100:00:00,040 –> 00:00:02,040I200:00:03,340 –> 00:00:05,340Could have welcomed him I300:00:06,000 –> 00:00:11,880I could have believed in him. I could have worshiped him. I could have been with him now400:00:13,400 –> 00:00:18,240It’s like all your life he’s reaching out to you500:00:19,639 –> 00:00:23,780But then when you pass beyond death he becomes beyond your reach600:00:24,680 –> 00:00:27,200Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith700:00:27,719 –> 00:00:33,459And Colin today rather an unlikely character in the Christian story as we hear from King Herod800:00:33,520 –> 00:00:38,680Yeah, that’s right. And not everyone welcomed the Lord Jesus Christ and Herod certainly did not900:00:38,680 –> 00:00:41,599He was someone who did not receive the Lord Jesus Christ1000:00:41,820 –> 00:00:47,400I’ve been moved by thinking about what that’s like for him now as someone who was so clearly1100:00:47,959 –> 00:00:50,759apart from Jesus and oppressed to Jesus1200:00:50,759 –> 00:00:54,840My prayer for today is that we’re going to get a fresh perspective on the Christmas story1300:00:55,000 –> 00:00:59,700That is going to give us every reason to open our lives to receive Jesus Christ today1400:00:59,700 –> 00:01:05,639So join us today if you can in Matthew chapter 2 as we begin Herod story, here’s Colin1500:01:05,760 –> 00:01:08,879I have to tell you I think that I am the most1600:01:10,360 –> 00:01:12,620Under-appreciated leader in history1700:01:12,620 –> 00:01:20,720I always felt that and I guess I always will so I’m glad to have the opportunity to tell my story1800:01:22,139 –> 00:01:24,239Actually, I often wish there were more people1900:01:24,239 –> 00:01:26,239I could share this with2000:01:26,760 –> 00:01:32,000But the truth is it’s actually very lonely where I am these days2100:01:33,540 –> 00:01:35,980People are all bound up with themselves2200:01:36,980 –> 00:01:42,599Nobody has time or interest for anybody else. So so thank you for the opportunity2300:01:44,739 –> 00:01:51,099Most people don’t even know the great achievements of my life and I have to tell you I find that extraordinary2400:01:51,720 –> 00:01:53,260How can it be?2500:01:53,260 –> 00:01:58,680That so much of what I did accounts for so little today2600:01:59,680 –> 00:02:01,680Let me tell you about myself2700:02:02,500 –> 00:02:09,240Hered was a common enough name in my time. I like the name Smith is today I suppose2800:02:09,919 –> 00:02:14,779Actually, there are three herod’s in your New Testament There’s Herod Agrippa2900:02:15,320 –> 00:02:21,020Now that was the one that Paul almost persuaded to become a Christian. He was my grandson3000:02:21,020 –> 00:02:22,660son3100:02:22,660 –> 00:02:27,539Then there was Herod antipas. Luke called him Herod the tetrach3200:02:27,839 –> 00:02:30,940That’s my son by a different wife. Of course3300:02:31,699 –> 00:02:37,800He was the one who beheaded John the Baptist and he also once had a meeting with Jesus3400:02:39,179 –> 00:02:41,179but I’m the one who was known as3500:02:41,899 –> 00:02:43,960Herod the great and3600:02:44,539 –> 00:02:45,339quite frankly3700:02:45,339 –> 00:02:49,240I see it as a title fully deserved and3800:02:49,360 –> 00:02:51,360And to cut a long story short3900:02:51,660 –> 00:02:56,500The Roman Senate gave me the title King of the Jews4000:02:56,500 –> 00:03:00,179I was the first to be given that title by Rome4100:03:00,179 –> 00:03:05,339I was put in charge then of the whole area of Judea and beyond in fact4200:03:06,220 –> 00:03:12,419You would have to go back a thousand years before my time all the way back to the time of King Solomon4300:03:12,500 –> 00:03:17,360to find the last Jewish king who ruled over such large territory and4400:03:17,759 –> 00:03:21,399And I ruled for thirty three years and4500:03:22,479 –> 00:03:24,619throughout that time there was peace and4600:03:25,279 –> 00:03:27,279There was stability4700:03:27,759 –> 00:03:30,179Of course, it took a while to establish order4800:03:31,020 –> 00:03:34,100The first thing that I had to sort out was the religious leaders4900:03:34,100 –> 00:03:39,679I noticed by the way just in my visit from your papers. You still have problems with religious extremists5000:03:40,679 –> 00:03:45,179Well, I found that a lot of trouble originated in the temple. So I dealt with it firmly5100:03:46,139 –> 00:03:48,160Here’s what I did5200:03:48,160 –> 00:03:53,380There were 72 priests in a ruling group called the Sanhedrin. I5300:03:54,740 –> 00:03:55,899eliminated5400:03:55,899 –> 00:03:59,36045 of them that focus the minds of the rest5500:04:00,820 –> 00:04:03,660Then I established a new inner circle5600:04:05,300 –> 00:04:09,639Called the chief priests now you’ll have read about them in your New Testament5700:04:10,660 –> 00:04:13,220Did you know that that’s one of my contributions to history?5800:04:13,779 –> 00:04:17,619There were no chief priests in the Old Testament. This was my idea. I5900:04:18,519 –> 00:04:25,859Established the chief priests a tight inner group of past and potentially future high priests who would be an inner circle6000:04:26,059 –> 00:04:30,679Firmly under my control. In fact, I actually kept their robes6100:04:31,359 –> 00:04:33,739under lock and key and6200:04:34,260 –> 00:04:41,320I did that for a reason you see I wanted religion to be the servant of the state6300:04:41,359 –> 00:04:43,040I6400:04:43,040 –> 00:04:48,079Have to tell you that the City of Jerusalem was transformed under my leadership. I6500:04:49,320 –> 00:04:56,679Love architecture, and I love building on a grand scale. So in my time in Jerusalem I put up theaters I6600:04:57,480 –> 00:04:59,480Built a vast hippodrome6700:05:00,079 –> 00:05:03,040Where we were able to race horses and chariots6800:05:04,079 –> 00:05:06,000We held athletics6900:05:06,000 –> 00:05:11,940Meetings in the stadium. In fact, I instituted games in Jerusalem being held every five years7000:05:12,160 –> 00:05:15,959I was an athlete myself. Did you know that I was a wrestler and7100:05:17,220 –> 00:05:24,239all this building of course meant that the was full employment and full employment along with peace and stability meant it was great for7200:05:24,239 –> 00:05:31,160The economy and you would think that after all these achievements I would be the most admired King in history7300:05:31,899 –> 00:05:33,899some hope7400:05:34,019 –> 00:05:37,019I have never received the credit I deserve.7500:05:38,100 –> 00:05:40,660I was feared. I was respected7600:05:41,600 –> 00:05:43,600but never loved7700:05:44,600 –> 00:05:50,440But late in my reign I came up with an idea that I thought had the potential to change all of that7800:05:51,339 –> 00:05:57,839You see all of my new building projects made the temple look really rather7900:05:58,059 –> 00:05:58,559shabby8000:05:59,359 –> 00:06:04,359And you have to understand that for the Jewish people the temple was the single most important building in their city8100:06:04,640 –> 00:06:10,140The original one was magnificent, built by Solomons. That was the pride of the city8200:06:11,160 –> 00:06:16,119But of course, after the city was destroyed and they came back from 70 years in exile8300:06:16,279 –> 00:06:20,399Funds were tight. And so they were only able to put up something about half the size8400:06:21,399 –> 00:06:24,899Now with all of my building redevelopment going on around8500:06:25,260 –> 00:06:28,260The temple was beginning to look rather down in the hill8600:06:28,619 –> 00:06:32,359And that’s when I had my idea, I decided that my legacy8700:06:33,940 –> 00:06:38,940Would be a new temple on a grand scale even bigger8800:06:40,160 –> 00:06:45,160Than the one built by Solomon, It would be known as Herod’s temple8900:06:45,279 –> 00:06:50,279It would, of course, win the hearts and the minds of the people9000:06:50,579 –> 00:06:55,579And it would stand out as one of the lasting wonders of the world9100:06:57,260 –> 00:07:01,260But my greatest achievement of course was to keep the peace9200:07:01,579 –> 00:07:04,859As long as I was in Jerusalem there was very little trouble9300:07:05,660 –> 00:07:10,660The Romans were happy, and so there were no soldiers, no taxes9400:07:11,540 –> 00:07:14,540No foreign administrators, not in my day9500:07:14,679 –> 00:07:21,380I was the face of the Pax Romana, the Roman peace9600:07:21,760 –> 00:07:23,959I maintained order9700:07:25,000 –> 00:07:29,779But, you know, as soon as I’d died, it all fell apart9800:07:30,059 –> 00:07:33,059My sons were hopeless9900:07:33,559 –> 00:07:36,959Didn’t have the first clue about running a kingdom10000:07:37,660 –> 00:07:43,100So it wasn’t long after I died before the Romans had to send in the army10100:07:43,640 –> 00:07:46,200And with the army came the taxes10200:07:46,200 –> 00:07:50,739And then the whole wretched system of tax collectors extorting from the Jewish people10300:07:50,739 –> 00:07:53,420You’ve read about all of that in your New Testament, of course10400:07:53,420 –> 00:07:55,920All of that happened after my time10500:07:57,140 –> 00:07:59,079And then they sent in another man10600:07:59,820 –> 00:08:01,239Pontius Pilate10700:08:01,239 –> 00:08:03,380What a weakling he was10800:08:03,720 –> 00:08:08,519Why they chose him I am the faintest idea, he couldn’t make a decision to save himself10900:08:10,100 –> 00:08:16,380And I know that the story you want to hear from me is what happened when Jesus was born11000:08:18,040 –> 00:08:20,040And isn’t that the strangest thing11100:08:21,480 –> 00:08:28,480That the one thing I am remembered for after all my achievements in life is my response to Jesus11200:08:28,760 –> 00:08:34,700You’re listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and Herod’s story one of our Christmas stories11300:08:34,859 –> 00:08:39,659Don’t forget if you ever miss one of the series you can always catch up or go back and listen again online11400:08:40,000 –> 00:08:42,119Come to our website openthebible.org11500:08:42,119 –> 00:08:47,880. Uk you can also find us as a podcast and those are on all the main podcast sites11600:08:48,000 –> 00:08:55,580Search for open the Bible UK and subscribe if you want to receive regular updates back to Herod’s story. Now. Here’s Colin11700:08:55,700 –> 00:09:02,580The one thing I am remembered for after all my achievements in life is my response to Jesus11800:09:03,640 –> 00:09:08,859As if that were more important than anything else I accomplished in all of my life11900:09:11,119 –> 00:09:14,440Anyway it all started for me when I heard rumors12000:09:15,559 –> 00:09:18,000That some foreigners had arrived in Jerusalem12100:09:18,880 –> 00:09:22,659It’s a big city, but I had my means of keeping my fingers on the pulse12200:09:23,479 –> 00:09:26,359Information is power and I always had plenty of it12300:09:27,219 –> 00:09:32,159The foreigners were pedaling some story about someone who was born King of the Jews12400:09:32,159 –> 00:09:37,299Well, of course that was the title that the Romans had given to me so I was not too well pleased to hear that12500:09:38,260 –> 00:09:44,419the truth is that nobody in Jerusalem was pleased to hear that these people had endured years of12600:09:44,659 –> 00:09:51,299One leader after another claiming to have leadership and claiming to have authority seizing power and the right to rule12700:09:51,919 –> 00:09:55,059nobody wanted to go back to the instability of that12800:09:56,380 –> 00:10:02,219So I knew that we had a problem brewing and I was determined that I would deal with it decisively12900:10:02,700 –> 00:10:04,380There are always13000:10:04,380 –> 00:10:06,059elements in society13100:10:06,059 –> 00:10:11,200dissidents looking for some cause to champion and upset the status quo and13200:10:11,840 –> 00:10:15,859besides I was suspicious about all of these foreigners I13300:10:16,659 –> 00:10:24,440Mean why would foreigners with royal blood be so interested in coming to meet with a child?13400:10:24,960 –> 00:10:27,539supposedly claiming to be a future king13500:10:28,119 –> 00:10:30,159Was all very suspicious to me13600:10:31,840 –> 00:10:39,179So my first move was to call together my inner circle of the chief priests together with the teachers of the law13700:10:40,340 –> 00:10:45,659the central point in our religion you will know this well is that God had promised a deliverer a13800:10:46,099 –> 00:10:51,320The Old Testament is full of these promises about one who was known as the Messiah13900:10:52,219 –> 00:10:55,700This was the central hope of all people14000:10:56,479 –> 00:11:02,179So I called in the scholars and I asked them where is Messiah to be born14100:11:03,520 –> 00:11:05,520You see that’s how I think14200:11:06,179 –> 00:11:13,239Why study the Bible for yourself if you have professionals to do it for you? That’s what I say14300:11:14,000 –> 00:11:16,679They didn’t hesitate for a moment14400:11:18,219 –> 00:11:21,780Bethlehem in Judea. They said and then they gave me chapter and verse14500:11:23,260 –> 00:11:28,080Apparently a prophet by the name of michael had talked about this 800 years before14600:11:28,359 –> 00:11:34,419But you Bethlehem in the land of Judea you will by no means be the least but out of you will come one who will14700:11:34,419 –> 00:11:36,440Shepherd my people Israel. So that was clear14800:11:37,039 –> 00:11:39,039We had a location14900:11:41,000 –> 00:11:43,219The next question was to get a fixed15000:11:43,799 –> 00:11:45,799time15100:11:45,799 –> 00:11:49,599So for that I invited the foreigners over to the palace15200:11:49,599 –> 00:11:56,559I told them that I had heard these stories about a royal child and that I wanted to take them into my confidence in this15300:11:56,559 –> 00:11:58,280matter15400:11:58,280 –> 00:12:01,580Obviously I said if the Messiah has been born he will have enemies15500:12:02,219 –> 00:12:06,500He will need to be protected and I’m in a position to give this protection15600:12:07,280 –> 00:12:12,320So I said I also need to find him and of course if Messiah has come I will want to worship him, too15700:12:13,320 –> 00:12:20,119I gave them strict instructions to continue their search after all why should I bother to do it when they were already so enthusiastic15800:12:20,400 –> 00:12:23,799And I told them to report to me as soon as they found him15900:12:24,840 –> 00:12:32,000I Emphasized the need for confidentiality and I sent them on their way and then just as they were leaving I said oh, by the way16000:12:33,559 –> 00:12:37,119The star that you mentioned, when did you first see it?16100:12:37,440 –> 00:12:39,239Oh, they said it was about two years ago16200:12:39,559 –> 00:12:44,239And that gave me the bit of information that I really wanted from them16300:12:44,780 –> 00:12:46,780two years16400:12:47,140 –> 00:12:53,780See now I had a time as well as a place we were looking for a male child in Bethlehem16500:12:55,219 –> 00:12:57,580Under the age of two16600:13:00,299 –> 00:13:04,340I had our people watch for the foreigners when they came back on their journey home through Jerusalem16700:13:05,559 –> 00:13:07,559But time passed and they were never seen16800:13:09,619 –> 00:13:14,919Eventually, I realized that I had been double-crossed and that made me mad.16900:13:16,840 –> 00:13:21,880I asked for an estimate as to how many children there would be under the age of two in Bethlehem17000:13:22,820 –> 00:13:24,820It was just a small town17100:13:24,840 –> 00:13:27,880And I was told probably a dozen maybe twenty thirty at the most17200:13:29,400 –> 00:13:31,400So I called in the security people17300:13:32,280 –> 00:13:35,419I told them there was a threat to national security17400:13:36,219 –> 00:13:39,179Through a child under the age of two in Bethlehem17500:13:39,419 –> 00:13:44,140I told them to deal with the problem which they did with their usual17600:13:44,940 –> 00:13:46,940efficiency17700:13:47,580 –> 00:13:51,260And shortly after that I died17800:13:53,340 –> 00:13:55,340That was two thousand years ago17900:13:56,859 –> 00:13:58,859So i’ve had a lot of time to think18000:13:58,859 –> 00:14:00,859That I’m afraid18100:14:01,179 –> 00:14:05,739And I see now that I missed some things that should have been obvious18200:14:08,059 –> 00:14:13,500I mean this business about the star if it was true then god’s hand was in it18300:14:15,260 –> 00:14:18,859So in trying to rid the world of Jesus I was actually fighting God18400:14:20,859 –> 00:14:22,859The truth is I still am18500:14:24,380 –> 00:14:28,460Not because I want to but because I cannot stop18600:14:29,739 –> 00:14:31,340I18700:14:31,340 –> 00:14:33,260Am not even winning18800:14:34,859 –> 00:14:37,880And then if Jesus was really the Messiah18900:14:38,780 –> 00:14:42,460Promised in the scriptures. Why was I trying to destroy him anyway?19000:14:43,979 –> 00:14:50,960Messiah is the light of all people the hope of the world. Why was I fighting the one who could bring hope?19100:14:53,020 –> 00:14:56,940Of course my information on what happens since then is rather sketchy19200:14:56,940 –> 00:15:00,299I probably know more about this than I do19300:15:01,580 –> 00:15:03,919But I have been told that he survived19400:15:06,059 –> 00:15:09,359That he was taken by his parents out of Bethlehem19500:15:09,979 –> 00:15:17,020And hidden safely in Egypt how they knew to take him out of Bethlehem at that time is quite beyond me19600:15:19,340 –> 00:15:22,700I have heard that 30 years later. He began a public ministry19700:15:23,260 –> 00:15:25,979That he spoke as nobody else has ever spoken19800:15:26,859 –> 00:15:32,780That he performed miracles demonstrating the power of God touching this sorry world directly19900:15:35,260 –> 00:15:39,179Of course our people the Herodians20000:15:39,979 –> 00:15:46,539They worked together with the Pharisees to do what I had tried before20100:15:47,659 –> 00:15:48,780And in the end20200:15:49,979 –> 00:15:51,099He was crucified20300:15:53,099 –> 00:15:53,739Jesus himself20400:15:55,260 –> 00:15:57,020But then here’s the astonishing thing20500:15:58,780 –> 00:15:59,979He rose from the dead20600:16:02,780 –> 00:16:06,380Rumor down there has it that his name is being proclaimed all over the earth20700:16:08,140 –> 00:16:13,820And that those who believe in him are finding forgiveness and hope and peace and joy20800:16:15,020 –> 00:16:16,219You know the strangest thing20900:16:17,739 –> 00:16:19,659In two thousand years down there21000:16:20,380 –> 00:16:24,140I have not yet met a single person who believes in him21100:16:25,500 –> 00:16:26,859There’s a rumor21200:16:28,059 –> 00:16:32,539that one day we will all see him and be brought to an account21300:16:34,059 –> 00:16:35,979Though no one down there believes it yet21400:16:38,299 –> 00:16:40,940I also heard that before he was born21500:16:41,820 –> 00:16:43,900an angel appeared to his mother21600:16:45,340 –> 00:16:48,539And said he will be great21700:16:50,299 –> 00:16:52,780That always sticks with me of course because that was my name21800:16:52,780 –> 00:16:54,700HERED THE GREAT21900:16:57,260 –> 00:16:59,340The frustrating thing, you know is that22000:17:00,700 –> 00:17:03,580what I accomplished doesn’t seem that great now22100:17:05,900 –> 00:17:08,540You know I died before the temple was even finished22200:17:09,579 –> 00:17:11,339Actually way before it was finished22300:17:11,339 –> 00:17:13,819Because the work seemed to slow down after I died22400:17:13,819 –> 00:17:17,660You know it took them another 60 years22500:17:17,660 –> 00:17:19,900To complete the temple after I died22600:17:21,180 –> 00:17:23,500I mean you think you have problems with slow working22700:17:26,380 –> 00:17:34,060When it was finished, it stood in all its splendor for just 8 years22800:17:36,939 –> 00:17:39,099And then the Romans raised it to the ground22900:17:39,979 –> 00:17:43,260They did not leave one stone on top of another23000:17:45,260 –> 00:17:48,459So much for my legacy to the world23100:17:51,420 –> 00:17:54,699So, sometimes I really wonder what came of my life23200:17:57,260 –> 00:17:59,660There is no greatness in Herod23300:18:02,060 –> 00:18:03,260But there is in Jesus23400:18:05,819 –> 00:18:07,900I find myself thinking sometimes about23500:18:08,380 –> 00:18:11,500something that Isaiah the prophet said about Him23600:18:27,500 –> 00:18:31,339Then I think about His name. Jesus23700:18:33,099 –> 00:18:35,180It means saviour, you know that23800:18:35,979 –> 00:18:41,900Apparently an angel told Joseph, you shall give him the name Jesus23900:18:41,900 –> 00:18:45,900Because, He will save His people from their sins24000:18:46,780 –> 00:18:52,060I have to tell you, I never thought very much throughout my entire life about sins24100:18:52,699 –> 00:18:54,060I never gave it a thought24200:18:56,619 –> 00:19:01,260But now I live with my sins24300:19:01,819 –> 00:19:08,140Because, I live in a world of anger and frustration and regret24400:19:08,140 –> 00:19:12,540And I can not get out of it, and I can not get it out of me24500:19:13,900 –> 00:19:19,979I can find no release, these things consume me24600:19:20,300 –> 00:19:22,459See, that’s what happens when you die24700:19:24,619 –> 00:19:30,619Whatever is at the heart of you becomes the whole of you24800:19:31,579 –> 00:19:38,540Thing is, it could all have been so different24900:19:40,140 –> 00:19:44,459It’s clear to me now that Jesus’ mission was not to take over my throne25000:19:44,459 –> 00:19:47,180His kingdom is not of this world25100:19:47,180 –> 00:19:51,819What He could have done, is made me a better king25200:19:51,819 –> 00:19:57,339He could have given me a different eternity25300:19:57,979 –> 00:20:02,619It seems from what I am hearing, that He has done that for millions of others already25400:20:03,979 –> 00:20:05,099And He’s still doing it25500:20:07,739 –> 00:20:12,939You know, there is one verse in your Bible that really haunts me25600:20:14,140 –> 00:20:15,260You probably know it well25700:20:16,140 –> 00:20:17,260It’s the one that says25800:20:18,459 –> 00:20:20,540He came to His own25900:20:22,300 –> 00:20:25,260But His own received Him not26000:20:26,140 –> 00:20:27,260See that’s my story26100:20:28,219 –> 00:20:30,300I was one of His own26200:20:32,459 –> 00:20:37,420And I did not receive Him26300:20:37,420 –> 00:20:40,859Now I find myself like someone standing in the rain26400:20:40,859 –> 00:20:44,300Outside a large house filled with light and music26500:20:44,300 –> 00:20:46,780Where people are enjoying the party26600:20:46,780 –> 00:20:49,819I hear the music of sins forgiven26700:20:49,819 –> 00:20:54,060But I am outside and I cannot get in26800:20:54,060 –> 00:21:00,619He came to His own and His own received Him not26900:21:03,339 –> 00:21:07,979But to as many as receive Him27000:21:09,260 –> 00:21:12,300He gives the right to become children of God27100:21:15,500 –> 00:21:19,979Some of you of course already know far more about this than I ever will27200:21:20,939 –> 00:21:26,380But even I can see now that God was reaching out to every person in Jesus27300:21:27,099 –> 00:21:31,260And that those who welcome Him enter into a new relationship with Him27400:21:31,260 –> 00:21:35,260That begins now and will continue into all eternity27500:21:35,260 –> 00:21:37,260It will change the nature of death27600:21:38,260 –> 00:21:41,819It will change the destiny that lies beyond for you27700:21:43,099 –> 00:21:45,180I could have welcomed Him27800:21:46,780 –> 00:21:48,380I could have believed in Him27900:21:48,619 –> 00:21:50,140I could have worshipped Him28000:21:50,699 –> 00:21:53,260I could have been with Him now28100:21:55,819 –> 00:22:00,380It’s like all your life He’s reaching out to you28200:22:01,739 –> 00:22:05,739But then you pass beyond death and He becomes beyond your reach28300:22:08,699 –> 00:22:13,579So I wish with all my heart that I could be where you are right now28400:22:13,900 –> 00:22:18,300And if I could be where you are right now,28500:22:18,300 –> 00:22:19,579this is what I would do28600:22:19,579 –> 00:22:21,979I would say to Him in simple faith28700:22:22,619 –> 00:22:25,260Whatever this life is, take it28800:22:27,099 –> 00:22:29,819Make it what you want it to be28900:22:30,540 –> 00:22:32,780Make me one of your children29000:22:32,780 –> 00:22:36,300and lead me into your everlasting life29100:22:38,140 –> 00:22:41,099By the way, I’ve been told29200:22:41,420 –> 00:22:43,979that every one of those children29300:22:43,979 –> 00:22:46,540whose lives were taken in Bethlehem29400:22:47,500 –> 00:22:48,380are with Him29500:22:49,660 –> 00:22:53,819And even now the full potential of every life29600:22:53,819 –> 00:22:55,339is being fulfilled29700:22:57,260 –> 00:23:00,060I’ve been told that there are already there29800:23:00,060 –> 00:23:02,219more people than anyone could number29900:23:02,219 –> 00:23:04,140and that many many more are coming30000:23:05,020 –> 00:23:08,459I hope you will be among them30100:23:08,780 –> 00:23:09,420among them30200:23:11,739 –> 00:23:13,339It’s too late for me30300:23:15,420 –> 00:23:18,540It is not too late for you30400:23:20,699 –> 00:23:22,699Well this is Pastor Colin30500:23:22,699 –> 00:23:24,859and it’s not too late for you30600:23:25,420 –> 00:23:26,939Whoever you are30700:23:26,939 –> 00:23:29,579and whatever you may have done in your life30800:23:29,579 –> 00:23:33,500it is not too late for you to come to Jesus Christ today30900:23:34,300 –> 00:23:37,500The Saviour has his arms open31000:23:37,500 –> 00:23:39,819to receive all who will come to him31100:23:39,819 –> 00:23:41,099Here’s his promise31200:23:41,099 –> 00:23:43,180and you must take this personally31300:23:43,180 –> 00:23:43,739He says31400:23:43,739 –> 00:23:46,300Whoever comes to me31500:23:46,300 –> 00:23:47,979I will never drive them away31600:23:47,979 –> 00:23:49,500You come to Jesus today31700:23:50,140 –> 00:23:51,739and he will receive you31800:23:51,739 –> 00:23:53,579Come to him in repentance31900:23:53,579 –> 00:23:54,939Come to him in faith32000:23:55,739 –> 00:23:56,939You know the Bible says32100:23:56,939 –> 00:24:00,780Today if you hear his voice32200:24:00,780 –> 00:24:03,099Do not harden your heart32300:24:03,979 –> 00:24:06,619And that was Herod’s tragic story32400:24:06,619 –> 00:24:08,219He hardened his heart32500:24:08,219 –> 00:24:10,140Don’t make that mistake today32600:24:10,699 –> 00:24:14,939As your eyes are open towards the Lord Jesus Christ32700:24:14,939 –> 00:24:16,540Don’t harden your heart32800:24:16,540 –> 00:24:17,500You come to him32900:24:17,500 –> 00:24:18,780It’s not too late33000:24:18,780 –> 00:24:20,459The Lord Jesus Christ33100:24:20,459 –> 00:24:22,540is ready to receive you today33200:24:23,900 –> 00:24:25,099Thank you Colin33300:24:25,099 –> 00:24:27,660Maybe as you’ve been listening to the message today33400:24:27,660 –> 00:24:29,420you’ve heard God calling you33500:24:29,420 –> 00:24:32,300into a relationship with Jesus Christ33600:24:32,300 –> 00:24:33,739You’d like to know more about33700:24:33,739 –> 00:24:35,420how to enter into that relationship33800:24:35,420 –> 00:24:37,260by the saving grace of God33900:24:37,900 –> 00:24:39,420And if so, I hope you’ll seek out34000:24:39,420 –> 00:24:41,819a trusted Christian friend or family member34100:24:41,819 –> 00:24:44,219or maybe go along to a Christian church fellowship34200:24:44,939 –> 00:24:47,099Take time to speak with the folk there34300:24:47,099 –> 00:24:49,660the pastor or simply members of that fellowship34400:24:49,660 –> 00:24:51,020tell them about your journey34500:24:51,020 –> 00:24:53,099to discover faith for yourself34600:24:53,099 –> 00:24:53,660You’ll find34700:24:53,660 –> 00:24:55,500they’ll be ready to pray with you34800:24:55,500 –> 00:24:57,420to help you make that step34900:24:57,420 –> 00:24:59,660Or if you’re not yet ready to make that step35000:24:59,660 –> 00:25:00,859and still have questions35100:25:01,339 –> 00:25:03,099And we all have questions35200:25:03,099 –> 00:25:05,099there may well be a bible study course35300:25:05,099 –> 00:25:06,060or a home group35400:25:06,060 –> 00:25:08,380or an alpha program that you can join35500:25:19,260 –> 00:25:20,859Sometimes people say35600:25:20,859 –> 00:25:23,260if only an angel would appear to me35700:25:23,260 –> 00:25:24,540then i’d believe35800:25:24,540 –> 00:25:26,859find out if that would really make a difference35900:25:26,859 –> 00:25:27,660next time on36000:25:27,660 –> 00:25:30,540Open the Bible