about this.13400:14:10,520 –> 00:14:13,280God has set his love upon you.13500:14:15,119 –> 00:14:18,020God sent his Son into the world for you.13600:14:19,979 –> 00:14:25,539God’s Holy Spirit lives within you and he is always working for your ultimate13700:14:25,539 –> 00:14:32,659good. And in Christ, you have the most glorious future.13800:14:32,659 –> 00:14:38,859Ahead of you is a never-ending life of unclouded joy in the presence of God13900:14:38,859 –> 00:14:42,219and in the company of all of his redeemed people. All this is yours.14000:14:44,340 –> 00:14:48,020God’s servants are greatly blessed.14100:14:49,320 –> 00:14:53,219So the most noticeable thing about us should be a sense of thanksgiving.14200:14:53,539 –> 00:14:57,580Always praise God.14300:14:58,260 –> 00:15:00,580From whom all blessings flow.14400:15:02,059 –> 00:15:04,179Praise him all creatures here below.14500:15:04,179 –> 00:15:05,299Praise him above14600:15:05,299 –> 00:15:07,900you heavenly host. Praise Father,14700:15:07,900 –> 00:15:10,780Son and Holy Ghost.14800:15:10,780 –> 00:15:14,539God’s servants are greatly blessed.14900:15:14,539 –> 00:15:15,539Never forget it.15000:15:16,739 –> 00:15:17,539Never forget it.15100:15:18,760 –> 00:15:24,179Second, God’s servants endure great sorrow.15200:15:25,280 –> 00:15:27,099The story continues, verse 18.15300:15:28,940 –> 00:15:30,479When the child had grown,15400:15:31,820 –> 00:15:34,080he went out one day to his father15500:15:34,080 –> 00:15:35,400among the reapers.15600:15:36,280 –> 00:15:37,520And he said to his father,15700:15:37,520 –> 00:15:40,200oh, my head, my head.15800:15:42,260 –> 00:15:43,960And the father said to his servant,15900:15:44,340 –> 00:15:45,940carry him to his mother.16000:15:47,400 –> 00:15:48,760And when they had lifted him16100:15:49,539 –> 00:15:51,039and brought him to his mother,16200:15:51,179 –> 00:15:54,780the child sat on her lap till noon16300:15:57,020 –> 00:15:58,119and then he died.16400:16:00,340 –> 00:16:01,020Suddenly.16500:16:02,400 –> 00:16:03,840Without any warning at all.16600:16:04,179 –> 00:16:06,419This godly woman who had been so16700:16:06,419 –> 00:16:08,479greatly blessed was afflicted16800:16:09,820 –> 00:16:12,119by this terrible, terrible loss.16900:16:14,159 –> 00:16:16,119And who in the world could have imagined17000:16:16,619 –> 00:16:18,760when the sun came up that morning17100:16:19,599 –> 00:16:23,159that this lady’s son would be dead by noon.17200:16:25,859 –> 00:16:27,599We don’t know how old the boy was17300:16:27,599 –> 00:16:28,299when he died.17400:16:28,580 –> 00:16:30,080He’s referred to as a child17500:16:30,080 –> 00:16:31,900who had grown in verse 18,17600:16:32,280 –> 00:16:33,340but he was young enough17700:16:33,340 –> 00:16:33,940to know17800:16:34,280 –> 00:16:36,380still to sit on his mother’s lap.17900:16:38,359 –> 00:16:40,119And here we have every mother’s nightmare.18000:16:41,580 –> 00:16:43,359A nightmare that some among us have known,18100:16:44,659 –> 00:16:47,299the unimaginable sorrow18200:16:48,000 –> 00:16:50,559of the death of a child.18300:16:53,059 –> 00:16:55,400Now you would think that the first thing18400:16:55,400 –> 00:16:57,059the mother would do would be go and18500:16:57,059 –> 00:16:58,140tell her husband18600:16:58,140 –> 00:16:59,200she didn’t do that18700:16:59,880 –> 00:17:02,340she laid the boy on the bed18800:17:02,739 –> 00:17:04,439in Elisha’s room18900:17:04,439 –> 00:17:06,140and she told her husband that she was19000:17:06,140 –> 00:17:09,040going to go and see the man of God19100:17:09,040 –> 00:17:11,079and then she said to her husband19200:17:11,180 –> 00:17:12,339all is well.19300:17:13,239 –> 00:17:15,439She then rode on her donkey19400:17:15,439 –> 00:17:18,239as fast as she could, from Shunam19500:17:18,239 –> 00:17:19,560to Mt. Carmel19600:17:19,660 –> 00:17:20,780where Elisha was19700:17:20,780 –> 00:17:23,719probably around 20 miles journey19800:17:23,719 –> 00:17:24,719altogether.19900:17:25,319 –> 00:17:28,020And when Elisha saw her20000:17:28,020 –> 00:17:29,400in the distance20100:17:29,619 –> 00:17:32,300he sensed immediately that something was wrong.20200:17:32,939 –> 00:17:34,040Verse 2520300:17:34,260 –> 00:17:36,140When the man of God saw her coming20400:17:36,140 –> 00:17:37,760he said to Gehazi his servant20500:17:37,760 –> 00:17:39,800Look there is the Shunamite20600:17:39,800 –> 00:17:41,839Run at once to meet her20700:17:41,839 –> 00:17:43,000Say to her20800:17:43,000 –> 00:17:44,439Is all well with you?20900:17:45,239 –> 00:17:47,119Is all well with your husband?21000:17:48,319 –> 00:17:50,739Is all well with the child?21100:17:52,380 –> 00:17:55,260Well Gehazi went out to meet the woman21200:17:55,260 –> 00:17:58,300she clearly brushed Gehazi off21300:17:58,300 –> 00:17:59,920with the same answer that she gave21400:17:59,920 –> 00:18:01,760to her husband all is well21500:18:01,819 –> 00:18:03,959And when she saw Elisha21600:18:03,959 –> 00:18:06,199she let him have it21700:18:06,819 –> 00:18:08,280Verse 2821800:18:08,619 –> 00:18:12,579Did I ask my lord for a son?21900:18:12,819 –> 00:18:17,319Did I not say do not deceive me?22000:18:18,739 –> 00:18:20,520Do you see what she is saying?22100:18:21,160 –> 00:18:24,199This is exactly what I was afraid of22200:18:25,540 –> 00:18:27,920That my heart would be filled with joy22300:18:27,920 –> 00:18:29,979and then that it would be broken22400:18:32,380 –> 00:18:36,839God’s servants are greatly blessed22500:18:38,060 –> 00:18:41,979And God’s servants endure great sorrows22600:18:42,680 –> 00:18:47,119Now, this is a pattern in the Christian life22700:18:48,060 –> 00:18:53,079This godly woman received an unexpected gift22800:18:53,579 –> 00:18:57,959and she endured an unexpected sorrow22900:18:58,260 –> 00:18:59,959And you23000:18:59,959 –> 00:19:03,339can’t read this story surely about a godly woman23100:19:04,099 –> 00:19:07,959Who received the gift of a promised Son who then died?23200:19:08,319 –> 00:19:14,439without thinking about another woman in the Bible whose son was promised and23300:19:14,920 –> 00:19:16,920then died23400:19:16,939 –> 00:19:21,000you remember the words of the angel to Mary and23500:19:22,119 –> 00:19:23,479Behold23600:19:23,479 –> 00:19:28,239you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and23700:19:28,939 –> 00:19:30,939You shall call his name Jesus23800:19:31,900 –> 00:19:34,739And then do you remember the words of Simeon?23900:19:35,219 –> 00:19:41,839That old prophet who came to the temple when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus there24000:19:41,839 –> 00:19:45,420And he took the infant Jesus in his arms and blessed him24100:19:45,420 –> 00:19:50,540then he spoke words of blessing over Mary and Joseph, and then he said to Mary and24200:19:50,699 –> 00:19:52,699a sword24300:19:53,540 –> 00:19:57,000Will pierce through your soul also24400:19:58,339 –> 00:19:59,839and24500:19:59,839 –> 00:20:03,339the sword did pierce through Mary’s soul24600:20:04,900 –> 00:20:11,599Who can imagine the pain that she felt as she watched from the foot of the cross as24700:20:12,479 –> 00:20:19,079As her son hung there and suffered and died24800:20:22,459 –> 00:20:29,699You know when sorrow comes and some of you know this from your own experience24900:20:31,479 –> 00:20:39,160When sorrow comes there can be a condemning voice that sounds off in your head and it says I25000:20:39,780 –> 00:20:40,719I25100:20:40,719 –> 00:20:43,300Must have done something wrong for this to happen25200:20:45,560 –> 00:20:51,880But what I want you to notice here is that this is a story about the most godly of women25300:20:53,979 –> 00:21:00,760And it points clearly to the story of Mary the mother of our Lord25400:21:02,800 –> 00:21:08,420Why do the godly suffer God’s providence is a mystery25500:21:09,859 –> 00:21:11,920All that we know is25600:21:12,640 –> 00:21:14,640that the godly do25700:21:14,800 –> 00:21:16,800suffer25800:21:18,439 –> 00:21:22,000That this too is within the purpose of God and25900:21:23,599 –> 00:21:30,420That one day God will wipe away all tears from our eyes26000:21:32,780 –> 00:21:38,099You cannot serve Christ without in a profound way bearing the cross26100:21:38,280 –> 00:21:41,099Want to live a life of service obedience to Christ26200:21:42,180 –> 00:21:43,900What should you expect?26300:21:43,900 –> 00:21:46,739Now, you should know that God’s servants are greatly blessed26400:21:48,699 –> 00:21:52,300And you should know that God’s servants endure great sorrow26500:21:53,459 –> 00:21:58,459two things to expect if we’re followers of Christ and they’ll be a third and fourth thing26600:21:58,459 –> 00:21:59,959Which we’ll look at next time26700:21:59,959 –> 00:22:05,339You’ve been listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called God will comfort us26800:22:05,660 –> 00:22:11,859It’s part of a series in God we trust based on the Book of Elisha and taken from Two Kings26900:22:12,040 –> 00:22:17,300If you’ve missed any of the messages in the series, you can catch up and go back and listen again27000:22:17,300 –> 00:22:21,300Online at our website, openthebible.org.uk27100:22:22,040 –> 00:22:25,579also available as a podcast on all the main podcast sites27200:22:25,579 –> 00:22:30,339By searching for Open the Bible UK, or follow the link from our website27300:22:30,339 –> 00:22:33,540While you’re on our website, don’t forget about Open the Bible daily27400:22:35,540 –> 00:22:40,560That’s our series of 2 to 3 minute daily reflections based on Pastor Collins teaching27500:22:40,560 –> 00:22:42,560and specially read in the UK27600:22:43,560 –> 00:22:47,560Open the Bible daily at openthebible.org.uk27700:22:48,560 –> 00:22:51,560Open the Bible is supported by our many listeners27800:22:51,560 –> 00:22:54,560And if you’re one of them, thank you so much27900:22:55,560 –> 00:22:59,560It’s not just the radio program, the website and podcasts28000:22:59,780 –> 00:23:00,780that you’re supporting28100:23:02,180 –> 00:23:05,140Here’s Open the Bible’s Executive Director John Martin28200:23:06,140 –> 00:23:09,180Let me tell you about some stories in Northern Ireland28300:23:10,180 –> 00:23:14,180We are delighted at a growing network of churches taking interest in Open the Bible resources28400:23:15,180 –> 00:23:18,180with Pastor Collin being invited to speak at Christian Conferences28500:23:19,180 –> 00:23:20,180for a number of years in a row28600:23:21,180 –> 00:23:23,180This year, Pastor Collin taught fly through the Bible28700:23:24,180 –> 00:23:25,180based on his short book28800:23:25,800 –> 00:23:28,780And he did this in an evening at Hamilton Road Baptist Church28900:23:29,280 –> 00:23:30,780in Banger, Northern Ireland29000:23:31,079 –> 00:23:32,780It was a packed auditorium29100:23:33,280 –> 00:23:36,780Members from around 20 churches came, some bringing guests29200:23:38,780 –> 00:23:41,780Pastor Sam Castles from Lisner Breen Presbyterian Church said29300:23:45,780 –> 00:23:48,780is that Pastor Collin is able to give a good overview of the Bible29400:23:49,380 –> 00:23:50,579with rich theology29500:23:51,780 –> 00:23:55,380in a very clear, concise and very understandable applicable way29600:24:13,479 –> 00:24:16,380Their Pastor Keith McIlwain from Hamilton Road Baptist Church said this29700:24:19,280 –> 00:24:42,880So David, if any listeners out there are interested in looking at29800:24:42,880 –> 00:24:46,180the Inquirer’s course based on Fly Through The Bible29900:24:46,180 –> 00:24:49,780they can go to our website and look for the course Fly Through The Bible30000:24:49,780 –> 00:24:52,880and click to access the free resources.30100:24:52,880 –> 00:24:55,680You can get involved in supporting Open The Bible’s work30200:24:55,680 –> 00:24:59,979by coming to our website openthebible.org.uk30300:24:59,979 –> 00:25:05,979You’ll find lots more information, terms and conditions, and you can give online.30400:25:05,979 –> 00:25:09,380For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick.30500:25:09,380 –> 00:25:13,780Join us again next time on Open The Bible.30600:25:16,979 –> 00:25:22,420However wise and discerning you may be,30700:25:22,420 –> 00:25:25,599there will always be things that the Lord hides from you.30800:25:25,599 –> 00:25:28,560Find out why next time on Open The Bible.