100:00:00,860 –> 00:00:06,820God is able to do far above all that200:00:06,820 –> 00:00:10,160we asked and all that we imagine. God is300:00:10,160 –> 00:00:13,840not limited to the range of our faith400:00:13,840 –> 00:00:17,400or of our obedience. But it is very, very500:00:17,400 –> 00:00:20,400clear from scripture that God calls us600:00:20,400 –> 00:00:24,940to be actively engaged in the means by700:00:24,940 –> 00:00:28,320which he provides. Welcome to Open the800:00:28,639 –> 00:00:30,639Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David900:00:30,639 –> 00:00:32,919Pick, I’m glad you could join us today1000:00:32,919 –> 00:00:35,020and Colin, is that a general principle1100:00:35,020 –> 00:00:37,400do you think with faith that God waits1200:00:37,400 –> 00:00:39,459until we step out with faith before we1300:00:39,459 –> 00:00:42,259see him work? Because it’s a lot easier1400:00:42,259 –> 00:00:44,500to have faith to step out when we see1500:00:44,500 –> 00:00:47,619God begin to work. Does God not typically1600:00:47,619 –> 00:00:48,459work that way?1700:00:48,459 –> 00:00:50,779Yeah, the word typically I think is1800:00:50,779 –> 00:00:52,619important there and really, really1900:00:52,619 –> 00:00:56,580helpful because there is how God most2000:00:56,680 –> 00:00:59,799often works and then there’s what God is2100:00:59,799 –> 00:01:02,799able to do, he’s able to do whatever he2200:01:02,799 –> 00:01:05,760chooses. And he’s able to work without2300:01:05,760 –> 00:01:08,419our faith and without our obedience. I2400:01:08,419 –> 00:01:10,559mean the occasion when Jesus multiplied2500:01:10,559 –> 00:01:13,000the loaves and the fish, you know, that2600:01:13,000 –> 00:01:14,860would never have happened if the whole2700:01:14,860 –> 00:01:16,680thing was dependent on how much faith2800:01:16,680 –> 00:01:18,839the disciples had, they obviously had2900:01:18,839 –> 00:01:20,940very little. You know, there’s no food3000:01:20,940 –> 00:01:22,699here. There’s only five loaves and3100:01:22,699 –> 00:01:24,339two fish, I mean what are we going3200:01:24,339 –> 00:01:26,360to do? It wasn’t that they believe, it3300:01:26,400 –> 00:01:28,019wasn’t their faith that led to the3400:01:28,019 –> 00:01:30,919miracle, it was the power of Jesus that3500:01:30,919 –> 00:01:34,199then, having been demonstrated, called3600:01:34,199 –> 00:01:36,699them to a new level of faith. But having3700:01:36,699 –> 00:01:39,860said that, there is a normal pattern in3800:01:39,860 –> 00:01:43,019Scripture, that God usually chooses to3900:01:43,019 –> 00:01:45,800work in and through the faith of his4000:01:45,800 –> 00:01:48,080people and not apart from them and that4100:01:48,080 –> 00:01:49,940to me is one of the wonderful4200:01:49,940 –> 00:01:52,559encouragements to faith. And we see it, I4300:01:52,559 –> 00:01:55,239think very clearly, in this beautiful4400:01:56,199 –> 00:01:57,839story of the widow for whom God4500:01:57,839 –> 00:02:01,040wonderfully provided, he had a command4600:02:01,040 –> 00:02:03,419for her, there was something for her to4700:02:03,419 –> 00:02:06,120do and as she did it she saw God’s4800:02:06,120 –> 00:02:07,959wonderful and marvellous provision.4900:02:07,959 –> 00:02:09,960So join us today, if you can,5000:02:09,960 –> 00:02:12,419in the book of 2 Kings chapter 4 as we5100:02:12,419 –> 00:02:14,740continue the message, God will5200:02:14,740 –> 00:02:17,800provide for us. Here is Pastor Colin.5300:02:17,800 –> 00:02:21,259God works through what he has already5400:02:22,199 –> 00:02:24,940given so in any situation of need5500:02:24,940 –> 00:02:27,160what’s the first thing you do?5600:02:27,160 –> 00:02:30,479You look at what God has given already.5700:02:31,580 –> 00:02:33,419What gifts do you have?5800:02:35,520 –> 00:02:38,100What friends has he given you?5900:02:39,520 –> 00:02:42,100What opportunities do you have?6000:02:44,919 –> 00:02:47,699What resources have already been6100:02:47,699 –> 00:02:49,820placed in your hand?6200:02:50,820 –> 00:02:53,220Look at these things because these things6300:02:53,220 –> 00:02:56,220may be the very things that God uses6400:02:58,220 –> 00:03:02,080to provide for you it’s very practical.6500:03:02,080 –> 00:03:05,740God works through what he has already given.6600:03:05,740 –> 00:03:08,179Second observation from this wonderful story6700:03:08,179 –> 00:03:12,360is that God works through our faith and obedience,6800:03:13,600 –> 00:03:15,580look at verse three.6900:03:15,580 –> 00:03:16,740Then, he said,7000:03:17,559 –> 00:03:21,720go outside borrow vessels from all your neighbors,7100:03:23,860 –> 00:03:26,440empty vessels, and not too few.7200:03:29,479 –> 00:03:31,720This is very significant, God is going to7300:03:31,720 –> 00:03:35,639wonderfully miraculously provide for this lady7400:03:35,639 –> 00:03:38,639but there is something for her to do7500:03:40,080 –> 00:03:42,300and what we learn from this story is7600:03:42,300 –> 00:03:45,539that God provided for her as she walked7700:03:46,419 –> 00:03:48,580in faith and in obedience.7800:03:51,699 –> 00:03:54,860Now again to be clear God is able to do7900:03:56,779 –> 00:04:01,000for above all that we ask and all that we imagine.8000:04:01,000 –> 00:04:05,440God is not limited to the range of our faith8100:04:05,440 –> 00:04:09,160or of our obedience but it is very, very clear8200:04:09,160 –> 00:04:13,020from scripture that God calls us to be actively8300:04:13,240 –> 00:04:16,660engaged in the means by which he provides.8400:04:18,679 –> 00:04:20,720Again just to take an example from8500:04:20,720 –> 00:04:22,100another part of scripture.8600:04:22,100 –> 00:04:25,100You see this in the story of Noah.8700:04:25,100 –> 00:04:28,859God saved Noah and his family from the flood.8800:04:31,739 –> 00:04:35,399But Noah’s obedience and faith were actively8900:04:36,559 –> 00:04:41,600engaged in God’s salvation of him and his family.9000:04:41,679 –> 00:04:44,779In fact, he obeys the command to build an ark9100:04:44,779 –> 00:04:46,500in the desert which must have seemed9200:04:46,500 –> 00:04:49,380a very strange thing to do.9300:04:49,380 –> 00:04:53,720And in an act of faith when God commanded him he got9400:04:53,720 –> 00:04:56,980into the ark with the animals with his family9500:04:56,980 –> 00:05:01,480and God shut the door when there wasn’t even any rain.9600:05:01,480 –> 00:05:05,920Imagine getting into an ark when there wasn’t even any rain.9700:05:07,600 –> 00:05:10,600And take an act of faith to do that.9800:05:11,739 –> 00:05:14,500God saved Noah and his family in the ark9900:05:14,500 –> 00:05:18,660but Noah was actively involved in his own salvation.10000:05:18,660 –> 00:05:23,100God worked through his faith and his obedience10100:05:23,100 –> 00:05:27,640not without his faith or without his obedience.10200:05:27,640 –> 00:05:31,179Now, you see the same pattern in the story here10300:05:31,179 –> 00:05:33,100of the widow, very clearly.10400:05:33,100 –> 00:05:35,619Elisha says to her, now you’ve got to go outside,10500:05:35,619 –> 00:05:37,739borrow vessels from all of your neighbors,10600:05:38,579 –> 00:05:40,540and not too few.10700:05:41,459 –> 00:05:44,220Remember Elisha was a prophet so this really was10800:05:44,220 –> 00:05:46,820the Word of God to her,10900:05:46,820 –> 00:05:48,920go borrow vessels from your neighbor.11000:05:48,920 –> 00:05:50,640It was a command for her to obey.11100:05:52,980 –> 00:05:55,359Elisha says, make sure you don’t borrow too few.11200:05:56,859 –> 00:05:58,980So there was faith involved here,11300:05:58,980 –> 00:06:01,679he calls her to exercise faith.11400:06:03,019 –> 00:06:05,220Don’t make the mistake of underestimating11500:06:05,220 –> 00:06:06,779what God is going to do for you.11600:06:08,480 –> 00:06:13,480Walk in obedience and anticipate His blessing.11700:06:15,600 –> 00:06:17,399That’s what Elisha is saying to her.11800:06:18,940 –> 00:06:21,220God will provide for her11900:06:22,359 –> 00:06:24,679but there is something for her to do.12000:06:25,760 –> 00:06:30,760Faith and obedience were woven into God’s plan12100:06:32,399 –> 00:06:34,619to provide for this widow12200:06:34,619 –> 00:06:37,100and your faith and your obedience12300:06:37,459 –> 00:06:42,459will be woven into God’s plan to provide for you.12400:06:44,700 –> 00:06:46,559Now, it’s clear from this story12500:06:46,559 –> 00:06:51,100that this woman did exactly what Elisha had said.12600:06:51,100 –> 00:06:54,359Notice the parallels between verse four and verse five,12700:06:54,359 –> 00:06:56,260exactly the same language.12800:06:56,260 –> 00:06:57,679Verse four.12900:06:57,679 –> 00:07:00,660Elisha told her then go in13000:07:00,660 –> 00:07:04,200and shut the door behind yourself and your sons13100:07:04,279 –> 00:07:07,239and pour into all these vessels.13200:07:07,239 –> 00:07:09,779And when one one is full set it aside.13300:07:09,779 –> 00:07:11,480That’s what she was told to do.13400:07:11,480 –> 00:07:13,140Verse five, what she did.13500:07:13,140 –> 00:07:14,760So she went from him13600:07:14,760 –> 00:07:18,040and shut the door behind herself and her sons.13700:07:18,040 –> 00:07:22,000And as she poured, they brought the vessels to her.13800:07:22,000 –> 00:07:27,000She did exactly what Elisha had said.13900:07:27,920 –> 00:07:32,440And we will see at the end of this story,14000:07:32,440 –> 00:07:37,160clear evidence that she did indeed go to14100:07:37,160 –> 00:07:41,079all the neighbors and that she did indeed borrow vessels14200:07:41,079 –> 00:07:43,920and not too few.14300:07:44,760 –> 00:07:48,040She did exactly what he said.14400:07:49,200 –> 00:07:51,299Now I want you to picture with me for a moment14500:07:51,299 –> 00:07:56,299the scene as this miracle of God’s provision took place.14600:07:57,440 –> 00:07:59,880And you picture this house14700:07:59,880 –> 00:08:04,679and it is literally stacked from floor to ceiling14800:08:06,119 –> 00:08:11,119with jars, pots, vessels of varying shapes14900:08:12,320 –> 00:08:16,600and sizes, and one of the widow’s sons15000:08:16,600 –> 00:08:19,679takes a jar, biggest one he could see15100:08:19,679 –> 00:08:22,959in front of him, and puts it on a table.15200:08:25,040 –> 00:08:29,160The widow takes the small jar of oil in her hand15300:08:30,420 –> 00:08:34,520it’s all she has, but in an act of faith15400:08:35,400 –> 00:08:37,840she begins to pour it out.15500:08:38,820 –> 00:08:42,419It was just a little jar, it should have emptied15600:08:42,419 –> 00:08:47,419itself out in seconds, but to the woman’s amazement15700:08:47,599 –> 00:08:50,359the large jar into which she was pouring15800:08:50,359 –> 00:08:54,159was soon nearly full, and so she calls15900:08:54,159 –> 00:08:56,820on her son, bring another jar, bring another jar!16000:08:56,859 –> 00:09:00,380One of the sons then places another empty jar16100:09:00,380 –> 00:09:03,140on the table, the other son takes the full one16200:09:03,140 –> 00:09:05,020and puts it on the floor.16300:09:05,020 –> 00:09:06,960They got a little production line going,16400:09:06,960 –> 00:09:08,119the three of them.16500:09:09,780 –> 00:09:11,419And the woman just kept pouring.16600:09:13,260 –> 00:09:18,260And every few seconds, another jar, another jar,16700:09:19,080 –> 00:09:20,400another jar!16800:09:21,739 –> 00:09:26,739Then, verse six, when the vessels were full,16900:09:27,460 –> 00:09:30,099she said to her son, bring me another vessel,17000:09:30,099 –> 00:09:32,700and he said to her, there’s not another.17100:09:32,700 –> 00:09:35,700And the oil stopped flowing.17200:09:37,020 –> 00:09:40,739The oil flowed from that little jar17300:09:40,739 –> 00:09:43,659as long as there were empty jars to fill.17400:09:43,659 –> 00:09:45,380So you see, if the woman had not obeyed17500:09:45,380 –> 00:09:48,460the command of Elisha to go to the neighbors17600:09:48,460 –> 00:09:49,700and get the jars, she would have never have17700:09:49,700 –> 00:09:50,539seen this miracle.17800:09:50,539 –> 00:09:55,539God works through our faith and through our obedience.17900:09:56,219 –> 00:10:00,219The woman’s faith and obedience were woven18000:10:00,219 –> 00:10:04,799into what God did for her.18100:10:04,799 –> 00:10:08,900It was as she obeyed that God provided.18200:10:08,900 –> 00:10:12,900God worked through her faith and obedience,18300:10:12,900 –> 00:10:15,719and it will be the same for us.18400:10:16,780 –> 00:10:18,979Now, do you see what we’re learning from this story?18500:10:18,979 –> 00:10:21,000It’s very important, it’s very practical.18600:10:21,840 –> 00:10:25,440God will provide for us.18700:10:25,440 –> 00:10:27,320We can be sure of this.18800:10:27,320 –> 00:10:31,559He will work with what he has already given,18900:10:31,559 –> 00:10:35,799and he will work through our faith and obedience,19000:10:35,799 –> 00:10:38,239and not without these.19100:10:38,239 –> 00:10:40,840Remember the words of the Lord Jesus19200:10:40,840 –> 00:10:45,080expressing this principle of how faith and obedience19300:10:45,080 –> 00:10:47,940are woven into God’s provision for us.19400:10:47,940 –> 00:10:52,940He said, according to your faith, be it unto you.19500:10:56,659 –> 00:10:59,640God works with what he has already given.19600:10:59,640 –> 00:11:04,640God works through faith and obedience,19700:11:04,659 –> 00:11:06,260not without them.19800:11:06,260 –> 00:11:07,799That’s a great truth to remember19900:11:07,799 –> 00:11:11,119as we hear that God will provide for us.20000:11:11,119 –> 00:11:13,619He also works with what he’s already given,20100:11:13,619 –> 00:11:15,140and when we come back in a moment,20200:11:15,219 –> 00:11:18,380we’ll look at how God works for our freedom and joy.20300:11:18,380 –> 00:11:20,140So I hope you’ll stay with us.20400:11:20,140 –> 00:11:21,380You’re listening to Open The Bible20500:11:21,380 –> 00:11:22,700with Pastor Colin Smith20600:11:22,700 –> 00:11:25,659and a message called, God Will Provide For Us.20700:11:25,659 –> 00:11:28,640It’s part of the series, In God We Trust,20800:11:28,640 –> 00:11:31,979the story of Elijah taken from the book of 2 Kings.20900:11:31,979 –> 00:11:33,440If you ever miss one of the messages,21000:11:33,440 –> 00:11:35,700you can catch up or go back and listen again21100:11:35,700 –> 00:11:38,700to any of the messages which have already been broadcast21200:11:38,700 –> 00:11:40,039by coming to our website.21300:11:40,039 –> 00:11:43,280That’s at OpenTheBible.org.uk.21400:11:43,320 –> 00:11:45,559You’ll also find them on, as a podcast21500:11:45,559 –> 00:11:47,820and those are on all the main podcast sites,21600:11:47,820 –> 00:11:49,479search for Open The Bible UK21700:11:49,479 –> 00:11:52,320or follow the link from our website.21800:11:52,320 –> 00:11:55,440Back to the message now, here again is Pastor Colin.21900:11:55,440 –> 00:11:58,359God works with what he has already given,22000:11:58,359 –> 00:12:03,359God works through faith and obedience,22100:12:03,400 –> 00:12:04,280not without them.22200:12:05,380 –> 00:12:10,380Third, God works for our freedom and our joy.22300:12:10,979 –> 00:12:14,219And we’ll come to the end of this story in just a moment22400:12:14,219 –> 00:12:17,200but I want first to look back at verse one22500:12:17,200 –> 00:12:21,619and pick up on these two boys.22600:12:21,619 –> 00:12:24,979Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets22700:12:24,979 –> 00:12:29,140cried to Elisha, your servant my husband is dead22800:12:30,140 –> 00:12:33,380and you know that your servant feared the Lord22900:12:33,380 –> 00:12:38,380but the creditor has come to take my two children23000:12:38,659 –> 00:12:42,659to be his slaves.23100:12:44,739 –> 00:12:47,739Now I want us just for a moment to look at this story23200:12:47,739 –> 00:12:50,159from the perspective of the two boys.23300:12:51,440 –> 00:12:55,179As you read this story, it’s very striking23400:12:55,179 –> 00:12:56,900how often they are referred to,23500:12:56,900 –> 00:13:01,340the two boys are referred to in every verse23600:13:01,340 –> 00:13:04,059from verse four to verse seven that surely indicates23700:13:04,059 –> 00:13:07,039that they’re a very important part of this story.23800:13:07,960 –> 00:13:09,520Look at verse four.23900:13:09,520 –> 00:13:13,260Shut the door behind yourself and your sons24000:13:13,260 –> 00:13:14,960and pour into all these vessels.24100:13:14,960 –> 00:13:17,400Verse five, so she went from him24200:13:17,400 –> 00:13:21,000and shut the door behind herself and her sons.24300:13:21,000 –> 00:13:23,159Verse six, when the vessels were full24400:13:23,159 –> 00:13:26,159she said to her son, bring me another vessel.24500:13:26,159 –> 00:13:30,320Verse seven, go sell the oil and pay your debts24600:13:30,320 –> 00:13:34,979and you and your sons can live on the rest.24700:13:35,940 –> 00:13:38,479These boys had quite a story to tell, didn’t they?24800:13:40,419 –> 00:13:42,619Their father had been a godly man,24900:13:43,520 –> 00:13:46,219a minister of the word.25000:13:46,219 –> 00:13:47,580He feared God.25100:13:48,460 –> 00:13:50,739They were blessed to have such a father25200:13:51,940 –> 00:13:54,580but when their father died, their world had fallen apart.25300:13:54,580 –> 00:13:58,799How could anyone ever fill the awful void25400:13:58,799 –> 00:14:02,299that was left through the death of the father25500:14:02,419 –> 00:14:06,580so early in these boys’ lives?25600:14:06,580 –> 00:14:10,820Their mother was a wonderful, faithful, godly woman.25700:14:10,820 –> 00:14:13,260She had done her best but the bills kept coming25800:14:15,179 –> 00:14:16,859and the debts kept mounting25900:14:18,260 –> 00:14:20,239and now the creditor was at the door26000:14:20,239 –> 00:14:22,780and threatening to take these boys26100:14:24,140 –> 00:14:26,320and make them his slaves.26200:14:27,900 –> 00:14:30,940I think if one of these boys could be here this morning26300:14:31,179 –> 00:14:33,460and tell us his story26400:14:33,460 –> 00:14:35,700I think he might say something like this.26500:14:36,679 –> 00:14:38,539Oh, I’ll never forget the day26600:14:38,539 –> 00:14:41,780when that awful creditor came to our home.26700:14:41,780 –> 00:14:44,840What a mean, vicious man he was.26800:14:46,359 –> 00:14:49,739If your debt he said to my mother26900:14:49,739 –> 00:14:53,580is not paid by the end of the month27000:14:53,580 –> 00:14:57,140your sons will work for me27100:14:57,140 –> 00:14:59,299and they will keep working for me27200:14:59,299 –> 00:15:02,799until your debt is paid in full.27300:15:04,299 –> 00:15:06,919That felt like a death sentence to me.27400:15:08,619 –> 00:15:13,619Born free, I was about to become a slave.27500:15:15,700 –> 00:15:17,580But then God stepped in.27600:15:19,080 –> 00:15:23,840One day when my brother and I came home from school27700:15:24,820 –> 00:15:27,340my mother had a smile on her face,27800:15:27,340 –> 00:15:30,419a smile I hadn’t seen for a long time.27900:15:31,859 –> 00:15:34,280I got a project for you two, she said.28000:15:35,239 –> 00:15:39,239I want you to go to all the neighbors28100:15:39,239 –> 00:15:43,760and ask if they have empty jars that we can borrow.28200:15:43,760 –> 00:15:44,580Why?28300:15:46,380 –> 00:15:50,039Because God is going to provide for us.28400:15:50,039 –> 00:15:50,880You’ll see.28500:15:51,859 –> 00:15:53,780Well, how many do we need?28600:15:55,179 –> 00:15:57,179As many as you can find.28700:15:58,559 –> 00:16:01,599We found so many jars, the house was stacked with them28800:16:01,599 –> 00:16:06,359from floor to ceiling, and then she said to us,28900:16:06,359 –> 00:16:08,280close the door.29000:16:10,039 –> 00:16:15,039I put the biggest jar that I saw there on the table29100:16:15,159 –> 00:16:18,840and she started pouring out of this little jar of oil29200:16:19,840 –> 00:16:21,919and it just kept coming.29300:16:21,919 –> 00:16:26,200We witnessed the grace and kindness of God29400:16:26,200 –> 00:16:28,320poured out in our own home.29500:16:30,159 –> 00:16:32,840It was a miracle of God’s grace29600:16:33,719 –> 00:16:35,919and I saw it with my own eyes.29700:16:38,119 –> 00:16:40,919Oil was a precious commodity29800:16:42,640 –> 00:16:46,799and when we sold the oil, the debt was paid.29900:16:47,780 –> 00:16:50,580And here’s what it meant for me and my brother.30000:16:52,059 –> 00:16:55,960Instead of being slaves, we were free.30100:16:58,599 –> 00:17:02,099God works for our freedom.30200:17:04,680 –> 00:17:05,680But there’s more.30300:17:06,880 –> 00:17:09,719He also works for our joy.30400:17:09,719 –> 00:17:11,560Notice verse seven.30500:17:11,560 –> 00:17:15,479After the miracle, the widow comes back to Elisha30600:17:15,520 –> 00:17:16,880and reports what has happened.30700:17:16,880 –> 00:17:20,160She came and she told the man of God,30800:17:20,160 –> 00:17:25,119and he said go sell the oil and pay your debts,30900:17:25,119 –> 00:17:30,119and you and your sons can live on the rest.31000:17:32,140 –> 00:17:34,180Do you see how wonderful this is?31100:17:34,180 –> 00:17:39,040God did more than pay off the debt.31200:17:39,040 –> 00:17:44,040God provided for them a rich future life.31300:17:44,920 –> 00:17:49,920A rich future life for the widow and for her sons.31400:17:50,079 –> 00:17:55,079And you see the fact that the widow and her sons31500:17:55,219 –> 00:17:58,140could live on the rest of the oil31600:17:58,140 –> 00:18:00,479is the clearest possible evidence31700:18:00,479 –> 00:18:02,479of the woman’s faith and obedience31800:18:02,479 –> 00:18:06,560in gathering a massive number of jars in the first place.31900:18:06,560 –> 00:18:09,400She gathered so many jars32000:18:09,400 –> 00:18:12,160that there was enough oil, not only to pay of the debt,32100:18:12,160 –> 00:18:14,959but for the family to live for the rest of their lives.32200:18:17,079 –> 00:18:19,780So I think if one of our sons was here today,32300:18:20,680 –> 00:18:24,800he’d say I didn’t know this at the time,32400:18:26,219 –> 00:18:29,400but when Elisha said to my mother,32500:18:29,400 –> 00:18:32,660you and your sons shall live on the rest,32600:18:32,660 –> 00:18:35,560he was telling us that God had set us up32700:18:35,560 –> 00:18:37,439actually in a small family business.32800:18:38,439 –> 00:18:43,439We were sellers of the finest oil for cooking and baking,32900:18:45,400 –> 00:18:48,319and I can tell you, we did very well on it,33000:18:48,319 –> 00:18:53,319because the oil that God provided was the finest of oil.33100:18:53,560 –> 00:18:56,380There was always a good market for it,33200:18:56,380 –> 00:18:58,839and it fetched a good price.33300:19:00,520 –> 00:19:02,380If one of the boys was here today,33400:19:02,380 –> 00:19:07,380he would say to us, God paid our debts.33500:19:07,800 –> 00:19:11,180He did more than that.33600:19:11,180 –> 00:19:15,319God set us free,33700:19:15,319 –> 00:19:16,819and He did more than that.33800:19:17,699 –> 00:19:22,699God gave us the most marvelous future life.33900:19:24,540 –> 00:19:28,459And do you not see that that is what God does for us34000:19:28,459 –> 00:19:32,520in and through the Lord Jesus Christ?34100:19:33,640 –> 00:19:37,160Jesus paid our debt.34200:19:38,339 –> 00:19:42,780Our sins, our accumulative debt34300:19:42,780 –> 00:19:44,760that none of us could ever repay.34400:19:46,780 –> 00:19:48,500But the Lord Jesus Christ,34500:19:48,500 –> 00:19:51,739we’re told in Colossians chapter two and verse 14,34600:19:51,739 –> 00:19:56,140canceled the debt that was against us34700:19:56,140 –> 00:19:58,819by nailing it to the cross.34800:19:58,819 –> 00:20:03,439He paid the debt as he suffered and died for us there.34900:20:04,359 –> 00:20:07,819And Jesus sets us free.35000:20:07,819 –> 00:20:12,339He said everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin35100:20:12,339 –> 00:20:13,359but then he said,35200:20:13,359 –> 00:20:15,760if the Son sets you free,35300:20:15,760 –> 00:20:17,560if the Son of God sets you free,35400:20:17,560 –> 00:20:19,920you will be free indeed.35500:20:19,920 –> 00:20:24,920Jesus saves us from being sin slaves35600:20:24,959 –> 00:20:28,560and he brings us into the glorious freedom35700:20:28,560 –> 00:20:30,140of the children of God.35800:20:31,020 –> 00:20:33,800And Jesus not only pays our debts.35900:20:33,800 –> 00:20:37,300Jesus not only sets us free36000:20:37,300 –> 00:20:41,880but he gives to us the most glorious future life36100:20:41,880 –> 00:20:45,619the thief Jesus said comes only to steal36200:20:45,619 –> 00:20:48,000and to kill and to destroy36300:20:48,000 –> 00:20:50,619but I came that you may have life36400:20:51,939 –> 00:20:55,599and that you may have it to the full.36500:20:55,599 –> 00:20:59,660Jesus gives eternal life36600:21:00,920 –> 00:21:05,920and that life is ours by believing in his name.36700:21:07,959 –> 00:21:10,560God will provide for us.36800:21:12,060 –> 00:21:14,739The apostle Paul says in Philippians chapter four36900:21:14,739 –> 00:21:19,739and verse 19, my God will supply every need of yours37000:21:23,079 –> 00:21:24,420it’s writing to the church.37100:21:24,859 –> 00:21:29,859My God will supply every need of yours37200:21:31,819 –> 00:21:36,819according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.37300:21:42,500 –> 00:21:44,699My God will supply all that you need.37400:21:44,699 –> 00:21:48,459That’s why in God we trust.37500:21:50,359 –> 00:21:53,599We trust him because he’ll provide for us.37600:21:53,599 –> 00:21:56,540He will work with what he’s already given.37700:21:56,540 –> 00:22:01,540He will work through our faith and through our obedience.37800:22:01,939 –> 00:22:06,939And he will work for our freedom and for our joy.37900:22:09,119 –> 00:22:11,099Pastor Colin Smith, on open the Bible38000:22:11,099 –> 00:22:12,760with the final part of our message,38100:22:12,760 –> 00:22:14,900God will provide for us,38200:22:14,900 –> 00:22:17,479part of the series in God we trust38300:22:17,479 –> 00:22:20,780taken from the book of two Kings all about Elijah.38400:22:20,780 –> 00:22:22,540If you ever miss one of the messages,38500:22:22,560 –> 00:22:25,400you can easily catch up or go back and listen again.38600:22:25,400 –> 00:22:27,479If you come online to our website,38700:22:27,479 –> 00:22:30,640that’s at openthebible.org.uk.38800:22:30,640 –> 00:22:32,579Also available as a podcast,38900:22:32,579 –> 00:22:34,119go to your favorite podcast site39000:22:34,119 –> 00:22:37,040and search there for Open the Bible UK.39100:22:37,040 –> 00:22:40,680You can also follow the link from our website.39200:22:40,680 –> 00:22:41,839While you’re on our website,39300:22:41,839 –> 00:22:44,199there’s also Open the Bible Daily.39400:22:44,199 –> 00:22:46,000And that’s our series of short39500:22:46,000 –> 00:22:48,280two to 3-minute daily reflections.39600:22:48,280 –> 00:22:49,339A new one every day39700:22:49,339 –> 00:22:51,199based on Pastor Colin’s teaching39800:22:51,199 –> 00:22:54,640and read specially in the UK, Open the Bible Daily.39900:22:55,699 –> 00:22:58,819Open the Bible is supported by our many listeners.40000:22:58,819 –> 00:23:02,040And if you’re one of them, thank you so much.40100:23:02,040 –> 00:23:04,459It’s not just the radio program,40200:23:04,459 –> 00:23:07,660the website and podcast that you’re supporting.40300:23:07,660 –> 00:23:10,839Here’s Open the Bible’s executive director, John Martin.40400:23:10,839 –> 00:23:12,699Well, David, it’s great to be with you40500:23:12,699 –> 00:23:17,219and share more about Open the Bible’s impact across the UK.40600:23:17,219 –> 00:23:19,420The ministry across the UK continues to grow40700:23:19,420 –> 00:23:21,500since the beginning of 2026.40800:23:21,500 –> 00:23:23,780Our online reach has doubled.40900:23:23,780 –> 00:23:25,920We’ve also enjoyed Pastor Colin speaking41000:23:25,920 –> 00:23:29,099at significant events and we’ve expanded our ministry41100:23:29,099 –> 00:23:31,520with prisons and other marginalised groups.41200:23:31,520 –> 00:23:32,859It’s very exciting.41300:23:34,439 –> 00:23:37,500Let me tell you a story from England.41400:23:37,500 –> 00:23:39,780We have this one hour film of the story41500:23:39,780 –> 00:23:40,880of the thief on the Cross41600:23:40,880 –> 00:23:43,619based on Colin’s book Heaven, How I Got Here.41700:23:43,619 –> 00:23:45,619We promoted the film to churches41800:23:45,660 –> 00:23:47,420across the UK earlier this year,41900:23:47,420 –> 00:23:51,099encouraging them to show it as an Easter outreach event.42000:23:51,099 –> 00:23:53,400Hundreds of churches accessed the film42100:23:53,400 –> 00:23:55,439and our free promotional resources42200:23:55,439 –> 00:23:58,619and one church had the courage to book a cinema42300:23:58,619 –> 00:24:01,160and invite guests to the showing.42400:24:01,160 –> 00:24:05,260Brian Craven of Life Church, St Helens said,42500:24:05,260 –> 00:24:08,579”It is a truly excellent reproduction on the big screen.42600:24:08,579 –> 00:24:11,540”Ours is a tale of just how much can be achieved42700:24:11,540 –> 00:24:14,420”by simply stepping out, doing what we can,42800:24:14,459 –> 00:24:16,099”then watching as Father God42900:24:16,099 –> 00:24:18,619”brings everything else into line.43000:24:18,619 –> 00:24:20,380”We really are so grateful43100:24:20,380 –> 00:24:22,619”for the connection we have made with Open the Bible43200:24:22,619 –> 00:24:25,880”and for all the efforts made to support and encourage us.43300:24:25,880 –> 00:24:28,380”My hope and prayer is that Open the Bible43400:24:28,380 –> 00:24:31,260”will now be able to promote many more cinema screenings43500:24:31,260 –> 00:24:32,640”in the years to come.”43600:24:33,500 –> 00:24:35,319So David, if there are listeners that are interested43700:24:35,319 –> 00:24:37,099in showing that film at Easter43800:24:37,099 –> 00:24:39,140or any other time either in their churches43900:24:39,140 –> 00:24:41,739or even being like Life Church, St Helens44000:24:41,739 –> 00:24:43,020and booking a cinema screening,44100:24:43,060 –> 00:24:44,880then they should get in touch with Open the Bible44200:24:44,880 –> 00:24:47,060and we’ll do all we can to help them.44300:24:47,060 –> 00:24:48,300The film is free.44400:24:48,300 –> 00:24:51,380You can get involved in supporting Open the Bible’s work44500:24:51,380 –> 00:24:52,979by coming to our website,44600:24:52,979 –> 00:24:55,699openthebible.org.uk.44700:24:55,699 –> 00:24:57,699You’ll find lots more information,44800:24:57,699 –> 00:25:01,300terms and conditions and you can give online.44900:25:01,300 –> 00:25:03,859For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,45000:25:03,859 –> 00:25:04,979I’m David pick.45100:25:04,979 –> 00:25:07,979Join us again next time on Open the Bible.45200:25:08,280 –> 00:25:11,119If you devote yourself fully to Jesus,45300:25:11,119 –> 00:25:14,339what kind of life can you expect to have?45400:25:14,339 –> 00:25:16,959Find out next time on Open the Bible.