100:00:00,200 –> 00:00:03,800TRANSCRIPT200:00:03,800 –> 00:00:12,440Someone here today facing an overwhelming task, and you look at what’s in front of you and300:00:12,440 –> 00:00:20,959you have a profound sense of your own inadequacy and you know what it is to say with the Apostle400:00:20,959 –> 00:00:24,799Paul who is sufficient for these things?500:00:25,160 –> 00:00:28,299Welcome to Open the Bible, with Pastor Colin Smith.600:00:28,299 –> 00:00:33,279I’m glad you could join us today, and Colin a lot of us can relate to that we’re facing700:00:33,279 –> 00:00:37,939a task and we feel completely inadequate for that.800:00:37,939 –> 00:00:40,299What would you say to us when we feel like that?900:00:40,299 –> 00:00:46,580Well I think the first thing is that what you are feeling is right there in the Bible1000:00:46,580 –> 00:00:50,459and it was the experience of none less than the Apostle Paul himself.1100:00:50,459 –> 00:00:53,919He said, who is sufficient for these things?1200:00:53,919 –> 00:01:00,860This is part of Christian experience, that God actually puts us in places where we feel1300:01:00,860 –> 00:01:07,580our own inadequacy, and it’s actually part of the purpose of God to put us there.1400:01:07,580 –> 00:01:13,519And the answer to it is, just a little later after Paul says, who is sufficient for these1500:01:13,519 –> 00:01:14,519things?1600:01:14,519 –> 00:01:16,199He says something else that’s the answer.1700:01:16,199 –> 00:01:19,540He says, our sufficiency is of God.1800:01:19,540 –> 00:01:21,440Who is sufficient for these things?1900:01:21,440 –> 00:01:23,599Our sufficiency is of God.2000:01:23,599 –> 00:01:28,599And not to look for sufficiency in yourself, to look for sufficiency in God.2100:01:28,599 –> 00:01:30,660God is able.2200:01:30,660 –> 00:01:35,459And God will enable you to do all that He calls you to do.2300:01:35,459 –> 00:01:40,019And we’re going to look at a wonderful story today that’s really a story about a person2400:01:40,019 –> 00:01:45,239who had very little to offer to the Lord, but he offered it anyway.2500:01:45,239 –> 00:01:50,980And God used what he offered, and God’s wonderful purpose was accomplished as a result.2600:01:50,980 –> 00:01:52,500I hope it’s going to encourage you.2700:01:52,559 –> 00:02:00,040It’s a great story of what God can do, even with the very little and insufficient that2800:02:00,040 –> 00:02:02,559we are able to put into His hands.2900:02:02,559 –> 00:02:08,699We find this story in 2 Kings 4 and today, verses 38-44.3000:02:08,699 –> 00:02:10,500So join us there if you can.3100:02:10,500 –> 00:02:13,539As we continue the message, God will feed us.3200:02:13,539 –> 00:02:15,460Here is Pastor Colin.3300:02:15,539 –> 00:02:23,820This is a very wonderful truth that God’s marvelous grace protects us from the worst3400:02:23,820 –> 00:02:29,020effects of our own folly.3500:02:29,020 –> 00:02:33,979And you see it very beautifully illustrated in the Garden of Gethsemane, the soldiers3600:02:33,979 –> 00:02:35,320come to arrest Jesus.3700:02:35,320 –> 00:02:40,300They’re armed and there’s a mob with them with swords and with clubs.3800:02:40,300 –> 00:02:47,279And you remember that Peter drew his sword and brought it down over the head of the high3900:02:47,279 –> 00:02:48,279priest servant.4000:02:48,279 –> 00:02:54,080The man’s name was Malchus and Peter cut off his ear and Jesus said to Peter, put away4100:02:54,080 –> 00:02:56,059that sword.4200:02:56,059 –> 00:02:59,419No more of this.4300:02:59,419 –> 00:03:10,059And then he touched the ear of Malchus the high priest’s servant and healed him.4400:03:10,059 –> 00:03:24,419God protects by His direct intervention, His hidden hand saves us from untold disasters.4500:03:24,419 –> 00:03:29,979But there’s something else here that I want us to see, and it’s very practical.4600:03:29,979 –> 00:03:36,039Not only does God deliver us from the worst effects of our foolish mistakes by direct4700:03:36,039 –> 00:03:45,479intervention, but God also protects us through wisdom that is given to others.4800:03:45,479 –> 00:03:48,460Think about this with me for a moment.4900:03:48,460 –> 00:03:55,940If the young student had taken with him into the field someone that actually knew the difference5000:03:55,940 –> 00:04:01,479between a plant you could eat and a plant that was poisonous, he would not have picked5100:04:01,479 –> 00:04:05,220the plants that poisoned the stew.5200:04:05,220 –> 00:04:11,419The problem was that in his enthusiasm and his self-confidence he picked these plants5300:04:11,419 –> 00:04:17,220on his own and he didn’t know what he was doing.5400:04:18,679 –> 00:04:22,839Now think about this, here’s a question, I won’t ask for a show of hands, but if you5500:04:22,839 –> 00:04:31,459were out in the forest would you be confident that you know the difference between the berries5600:04:31,500 –> 00:04:36,899that are safe to eat and the ones that might be poisonous? Because if you can tell the5700:04:36,899 –> 00:04:43,839difference, well go ahead, you can pick the berries safely, but if you can’t tell the5800:04:43,839 –> 00:04:48,059difference, you’d be very wise to take someone else with you.5900:04:48,059 –> 00:04:58,660Now here’s another question, more important. Are you sure that you can tell the difference6000:04:58,660 –> 00:05:04,799between what will nourish your spiritual life and what will diminish your spiritual life?6100:05:04,799 –> 00:05:11,679See, picking berries in the forest can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing6200:05:11,679 –> 00:05:23,079and the same is true when it comes to who you listen to, who you read, who you follow.6300:05:23,859 –> 00:05:35,040and let me say from the heart here today this is just one of the reasons that God gives pastors to churches6400:05:35,040 –> 00:05:45,380your pastors can help you to know what is healthy and they can guard you from what might make you sick6500:05:45,380 –> 00:05:52,799and God protects through wisdom given to others6600:05:52,980 –> 00:06:00,000Listen to how Solomon speaks about this in the book of Proverbs. He says, he asks this question6700:06:00,000 –> 00:06:07,380do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?6800:06:07,380 –> 00:06:13,440there is more hope for a fool than there is for him6900:06:13,440 –> 00:06:15,679now you see what he’s saying?7000:06:15,679 –> 00:06:21,660if you’re going through life thinking that you have all the wisdom you need in yourself7100:06:21,899 –> 00:06:26,220There’s more hope for a fool than there is for you7200:06:26,220 –> 00:06:31,660because God protects us from many foolish mistakes7300:06:31,660 –> 00:06:37,179through the wisdom that he gives to us through others7400:06:37,179 –> 00:06:42,519now dear friends this is a marvelous and wonderful truth7500:06:42,519 –> 00:06:49,100and I speak from the heart today when I tell you that one of the greatest blessings I have enjoyed7600:06:49,100 –> 00:06:52,779in all of these many years of serving this church7700:06:52,779 –> 00:06:58,399has been the wisdom that I have received from others7800:06:58,399 –> 00:07:01,619where would I have been7900:07:01,619 –> 00:07:07,640if it were not for the godly men and women, some in heaven8000:07:07,640 –> 00:07:10,579and some still here8100:07:10,579 –> 00:07:13,660who have walked beside me8200:07:13,660 –> 00:07:16,940and have given me wise counsel8300:07:16,940 –> 00:07:19,540it’s one of God’s great gifts8400:07:19,540 –> 00:07:23,420we should cherish it, seek it, value it8500:07:23,420 –> 00:07:27,940God protects us from foolish mistakes8600:07:27,940 –> 00:07:33,200through the wisdom that is given to others8700:07:33,279 –> 00:07:36,880so here’s my counsel to you today8800:07:36,880 –> 00:07:40,899if you want to be really useful in serving the Lord Jesus Christ8900:07:40,899 –> 00:07:45,420find two or three Christians you admire9000:07:45,519 –> 00:07:48,799cultivate a relationship with them9100:07:48,799 –> 00:07:53,940make the habit of asking for their counsel9200:07:53,940 –> 00:07:58,500and listen to what they say9300:07:58,519 –> 00:08:01,859so this is a strange but rather wonderful story9400:08:01,859 –> 00:08:06,500with a very practical application that’s encouraging for us all9500:08:06,500 –> 00:08:09,079God’s work continues9600:08:09,079 –> 00:08:13,420despite our many foolish mistakes9700:08:14,279 –> 00:08:18,059and then there’s a second story that we’ll look at more briefly this morning9800:08:18,059 –> 00:08:21,160and it teaches us that God’s work advances9900:08:21,160 –> 00:08:24,940despite our obvious inadequacies10000:08:24,940 –> 00:08:27,100verse 4210100:08:37,299 –> 00:08:40,580now this second story again in a time of famine10200:08:40,580 –> 00:08:42,700a time where food was scarce10300:08:42,840 –> 00:08:46,419it’s about a farmer who arrives at the college10400:08:46,419 –> 00:08:49,440and he brings with him a gift of food10500:08:49,440 –> 00:08:51,039for the students10600:08:51,039 –> 00:08:53,239and I want you to picture the scene10700:08:53,239 –> 00:08:57,039as this farmer with his cart arrives10800:08:57,039 –> 00:08:58,559he comes to Elisha10900:08:58,559 –> 00:08:59,440and he says11000:08:59,460 –> 00:09:04,659I have come to bring you the first fruits11100:09:04,659 –> 00:09:09,440of my harvest for your students11200:09:09,440 –> 00:09:13,059and you can imagine the excitement among the students11300:09:13,059 –> 00:09:15,460they’re living through a time of famine11400:09:15,460 –> 00:09:18,599and this farmer has brought them food11500:09:18,599 –> 00:09:21,919he says that he’s brought the first fruits11600:09:21,919 –> 00:09:23,599of his harvest11700:09:23,599 –> 00:09:29,260wonder how big his farm is11800:09:29,320 –> 00:09:35,020well, if this farmer has brought food for a hundred men11900:09:35,020 –> 00:09:37,059it’s going to take a whole team of students12000:09:37,059 –> 00:09:39,580to unload the cart and to bring the food into the kitchen12100:09:39,580 –> 00:09:40,799so they all rush out12200:09:40,799 –> 00:09:43,320to help unload the cart12300:09:43,320 –> 00:09:44,640and when they get out12400:09:44,640 –> 00:09:46,020to their great disappointment12500:09:46,020 –> 00:09:50,299they see that the cart is almost empty12600:09:50,299 –> 00:09:53,440in fact, there’s only one sack in the cart12700:09:53,440 –> 00:09:54,520and in that sack12800:09:54,520 –> 00:09:58,619just 20 loaves of bread12900:09:58,679 –> 00:10:00,140and some grain13000:10:01,280 –> 00:10:05,799what is that for a hundred men!13100:10:05,799 –> 00:10:10,640it must have been a massive disappointment13200:10:10,640 –> 00:10:12,080Elisha called his servant13300:10:12,080 –> 00:10:14,099and he said to Gehazi13400:10:14,099 –> 00:10:17,840give to the men that they may eat13500:10:17,840 –> 00:10:19,159and of course verse 4313600:10:19,159 –> 00:10:21,099Gehazi then said13700:10:21,099 –> 00:10:25,400how can I set this before a hundred men13800:10:25,460 –> 00:10:26,239and Elisha gave him13900:10:26,239 –> 00:10:28,940the same command a second time14000:10:28,940 –> 00:10:31,460give them to the men that they may eat14100:10:31,460 –> 00:10:34,059for thus says the Lord14200:10:34,059 –> 00:10:35,840they shall eat14300:10:37,679 –> 00:10:38,960and have some left14400:10:40,859 –> 00:10:42,280God had spoken14500:10:43,940 –> 00:10:46,580and this pitifully small amount of bread14600:10:46,580 –> 00:10:48,960that had been brought to Elisha14700:10:48,960 –> 00:10:51,500would be more than enough14800:10:51,500 –> 00:10:53,940to feed a hundred men14900:10:55,460 –> 00:10:59,260and God multiplied the food15000:10:59,260 –> 00:11:00,619we read verse 4415100:11:00,619 –> 00:11:03,059so he set it before them15200:11:03,059 –> 00:11:04,539and they ate15300:11:05,580 –> 00:11:07,219and had some left15400:11:07,219 –> 00:11:10,299according to the word15500:11:10,299 –> 00:11:11,179of the Lord15600:11:12,940 –> 00:11:15,359now this is wonderfully encouraging15700:11:15,359 –> 00:11:16,619for all of us today15800:11:18,260 –> 00:11:20,960if you want to be useful to God15900:11:21,919 –> 00:11:23,719but find yourself perhaps16000:11:23,719 –> 00:11:26,739often thinking that you don’t have much to offer16100:11:26,739 –> 00:11:29,780I want you to remember the farmer16200:11:29,780 –> 00:11:31,320from Bale, Shilesh16300:11:33,380 –> 00:11:36,440his first fruits didn’t amount too much16400:11:38,080 –> 00:11:40,000and he might easily have said16500:11:40,000 –> 00:11:41,900well look at the first fruits16600:11:41,900 –> 00:11:43,96020 loaves of bread16700:11:43,960 –> 00:11:45,159not much16800:11:45,159 –> 00:11:47,840it’s not going to be much of a harvest for me this year16900:11:47,840 –> 00:11:50,479I’m going to need to keep all that I have17000:11:50,479 –> 00:11:52,359this is a lean time17100:11:52,659 –> 00:11:54,799I’m not going to have much17200:11:54,799 –> 00:11:58,039and I need to hold on to what I have17300:11:58,039 –> 00:12:01,840and besides they have a hundred men17400:12:01,840 –> 00:12:03,080at that college17500:12:03,080 –> 00:12:04,880the need there is vast17600:12:04,880 –> 00:12:08,840at what difference will my pitiful 20 loaves make17700:12:08,840 –> 00:12:09,799over there17800:12:09,799 –> 00:12:11,719I’ll just stay at home17900:12:11,719 –> 00:12:14,640but you see this man has a very different spirit18000:12:15,380 –> 00:12:17,919he wants to honour God18100:12:17,919 –> 00:12:19,700with all that he has18200:12:20,359 –> 00:12:21,799And he says18300:12:21,799 –> 00:12:24,479God has called me18400:12:25,059 –> 00:12:28,159to give to him the first fruits18500:12:29,000 –> 00:12:30,219of my harvest18600:12:30,219 –> 00:12:32,700however small or however big it may be18700:12:33,820 –> 00:12:36,359You’ll find that command by the way in Leviticus18800:12:36,359 –> 00:12:38,539in chapter 23 and verse 1418900:12:38,539 –> 00:12:40,520God has called me19000:12:40,520 –> 00:12:42,840to give him the first fruits19100:12:43,440 –> 00:12:44,840of my harvest19200:12:45,440 –> 00:12:48,219and that is what I’m going to do19300:12:49,919 –> 00:12:52,520And so he brings his 20 loaves19400:12:53,520 –> 00:12:56,440and 20 loaves in the hand of God19500:12:56,440 –> 00:12:58,640feeds a hundred men19600:13:01,119 –> 00:13:03,780Never underestimate19700:13:04,460 –> 00:13:06,039what God can do19800:13:06,760 –> 00:13:08,099through your faith19900:13:09,299 –> 00:13:10,900and your obedience20000:13:11,460 –> 00:13:12,820You’re listening to Open The Bible20100:13:12,820 –> 00:13:14,200with Pastor Colin Smith20200:13:14,200 –> 00:13:15,700and we’ve got to pause briefly there20300:13:15,700 –> 00:13:17,080but we’ll be back shortly20400:13:17,080 –> 00:13:19,159so please do stay with us20500:13:19,700 –> 00:13:22,140The messages is called God Will Feed Us20600:13:22,140 –> 00:13:24,919and it’s part of a series In God We Trust20700:13:24,919 –> 00:13:28,320all about the life of Elisha from Two Kings20800:13:28,320 –> 00:13:30,979and if you’ve missed any of the series so far20900:13:30,979 –> 00:13:33,039or if you ever want to go back and listen again21000:13:33,039 –> 00:13:34,900you can do that by coming online21100:13:34,900 –> 00:13:38,380to our website openthebible.org.uk21200:13:38,380 –> 00:13:41,460also by going to your favourite podcast site21300:13:41,460 –> 00:13:43,340and you’ll find them there as well21400:13:43,340 –> 00:13:46,239search therefore Open The Bible UK21500:13:47,099 –> 00:13:48,539back to the message now21600:13:48,580 –> 00:13:50,799here again is pastor Colin21700:13:50,799 –> 00:13:53,039never underestimate21800:13:54,219 –> 00:13:55,479what God can do21900:13:56,400 –> 00:13:57,700through your faith22000:13:59,099 –> 00:14:00,460and your obedience22100:14:03,020 –> 00:14:05,960now obviously you can’t read this story22200:14:05,960 –> 00:14:09,140in the Old Testament without immediately thinking22300:14:09,140 –> 00:14:13,500about the greater miracle to which it very obviously points22400:14:13,500 –> 00:14:16,419and you’ll already have got there ahead of me I’m sure22500:14:16,419 –> 00:14:17,859and you’ll be thinking about the day22600:14:17,859 –> 00:14:21,099when a large crowd gathered to listen to Jesus22700:14:21,099 –> 00:14:24,119in a desert place it was late in the day22800:14:24,119 –> 00:14:26,119and the people were hungry22900:14:26,119 –> 00:14:28,539and Andrew was doing some research23000:14:28,539 –> 00:14:30,340to see if there was any food in the crowd23100:14:30,340 –> 00:14:32,340and he came back very disappointed23200:14:32,340 –> 00:14:34,799there’s a little lad here he says to Jesus23300:14:34,799 –> 00:14:37,820and he’s got five loaves and he’s got two fish23400:14:37,820 –> 00:14:40,520but what are they for so many23500:14:42,119 –> 00:14:44,299well you see that was exactly Gehazi’s question23600:14:44,299 –> 00:14:47,200wasn’t it how can I set this before a hundred men23700:14:48,659 –> 00:14:50,820but you remember how wonderfully the five loaves23800:14:50,820 –> 00:14:54,140and the two fish were multiplied in the hands of Jesus23900:14:54,140 –> 00:14:57,380and a vast crowd of people was fed24000:14:58,340 –> 00:15:02,020Elisha fed a hundred men24100:15:02,020 –> 00:15:04,619with 20 loaves24200:15:04,619 –> 00:15:08,179Jesus fed five thousand men24300:15:08,179 –> 00:15:10,679with just five loaves and two fish24400:15:10,679 –> 00:15:13,539and beside that there were many women and children as well24500:15:13,539 –> 00:15:17,659and at the end there were 12 baskets of food left over24600:15:17,659 –> 00:15:19,979Now obviously the scale24700:15:19,979 –> 00:15:23,859of these stories is very different24800:15:23,859 –> 00:15:26,219but the principle, very obviously, is the same24900:15:26,219 –> 00:15:29,419and the principle is that God’s work25000:15:29,419 –> 00:15:32,419advances despite our very obvious inadequacies25100:15:32,419 –> 00:15:35,039advances despite our very obvious inadequacies25200:15:36,020 –> 00:15:38,460and there will be someone here today25300:15:38,460 –> 00:15:41,419facing an overwhelming task25400:15:42,659 –> 00:15:45,659and you look at what’s in front of you25500:15:45,659 –> 00:15:50,239and you have a profound sense of your own inadequacy25600:15:51,659 –> 00:15:55,140and you know what it is to say with the Apostle Paul25700:15:55,140 –> 00:15:58,739who is sufficient for these things25800:16:00,659 –> 00:16:02,760and you need to hear and remember the answer25900:16:02,760 –> 00:16:05,299that the Apostle Paul gave a few verses later,26000:16:05,299 –> 00:16:09,400our sufficiency is of God.26100:16:11,400 –> 00:16:14,640What we’re counting on is not what we can do.26200:16:15,760 –> 00:16:16,940But what God can do.26300:16:20,020 –> 00:16:22,580Listen to these words of Jesus26400:16:22,580 –> 00:16:26,679that were spoken first to just 11 men.26500:16:28,239 –> 00:16:33,239Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.26600:16:33,919 –> 00:16:38,539How in the world are 11 men26700:16:39,380 –> 00:16:42,340with their track record of foolish mistakes26800:16:42,340 –> 00:16:44,859and with their very obvious inadequacies,26900:16:44,900 –> 00:16:49,260how are these 11 men to go and make disciples27000:16:49,260 –> 00:16:50,659of all nations?27100:16:50,659 –> 00:16:55,179And the answer is because of what Jesus said first.27200:16:57,859 –> 00:16:59,099He said to them,27300:16:59,960 –> 00:17:03,780all authority in heaven and on earth27400:17:03,780 –> 00:17:07,660has been given to me, go therefore,27500:17:07,660 –> 00:17:10,560in the light of my power,27600:17:10,560 –> 00:17:12,660in the light of my authority,27700:17:12,699 –> 00:17:15,959in the light of what I am able to do27800:17:15,959 –> 00:17:18,219with so very little.27900:17:19,260 –> 00:17:22,760You go and you make disciples28000:17:24,599 –> 00:17:25,439of all nations.28100:17:25,439 –> 00:17:26,900Do you see?28200:17:26,900 –> 00:17:30,599Christ advances his work despite28300:17:31,839 –> 00:17:34,699our obvious inadequacies.28400:17:36,219 –> 00:17:40,439And this happens because all authority in heaven28500:17:40,439 –> 00:17:44,520and on earth has been given to him.28600:17:46,819 –> 00:17:48,500So.28700:17:48,500 –> 00:17:49,599Here’s what we have learned28800:17:49,599 –> 00:17:53,199from these two remarkable stories today.28900:17:54,219 –> 00:17:58,739God’s work continues despite our foolish mistakes.29000:17:58,739 –> 00:18:03,739God’s work advances despite our obvious inadequacies.29100:18:06,260 –> 00:18:08,719And very briefly in these last moments,29200:18:09,560 –> 00:18:11,400I want to ground this by saying29300:18:11,400 –> 00:18:14,280that these very important truths29400:18:14,280 –> 00:18:19,079should have three practical effects in our lives.29500:18:19,079 –> 00:18:22,439First, they should humble us.29600:18:24,079 –> 00:18:29,079God’s work does not continue and advance29700:18:29,239 –> 00:18:32,439because of some greatness that is in us.29800:18:33,719 –> 00:18:34,959It really doesn’t.29900:18:35,839 –> 00:18:40,839It continues and advances despite our obvious inadequacies30000:18:41,479 –> 00:18:43,680and our many foolish mistakes,30100:18:45,479 –> 00:18:47,800and when you know that and take that in,30200:18:49,000 –> 00:18:51,079well, it will help to keep us all humble.30300:18:52,920 –> 00:18:56,040Second, these truths should not only humble us,30400:18:56,040 –> 00:18:58,199they should comfort us,30500:18:58,199 –> 00:19:01,560especially when we feel our inadequacy,30600:19:02,119 –> 00:19:06,319especially when we’ve made just really foolish mistakes.30700:19:07,239 –> 00:19:11,479Remember God’s story is always a story of redemption.30800:19:12,520 –> 00:19:15,719So don’t ever let your foolish mistakes30900:19:15,719 –> 00:19:20,459or your obvious inadequacies crush you.31000:19:20,459 –> 00:19:25,199Instead, use your foolish mistakes to learn wisdom31100:19:26,060 –> 00:19:31,060and use your obvious inadequacies to grow in faith.31200:19:32,719 –> 00:19:35,540And always remember that the Christian life31300:19:35,540 –> 00:19:38,319is not about what you can do for God.31400:19:38,319 –> 00:19:41,020It is about what God can do through you31500:19:41,020 –> 00:19:45,300as you place yourself wholly into his hands.31600:19:46,599 –> 00:19:49,599These truths should humble us, they should comfort us31700:19:50,719 –> 00:19:52,819and most of all, they should encourage us.31800:19:53,780 –> 00:19:54,979I mean, think about it.31900:19:56,180 –> 00:19:58,500If God can work through a student32000:19:59,560 –> 00:20:02,099who can’t tell the difference between a plant that’s safe32100:20:02,099 –> 00:20:04,760and one that’s poisonous, then God can work through me.32200:20:06,199 –> 00:20:09,319If God can work through a farmer who’s so poor32300:20:09,319 –> 00:20:12,560that his first fruits only amount to 20 loaves,32400:20:13,540 –> 00:20:14,939then God can work through me.32500:20:16,339 –> 00:20:17,859Listen to these words of scripture32600:20:17,859 –> 00:20:19,260and try and take them in.32700:20:19,640 –> 00:20:21,000Take them in.32800:20:21,000 –> 00:20:22,819The apostle Paul says,32900:20:22,819 –> 00:20:27,819God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise.33000:20:30,239 –> 00:20:34,959God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.33100:20:36,160 –> 00:20:39,640God chose what is low and despised in the world,33200:20:39,640 –> 00:20:41,920even things that are not,33300:20:42,979 –> 00:20:46,040to bring to nothing things that are33400:20:46,060 –> 00:20:51,060so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.33500:20:55,479 –> 00:20:58,459Friends, take this in, hide it in your heart today.33600:20:59,359 –> 00:21:04,359God works through people who make foolish mistakes.33700:21:06,439 –> 00:21:11,439God works through people who have obvious inadequacies.33800:21:11,619 –> 00:21:13,619People who make excessive promises.33900:21:14,479 –> 00:21:18,819And what that means is that God can work through you34000:21:20,439 –> 00:21:23,020and he can work through me.34100:21:24,280 –> 00:21:27,180I hope you’re encouraged by Pastor Collin Smith’s message34200:21:27,180 –> 00:21:30,300today, you’ve been listening to Open the Bible34300:21:30,300 –> 00:21:32,859and a message called God Will Feed Us,34400:21:32,859 –> 00:21:34,380part of our series In God We Trust,34500:21:34,380 –> 00:21:37,319all about the life of Elijah in two Kings.34600:21:37,319 –> 00:21:40,859If you missed any of the messages in the series34700:21:41,739 –> 00:21:42,579and if you’d like to go back and listen again,34800:21:42,579 –> 00:21:44,560you can do that by coming to our website,34900:21:44,560 –> 00:21:47,300openthebible.org.uk,35000:21:47,300 –> 00:21:49,859also by going to your favorite podcast site35100:21:49,859 –> 00:21:52,660and search there for open the Bible UK35200:21:52,660 –> 00:21:54,939and you’ll find all Pastor Collin’s messages35300:21:54,939 –> 00:21:57,520which have already gone out on air.35400:21:57,520 –> 00:21:59,859You’ll also find Open the Bible Daily35500:21:59,859 –> 00:22:02,540and that’s our series of short two to three minute35600:22:02,540 –> 00:22:05,900daily reflections based on Pastor Collin’s teaching35700:22:05,900 –> 00:22:08,060and read specially in the UK.35800:22:08,060 –> 00:22:09,500This is a fresh one every day35900:22:09,579 –> 00:22:11,979and many Christians start their day36000:22:11,979 –> 00:22:13,699with Open the Bible Daily.36100:22:14,540 –> 00:22:17,739At Open the Bible, we welcome contact with our listeners.36200:22:17,739 –> 00:22:20,420If you’ve been blessed by Pastor Collin Smith’s teaching36300:22:20,420 –> 00:22:24,079and you’d like to reach out to us you can write to us36400:22:24,079 –> 00:22:29,079at Open the Bible, PO Box 1420, Cheltenham GL50 9PG.36500:22:32,619 –> 00:22:35,199That address along with an email address36600:22:35,199 –> 00:22:37,540and a telephone number that you can use36700:22:37,540 –> 00:22:40,099to contact us are all on our website,36800:22:40,099 –> 00:22:43,660openthebible.org.uk.36900:22:43,660 –> 00:22:46,760Open the Bible is supported by our many listeners37000:22:46,760 –> 00:22:50,000and if you’re one of them, thank you so much.37100:22:50,000 –> 00:22:53,260It’s not just the radio programme, the website37200:22:53,260 –> 00:22:55,599and podcast that you’re supporting.37300:22:55,599 –> 00:22:58,699Here’s Open the Bible’s executive director, John Martin.37400:22:58,699 –> 00:23:01,119David let me tell you about some stories37500:23:01,119 –> 00:23:03,479in Northern Ireland.37600:23:03,479 –> 00:23:06,199We are delighted at a growing network of churches37700:23:06,199 –> 00:23:08,520taking interest in open the Bible resources37800:23:08,520 –> 00:23:11,199with Pastor Colin having been invited to speak37900:23:11,199 –> 00:23:14,640at Christian conferences for a number of years in a row.38000:23:14,640 –> 00:23:17,640This year, Pastor Colin taught Fly Through the Bible38100:23:17,640 –> 00:23:19,520based on his short book.38200:23:19,520 –> 00:23:21,219And he did this in an evening38300:23:21,219 –> 00:23:23,180at Hamilton Road Baptist Church38400:23:23,180 –> 00:23:25,020in Bangor, Northern Ireland.38500:23:25,020 –> 00:23:26,859It was a packed auditorium.38600:23:26,859 –> 00:23:31,380Members from around 20 churches came, some bringing guests.38700:23:31,380 –> 00:23:34,839Pastor Sam Cassels from Lisnebrean Presbyterian Church38800:23:35,040 –> 00:23:35,880said,38900:23:49,839 –> 00:23:51,699Following this event in Bangor,39000:23:51,699 –> 00:23:54,099a number of churches are helping us trial39100:23:54,099 –> 00:23:55,459a three session version39200:23:55,459 –> 00:23:57,119of Fly Through the Bible39300:23:57,119 –> 00:24:00,180as a video based inquirer’s course.39400:24:00,180 –> 00:24:02,819One church had over 60 people attend,39500:24:02,819 –> 00:24:06,260including many exploring the Christian faith.39600:24:06,260 –> 00:24:08,260Their pastor, Keith McIlwain39700:24:08,260 –> 00:24:11,060from Hamilton Road Baptist Church said this,39800:24:33,479 –> 00:24:37,160So, David if any listeners out there are interested in looking39900:24:37,160 –> 00:24:40,800at the enquirers course based on Fly Through the Bible they can go to our40000:24:40,800 –> 00:24:41,500website40100:24:41,500 –> 00:24:45,420and look for the course Fly Through the Bible and click to access the free40200:24:45,420 –> 00:24:46,319resources.40300:24:46,319 –> 00:24:49,560You can get involved in supporting Open the Bible’s work40400:24:49,560 –> 00:24:53,719by coming to our website, openthebible.org.uk40500:24:53,719 –> 00:24:57,079You’ll find lots more information, terms and conditions40600:24:57,079 –> 00:24:59,359and you can give online.40700:24:59,699 –> 00:25:03,380For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith I am David Pick.40800:25:03,380 –> 00:25:10,380Join us again next time on Open the Bible.40900:25:18,400 –> 00:25:21,479Maybe you’ve been blessed with success in your life41000:25:21,479 –> 00:25:24,359but you also carry a great affliction41100:25:24,880 –> 00:25:26,859Meet a man like that in the Bible41200:25:26,859 –> 00:25:29,160That’s next time on Open the Bible