100:00:00,480 –> 00:00:06,560Every person relates to God in one of two ways.200:00:07,280 –> 00:00:10,520The default of course is that we relate to God on the basis300:00:10,520 –> 00:00:15,240of law and as we’ve seen, there is absolutely no hope there whatsoever.400:00:15,920 –> 00:00:17,440The law is our accuser.500:00:17,440 –> 00:00:22,600And if your hope is set on your accuser, well, you are in deep trouble indeed.600:00:22,799 –> 00:00:25,879Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m700:00:25,879 –> 00:00:28,600David Pick, glad that you could join us today.800:00:28,600 –> 00:00:31,480And Colin, you say that there are two ways to follow God,900:00:31,520 –> 00:00:33,840and it’s great that it doesn’t have to be that1000:00:33,840 –> 00:00:36,560first way, but what’s the second way?1100:00:37,360 –> 00:00:40,160The second way, of course, is grace that is found in1200:00:40,160 –> 00:00:41,759and through the Lord Jesus Christ.1300:00:41,799 –> 00:00:45,439That’s where hope is discovered through grace.1400:00:45,439 –> 00:00:50,320And it’s beautifully stated in 2 Thessalonians 2 16,1500:00:50,320 –> 00:00:53,279that we’re looking at today, where the apostle speaks1600:00:53,279 –> 00:00:56,639about the Lord Jesus Christ and God, the father who loved1700:00:57,200 –> 00:01:01,799and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through1800:01:01,799 –> 00:01:04,680grace. Hope comes through grace.1900:01:05,000 –> 00:01:07,879And so what we’re going to look at today are four very2000:01:07,879 –> 00:01:11,360practical strategies for growing in hope.2100:01:11,800 –> 00:01:15,360They’re applying the grace of God into our lives so2200:01:15,360 –> 00:01:18,680that we will have a lively hope and confidence before2300:01:18,680 –> 00:01:22,040God. And I hope that this is going to be refreshing2400:01:22,040 –> 00:01:23,680and renewing for all of us today.2500:01:23,959 –> 00:01:27,120So join us today if you can into Thessalonians Chapter2600:01:27,120 –> 00:01:30,919Two as we continue the message Hope by Grace.2700:01:31,040 –> 00:01:32,440Here is Pastor Colin.2800:01:33,120 –> 00:01:37,239I’ve been reading a book by Andrew Bohner in which2900:01:37,239 –> 00:01:43,000he shows how to apply the perfect life of Jesus to3000:01:43,000 –> 00:01:46,800your conscience when you find yourself very troubled3100:01:47,480 –> 00:01:49,239by a sense of your own failure.3200:01:50,120 –> 00:01:53,120Now I’m putting this in my own words but I’m drawing3300:01:53,160 –> 00:01:55,680from Bohner’s examples.3400:01:57,800 –> 00:02:00,480Did you waste your youth?3500:02:03,199 –> 00:02:09,720Jesus Christ grew in wisdom and in favour with God3600:02:09,720 –> 00:02:10,720and man.3700:02:11,240 –> 00:02:17,360See he lived the perfect youth and childhood for you.3800:02:18,279 –> 00:02:20,919He lived the youth and childhood that you didn’t.3900:02:21,759 –> 00:02:27,919So don’t let your wasted youth or childhood lead you to despair.4000:02:30,080 –> 00:02:32,000Have you neglected prayer?4100:02:33,720 –> 00:02:36,279Christ rose early in the morning to pray4200:02:36,279 –> 00:02:38,559and he prayed through the night.4300:02:39,960 –> 00:02:41,679Bohner says,4400:02:41,679 –> 00:02:44,800this, God will impute to me,4500:02:44,800 –> 00:02:48,399as if I had prayed every day and every night.4600:02:48,600 –> 00:02:49,699See,4700:02:49,699 –> 00:02:52,300God by his grace and mercy will regard you4800:02:52,300 –> 00:02:55,240as if you had prayed as much as Jesus himself did.4900:02:58,440 –> 00:03:01,919Have you sought your own will rather than the will of God?5000:03:04,199 –> 00:03:07,320Do you perhaps look back even years ago5100:03:07,320 –> 00:03:08,679to a decision you made,5200:03:08,679 –> 00:03:11,520you felt God was calling you to something costly5300:03:11,520 –> 00:03:15,679and, well you weren’t up for it, you pulled back.5400:03:16,619 –> 00:03:19,199And years later you look back on that decision5500:03:19,199 –> 00:03:21,320and the different course that your life took5600:03:21,320 –> 00:03:25,000and you have a profound feeling that you let him down.5700:03:26,000 –> 00:03:28,860You didn’t have the courage to do what you sensed5800:03:28,860 –> 00:03:30,220he was calling you to do5900:03:30,220 –> 00:03:33,100and you live with a great sense of regret.6000:03:33,100 –> 00:03:36,399Have you sought your own will rather than the will of God?6100:03:38,559 –> 00:03:40,720Jesus said to the father,6200:03:41,559 –> 00:03:44,960not my will but yours be done.6300:03:46,559 –> 00:03:50,520He gave what you withheld6400:03:52,039 –> 00:03:54,539and God regards you in his grace6500:03:54,539 –> 00:03:59,300and mercy in Jesus Christ as if you had been as willing6600:03:59,300 –> 00:04:04,300to pursue that costly call as Jesus himself was.6700:04:06,919 –> 00:04:08,520Examples could be multiplied6800:04:08,520 –> 00:04:10,679and you can work this out for yourself.6900:04:10,679 –> 00:04:12,720Have you been worldly?7000:04:12,720 –> 00:04:14,559Jesus was not of this world.7100:04:15,779 –> 00:04:17,720Have you been double minded?7200:04:17,720 –> 00:04:21,880Jesus was always single and resolute in his purpose,7300:04:21,880 –> 00:04:24,600all these things he did,7400:04:24,600 –> 00:04:26,959he lived the life that we have failed to live7500:04:26,959 –> 00:04:28,760and he lived that life for us,7600:04:28,760 –> 00:04:32,799and then Bonner because he was a pastor7700:04:34,040 –> 00:04:35,640makes this application,7800:04:36,239 –> 00:04:39,299have I been a good enough pastor?7900:04:41,600 –> 00:04:45,320You see, the questions of whether we’ve been good enough8000:04:45,320 –> 00:04:49,600about what God has called us to do go everywhere8100:04:49,600 –> 00:04:52,559and where is a pastor or a missionary8200:04:52,559 –> 00:04:57,119or a Christian leader to go when we feel our own failings?8300:04:58,540 –> 00:05:02,619Well, we find hope not in what we are doing for Christ,8400:05:02,619 –> 00:05:05,179but in what he has done for us.8500:05:05,179 –> 00:05:09,679He is the perfect shepherd8600:05:09,679 –> 00:05:12,420that no one else has ever managed to be8700:05:13,119 –> 00:05:17,059and what he did, he did for us.8800:05:17,059 –> 00:05:21,959Bonar says, his Shepherd’s heart and work cover over ours.8900:05:25,600 –> 00:05:28,500Do you see this beautiful truth?9000:05:28,500 –> 00:05:33,000Jesus is everything that we have failed to be.9100:05:33,000 –> 00:05:37,980He has done everything that we have failed to do9200:05:37,980 –> 00:05:41,500and God counts all that the Lord Jesus Christ9300:05:41,500 –> 00:05:45,660has done for us as if it had been done by us.9400:05:47,500 –> 00:05:50,799Hope does not come from the law.9500:05:52,839 –> 00:05:55,399Hope does not come from what we do9600:05:55,399 –> 00:05:56,880for the Lord Jesus Christ.9700:05:56,880 –> 00:05:59,899It comes from what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us,9800:05:59,899 –> 00:06:03,320the perfect life that he has lived for us9900:06:03,320 –> 00:06:06,140and the sin-bearing death that he has died for us.10000:06:06,140 –> 00:06:10,359Hope does not come by the law, hope comes by grace.10100:06:12,079 –> 00:06:14,079God can do it for us10200:06:14,079 –> 00:06:15,399and so can we,10300:06:15,399 –> 00:06:18,980and that’s all that we need to know.10400:06:18,980 –> 00:06:20,959And if we look to Christ10500:06:20,959 –> 00:06:22,820in our life for the first time,10600:06:22,820 –> 00:06:25,380we see that he’s perfect.10700:06:25,380 –> 00:06:28,640He’s perfect for us because of wrath10800:06:28,640 –> 00:06:31,239that has been slain against him.10900:06:31,239 –> 00:06:32,339As we look to him,11000:06:32,339 –> 00:06:34,119we see a soaring hope11100:06:34,119 –> 00:06:35,540for we can after death11200:06:35,540 –> 00:06:37,980as we look to the Living God11300:06:37,980 –> 00:06:39,420to show how wonderful11400:06:39,519 –> 00:06:42,420the hope there whatsoever.11500:06:42,420 –> 00:06:44,760The law is our accuser11600:06:44,760 –> 00:06:46,220and if your hope is set11700:06:46,220 –> 00:06:47,480on your accuser,11800:06:47,480 –> 00:06:51,119well you are in deep trouble indeed,11900:06:51,119 –> 00:06:53,220but God sent Jesus into the world12000:06:53,220 –> 00:06:55,220and in Christ has opened up12100:06:55,220 –> 00:06:58,339another whole way of relating to him.12200:06:58,339 –> 00:07:00,779Instead of relating to God12300:07:00,779 –> 00:07:02,440on the basis of law,12400:07:03,700 –> 00:07:07,100you can choose to relate to God12500:07:07,100 –> 00:07:09,100on the basis of grace12600:07:09,119 –> 00:07:10,859and when you do that,12700:07:11,820 –> 00:07:13,399you will have hope.12800:07:15,119 –> 00:07:18,059We said earlier that if you base your hope12900:07:18,059 –> 00:07:20,019on obedience to God’s Law,13000:07:20,019 –> 00:07:21,739well your experience is going to be13100:07:21,739 –> 00:07:24,079that you’re tempted to pride when you succeed,13200:07:24,079 –> 00:07:27,119you’re tempted to despair when you fail13300:07:27,119 –> 00:07:28,519and you live under the shadow13400:07:28,519 –> 00:07:29,899of the condemning questions,13500:07:29,899 –> 00:07:31,420have I done enough?13600:07:33,239 –> 00:07:36,579What will be your experience if by faith13700:07:37,579 –> 00:07:41,700you choose to relate to God on the basis of grace,13800:07:41,700 –> 00:07:45,420grace that he offers you freely in the Lord Jesus Christ?13900:07:45,420 –> 00:07:48,920Well, if you have a relationship with God14000:07:48,920 –> 00:07:50,839that is based on grace,14100:07:52,940 –> 00:07:56,100well then when you succeed you will be just so thankful14200:07:56,100 –> 00:07:59,579because you know that what has been done14300:07:59,579 –> 00:08:04,119is the effect of God’s grace working in your life14400:08:04,119 –> 00:08:05,619and when you fail,14500:08:06,320 –> 00:08:09,940you will still have hope because you know14600:08:09,940 –> 00:08:13,299that your hope does not rest on what you’re doing for God14700:08:13,299 –> 00:08:15,260or what you fail to do for God14800:08:15,260 –> 00:08:19,140but on what in Christ he has done for you14900:08:19,140 –> 00:08:22,100and you will have an answer15000:08:22,100 –> 00:08:24,980to these haunting and condemning questions.15100:08:24,980 –> 00:08:28,559The answer lies in the perfect life of Jesus15200:08:30,019 –> 00:08:32,280which God graciously counts15300:08:32,400 –> 00:08:33,219as yours.15400:08:35,940 –> 00:08:39,080Hope does not come by the law.15500:08:39,080 –> 00:08:40,739Hope comes by grace.15600:08:43,119 –> 00:08:46,400Now, in the light of what we’ve learned here,15700:08:46,400 –> 00:08:50,599let’s draw out, again, some practical strategies15800:08:50,599 –> 00:08:53,000for growing in hope.15900:08:53,000 –> 00:08:55,440Here are four directly drawn from the verse16000:08:55,440 –> 00:08:58,659of scripture that is before us today.16100:08:58,659 –> 00:09:00,419How to grow in hope?16200:09:00,619 –> 00:09:05,119Now, first, think often about the love of God.16300:09:05,119 –> 00:09:07,400Notice our Lord Jesus Christ himself16400:09:07,400 –> 00:09:10,619and God our Father who loved us.16500:09:11,960 –> 00:09:14,239Now, Paul wants to get that wonderful truth16600:09:14,239 –> 00:09:16,239settled in our minds16700:09:16,239 –> 00:09:18,520and in our hearts before we go any further.16800:09:18,520 –> 00:09:20,159So, we must think about this often.16900:09:20,159 –> 00:09:24,940God, our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ who loved us.17000:09:27,919 –> 00:09:29,039Think about it.17100:09:29,900 –> 00:09:34,359One sin is enough to make you suspect17200:09:34,359 –> 00:09:36,760that God may be against you.17300:09:36,760 –> 00:09:38,640We see that, of course, in the story17400:09:38,640 –> 00:09:40,799of Adam and Eve in the garden.17500:09:40,799 –> 00:09:42,599They had walked with God,17600:09:42,599 –> 00:09:45,580but just one sin was enough17700:09:45,580 –> 00:09:47,640to send them hiding in the garden17800:09:47,640 –> 00:09:50,460because they feared what God may do to them17900:09:50,460 –> 00:09:52,419if they got too close to him.18000:09:53,799 –> 00:09:56,719The sinner’s first instinct is always18100:09:57,059 –> 00:09:59,460to hide from God in fear,18200:09:59,460 –> 00:10:02,919and as long as you think that God is out to get you,18300:10:02,919 –> 00:10:04,900you will not be growing in hope.18400:10:06,479 –> 00:10:09,299But if you could believe from the heart18500:10:10,479 –> 00:10:13,239that God really does love you,18600:10:14,799 –> 00:10:16,380and that in Jesus Christ,18700:10:16,380 –> 00:10:18,080he has proved his love for you18800:10:18,080 –> 00:10:20,140forever beyond all question,18900:10:20,140 –> 00:10:22,159if you could really believe that,19000:10:23,640 –> 00:10:24,739you would have hope,19100:10:25,619 –> 00:10:28,979So think often about the love of God,19200:10:30,400 –> 00:10:33,700and the proof of it in Jesus Christ.19300:10:33,700 –> 00:10:38,700God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son,19400:10:40,119 –> 00:10:42,380this is love, not that we loved God,19500:10:42,380 –> 00:10:43,880but that he loved us,19600:10:43,880 –> 00:10:48,880and gave his son to be the propitiation for our sins.19700:10:49,599 –> 00:10:53,119God shows his love for us in this,19800:10:53,500 –> 00:10:58,500that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.19900:11:00,000 –> 00:11:03,760Remind yourself often that God loves you,20000:11:03,760 –> 00:11:08,119and you will grow in hope.20100:11:08,119 –> 00:11:09,359You’re listening to Open the Bible20200:11:09,359 –> 00:11:10,580with Pastor Colin Smith,20300:11:10,580 –> 00:11:12,119and we’ve got to pause briefly there,20400:11:12,119 –> 00:11:13,359but we’ll be back shortly,20500:11:13,359 –> 00:11:15,700so please stay with us.20600:11:15,700 –> 00:11:18,299This message is called Hope by Grace,20700:11:18,299 –> 00:11:20,520and if you ever miss one of our messages,20800:11:20,520 –> 00:11:21,719you can easily catch up,20900:11:21,719 –> 00:11:23,000or go back and listen again.21000:11:23,080 –> 00:11:25,780By coming online to openthebible.org.uk21100:11:27,000 –> 00:11:28,840and there you’ll find all the messages21200:11:28,840 –> 00:11:30,599which have already been broadcast.21300:11:30,599 –> 00:11:32,820And you’ll also find them as podcasts21400:11:32,820 –> 00:11:34,659on all the main podcast sites.21500:11:34,659 –> 00:11:37,239You can find those by searching on the podcast site21600:11:37,239 –> 00:11:39,460for Open The Bible UK.21700:11:39,460 –> 00:11:41,739Or you can follow a link from our website.21800:11:42,820 –> 00:11:44,099Back to the message now.21900:11:44,099 –> 00:11:46,140We’re in 2 Thessalonians 2,22000:11:46,140 –> 00:11:48,520here again is Pastor Colin.22100:11:48,520 –> 00:11:52,219Remind yourself often that God loves you22200:11:52,260 –> 00:11:55,320and you will grow in hope.22300:11:56,419 –> 00:12:01,419Second, stop counting the good that you have done.22400:12:01,780 –> 00:12:05,359Stop counting the good that you have done.22500:12:06,219 –> 00:12:07,700Look again at our verse.22600:12:07,700 –> 00:12:10,520May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father22700:12:10,520 –> 00:12:13,400who loved us and gave us eternal comfort22800:12:13,400 –> 00:12:16,460and good hope through grace.22900:12:17,440 –> 00:12:21,140See, counting the good that you have done23000:12:22,159 –> 00:12:25,260is what a person does if they are relating to God23100:12:25,260 –> 00:12:26,940on the basis of law.23200:12:28,299 –> 00:12:32,140You begin to think of the good you have done23300:12:32,140 –> 00:12:35,140as you would think of savings in the bank.23400:12:35,140 –> 00:12:36,700Well, you know, I did something good.23500:12:36,700 –> 00:12:40,000That’ll go towards my ultimate salvation,23600:12:40,000 –> 00:12:42,219but you see, as we saw earlier,23700:12:42,219 –> 00:12:46,260there is absolutely no hope there whatsoever.23800:12:46,799 –> 00:12:50,140A relationship with God that is based on law23900:12:50,140 –> 00:12:52,940can only ever end in condemnation.24000:12:52,940 –> 00:12:57,119The law will be your accuser and your accuser24100:12:57,119 –> 00:12:59,479will remind you when you’re trying to count24200:12:59,479 –> 00:13:01,700the good you have done of all the good24300:13:01,700 –> 00:13:02,760that you’ve not done24400:13:04,140 –> 00:13:07,960and of all the wrong that you have done as well.24500:13:09,380 –> 00:13:12,179So stop counting the good you’ve done.24600:13:12,179 –> 00:13:13,940If you can stop that habit,24700:13:13,940 –> 00:13:16,200it’ll be an enormous relief to you.24800:13:16,900 –> 00:13:21,900Start relying on the good that Jesus has done24900:13:22,140 –> 00:13:25,020and you will grow in hope.25000:13:26,960 –> 00:13:27,919Hope diminishes.25100:13:27,919 –> 00:13:31,659It’s eclipsed wherever you count25200:13:31,659 –> 00:13:33,580the good that you’ve been doing.25300:13:33,580 –> 00:13:38,380Hope rises as you rely on the good25400:13:38,380 –> 00:13:40,500that Jesus has done.25500:13:41,479 –> 00:13:43,000And you know this is very practical.25600:13:43,200 –> 00:13:46,640There are some of us who really struggle25700:13:46,640 –> 00:13:49,919with a sense of unworthiness.25800:13:50,799 –> 00:13:53,200Now, where does that come from?25900:13:54,320 –> 00:13:56,539You say, well I just feel so unworthy.26000:13:57,460 –> 00:13:59,719Where does that come from?26100:14:00,919 –> 00:14:05,460Well, you see it comes from counting the good26200:14:05,460 –> 00:14:08,679that you have done and feeling that you have26300:14:08,679 –> 00:14:09,859come up short.26400:14:09,859 –> 00:14:12,039That’s where it comes from.26500:14:12,059 –> 00:14:15,700You look at others and you wish that you had done26600:14:15,700 –> 00:14:18,479what they have done but you haven’t done it,26700:14:18,479 –> 00:14:20,539and that’s why you feel unworthy.26800:14:21,380 –> 00:14:25,320So you see, what is the answer to these feelings26900:14:25,320 –> 00:14:26,500of unworthiness?27000:14:26,500 –> 00:14:30,780It is to stop acting as if your relationship27100:14:30,780 –> 00:14:34,500with God was based on the law and start thanking God27200:14:34,500 –> 00:14:38,239that your relationship with Him is based on grace.27300:14:38,859 –> 00:14:40,640And then a third strategy,27400:14:41,859 –> 00:14:46,159receive what Jesus gives by faith.27500:14:46,820 –> 00:14:48,880Notice again in our wonderful verse,27600:14:48,880 –> 00:14:52,440may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father27700:14:52,440 –> 00:14:57,440who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope27800:14:58,260 –> 00:15:01,299through grace may he comfort our hearts.27900:15:01,299 –> 00:15:05,500You see that, God gave us eternal comfort.28000:15:05,739 –> 00:15:08,539God gave us eternal comfort,28100:15:08,539 –> 00:15:12,679that is a comfort that relates to eternity,28200:15:12,679 –> 00:15:15,739the comfort of knowing that all will be well28300:15:15,739 –> 00:15:16,900with you forever.28400:15:16,900 –> 00:15:20,900God gave us good hope, it’s a gift.28500:15:22,900 –> 00:15:25,479Hope is yours by grace.28600:15:26,700 –> 00:15:28,080It is a gift.28700:15:28,760 –> 00:15:30,280It is given.28800:15:30,380 –> 00:15:35,599God gives this gift by grace but do you see,28900:15:35,599 –> 00:15:39,859a gift that is given also has to be received29000:15:39,859 –> 00:15:42,700and grace is the way that God gives the gift,29100:15:42,700 –> 00:15:46,719faith is the way that we receive the gift.29200:15:48,479 –> 00:15:51,659So listen to this from the apostle Paul29300:15:51,659 –> 00:15:54,979in Romans and chapter 15 and verse 13.29400:15:55,280 –> 00:15:57,320He’s speaking about hope and he says,29500:15:57,559 –> 00:15:59,580The God of hope fill you with29600:15:59,580 –> 00:16:04,020all joy and peace in believing.29700:16:04,239 –> 00:16:07,140So that by the power of the Holy Spirit29800:16:07,140 –> 00:16:09,599you may abound in hope.29900:16:11,159 –> 00:16:14,320Notice that he describes God as the God of hope.30000:16:14,320 –> 00:16:16,460Hope comes from God as we saw30100:16:16,460 –> 00:16:18,700from the beginning of this series30200:16:18,700 –> 00:16:20,700and his prayer ends with people30300:16:20,700 –> 00:16:25,200who are abounding in hope and so the question is,30400:16:25,200 –> 00:16:27,200how does the hope that comes from God30500:16:27,200 –> 00:16:30,039through Christ, how does it actually get into us?30600:16:30,039 –> 00:16:32,780Well, God by his grace gives it to us,30700:16:32,780 –> 00:16:36,840we receive it by faith, by believing.30800:16:39,140 –> 00:16:40,719And remember that the apostle Paul30900:16:40,719 –> 00:16:44,979is writing these words to believers.31000:16:44,979 –> 00:16:48,599In other words, God has called us not only31100:16:48,599 –> 00:16:52,000to an act of faith at the beginning of the Christian life,31200:16:52,000 –> 00:16:55,619God calls us to a life of faith.31300:16:55,640 –> 00:16:58,679Walk by faith, not by sight.31400:17:00,099 –> 00:17:05,099And hope and joy and peace31500:17:05,380 –> 00:17:10,199and comfort in the Christian life are all gifts of God.31600:17:10,199 –> 00:17:12,939They are all offered to us freely by grace31700:17:12,939 –> 00:17:17,400and they are all received by faith.31800:17:18,859 –> 00:17:23,859Believing is the means by which you receive what God gives31900:17:23,859 –> 00:17:28,859as you believe you will have hope.32000:17:30,400 –> 00:17:33,920And the more you believe the more hope you will have.32100:17:35,660 –> 00:17:37,339How can you grow in hope?32200:17:37,339 –> 00:17:39,859Well, think often about the love of God.32300:17:39,859 –> 00:17:42,500Stop counting the good that you have done.32400:17:42,500 –> 00:17:45,719Receive what the Lord Jesus Christ offers by faith.32500:17:45,719 –> 00:17:47,420And here’s the last thing,32600:17:47,420 –> 00:17:51,939pursue every good work and word.32700:17:52,859 –> 00:17:57,719Notice, the outcome of our verse today.32800:17:57,719 –> 00:18:01,199Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself32900:18:01,199 –> 00:18:03,520and God our father who loved us33000:18:03,520 –> 00:18:07,560and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,33100:18:07,560 –> 00:18:10,359may he comfort your hearts33200:18:10,359 –> 00:18:15,359and establish them in every good work and word.33300:18:17,400 –> 00:18:19,079Every good work and word.33400:18:19,859 –> 00:18:23,619So notice what grace produces.33500:18:23,619 –> 00:18:28,619Notice the outcome of God’s grace in a believer’s life,33600:18:29,160 –> 00:18:32,839every good work and word.33700:18:34,339 –> 00:18:36,739Now the very simple principle here is that33800:18:36,739 –> 00:18:40,380what goes in eventually comes out.33900:18:41,760 –> 00:18:46,739If someone is treated with continued cruelty,34000:18:47,359 –> 00:18:49,619no one would be surprised if overtime34100:18:49,619 –> 00:18:51,739that person became cruel to others.34200:18:53,280 –> 00:18:55,040But you see, on the same principle,34300:18:56,300 –> 00:19:01,300what if God’s love and grace were to fill a person’s life?34400:19:03,439 –> 00:19:08,439What comes out of that is works and words34500:19:09,219 –> 00:19:13,839that reflect the grace that that person has received.34600:19:14,699 –> 00:19:17,900And notice that this is not something34700:19:17,900 –> 00:19:19,400that just happens occasionally.34800:19:19,400 –> 00:19:21,040Once in a while a person comes out34900:19:21,040 –> 00:19:22,699with a good work or a good word.35000:19:23,739 –> 00:19:25,319It’s actually normal.35100:19:25,319 –> 00:19:28,839It’s the overflow of a life that is lived35200:19:28,839 –> 00:19:31,180on the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.35300:19:31,180 –> 00:19:34,739He says that their hearts will be established35400:19:35,780 –> 00:19:39,300in every good work and word.35500:19:40,719 –> 00:19:43,260Now, you see, someone may wonder,35600:19:43,260 –> 00:19:47,880as you’re taking in this wonderful theme from the Bible,35700:19:47,880 –> 00:19:49,660you may wonder, well, now wait a minute.35800:19:49,660 –> 00:19:54,660If hope comes from grace rather than law,35900:19:54,800 –> 00:19:59,500if it comes from believing rather than doing,36000:19:59,500 –> 00:20:02,719how will any good work ever get done?36100:20:03,959 –> 00:20:07,020And the answer to that question, dear friend,36200:20:07,859 –> 00:20:10,979is that grace will take you further36300:20:10,979 –> 00:20:13,180than the law ever could.36400:20:13,300 –> 00:20:18,300You will do more for love than you would ever do for law.36500:20:21,680 –> 00:20:23,579I mean, think about it.36600:20:23,579 –> 00:20:27,839Taxes are a matter of law,36700:20:27,839 –> 00:20:29,300and what do we all do?36800:20:29,300 –> 00:20:34,099We all follow the path of minimal compliance.36900:20:34,099 –> 00:20:37,500What is the least amount that I am required37000:20:37,500 –> 00:20:38,579under the law to pay?37100:20:38,579 –> 00:20:39,599Is there anyone who’s saying,37200:20:39,599 –> 00:20:41,099please, can I pay more taxes?37300:20:41,099 –> 00:20:42,239Of course not.37400:20:44,060 –> 00:20:47,099The law leads to minimal compliance.37500:20:48,660 –> 00:20:52,380But you see, there are no limits37600:20:53,540 –> 00:20:55,300to what a person will do for love.37700:20:56,959 –> 00:20:59,599When you receive grace,37800:21:01,359 –> 00:21:04,300you want to reflect it to others, you really do.37900:21:05,640 –> 00:21:09,020And it won’t be because you’re trying to prove something,38000:21:09,859 –> 00:21:10,800and it certainly won’t be38100:21:10,800 –> 00:21:12,699because you’re trying to gain something.38200:21:12,739 –> 00:21:15,199Grace means that you’ve received already.38300:21:16,520 –> 00:21:18,500And having received,38400:21:19,579 –> 00:21:21,859you now really do have a desire to give.38500:21:23,459 –> 00:21:28,459So, what good work of grace will you do?38600:21:29,939 –> 00:21:34,939What good words of hope will you speak?38700:21:37,079 –> 00:21:39,699Here’s a wonderful prospect.38800:21:40,699 –> 00:21:44,380A congregation of believers38900:21:45,719 –> 00:21:47,239filled with hope,39000:21:48,380 –> 00:21:51,219going out into the world39100:21:51,219 –> 00:21:55,880and reflecting the grace that we have received39200:21:56,819 –> 00:22:01,619in every good work and word.39300:22:03,540 –> 00:22:04,880Pastor Colin Smith there,39400:22:04,880 –> 00:22:08,339ending our message today HOPE by GRACE39500:22:08,540 –> 00:22:12,099all about 2 Thessalonians 2 and verse 16.39600:22:12,099 –> 00:22:14,260And if you’ve missed any of this message39700:22:14,260 –> 00:22:16,180or any of the messages in this series,39800:22:16,180 –> 00:22:18,459which is called Grow in Hope,39900:22:18,459 –> 00:22:20,079you can find all those messages40000:22:20,079 –> 00:22:22,800which have already been broadcast on our website40100:22:22,800 –> 00:22:26,099at www.openthebible.org.uk.40200:22:26,099 –> 00:22:29,160You can also find Pastor Colin’s teaching as a podcast40300:22:29,160 –> 00:22:31,199and those are on all the main podcast sites.40400:22:31,660 –> 00:22:33,839Search for Open The Bible UK40500:22:33,839 –> 00:22:35,859or follow the link from our website.40600:22:36,660 –> 00:22:38,119Many of us love reading,40700:22:38,119 –> 00:22:41,319but our busy lives don’t allow much time for that.40800:22:41,319 –> 00:22:44,339So we often listen to audio books and podcasts,40900:22:44,339 –> 00:22:47,439maybe when we’re driving or out for a walk.41000:22:47,439 –> 00:22:50,780So we have a new podcast starting this month41100:22:50,780 –> 00:22:53,239and it’s called Hike Through the Bible.41200:22:53,239 –> 00:22:55,479Yeah, and the Hike Through the Bible podcast41300:22:55,479 –> 00:22:58,680will take you on a journey through the entire Bible story,41400:22:58,680 –> 00:23:00,619giving you the option of listening41500:23:00,619 –> 00:23:03,099or watching rather than reading.41600:23:03,099 –> 00:23:04,479And in each episode,41700:23:04,859 –> 00:23:07,880I’ll read a chapter of my book, Hike Through the Bible,41800:23:07,880 –> 00:23:10,260and then I’ll discuss it with some friends.41900:23:10,260 –> 00:23:14,300I hope you’ll join me in hiking through the Bible.42000:23:14,300 –> 00:23:16,079You’ll grow in your faith,42100:23:16,079 –> 00:23:18,760you’ll deepen your grasp of scripture,42200:23:18,760 –> 00:23:20,839and you’ll come to love Jesus more.42300:23:20,839 –> 00:23:24,140So that’s the Hike Through the Bible Podcast,42400:23:24,140 –> 00:23:25,839and it’s not too late to get started.42500:23:25,839 –> 00:23:28,719You’ll find the Hike Through the Bible podcast42600:23:28,719 –> 00:23:30,959wherever you get your podcasts,42700:23:31,079 –> 00:23:32,880and there’s a link on our website42800:23:32,880 –> 00:23:34,319at openthebible.org.uk.42900:23:35,959 –> 00:23:38,939You’ll also find more information about the podcast.43000:23:39,839 –> 00:23:41,640As many listeners will know,43100:23:41,640 –> 00:23:44,819Open the Bible is supported by our listeners financially.43200:23:44,819 –> 00:23:47,040And if you already give to support our work,43300:23:47,040 –> 00:23:48,819thank you so much.43400:23:48,819 –> 00:23:51,540This month when you begin to support Open the Bible43500:23:51,540 –> 00:23:52,680for the first time,43600:23:52,680 –> 00:23:55,800we’d love to thank you by sending you a free gift.43700:23:55,800 –> 00:23:57,719Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham43800:23:57,719 –> 00:23:58,839to tell us about it.43900:23:58,880 –> 00:23:59,880Hi David.44000:23:59,880 –> 00:24:02,839This month at Open the Bible we are giving away44100:24:02,839 –> 00:24:06,880Pastor Colin Smith’s brand new 30 day devotional,44200:24:06,880 –> 00:24:08,800Grow in Faith.44300:24:08,800 –> 00:24:12,479It’s a practical and encouraging journey through Scripture44400:24:12,479 –> 00:24:15,180helping readers deepen their trust in God44500:24:15,180 –> 00:24:18,439and grow stronger in faith through everyday life.44600:24:18,439 –> 00:24:21,800Colin explores what Jesus called little faith44700:24:21,800 –> 00:24:24,400and shows how we can become more confident44800:24:24,400 –> 00:24:25,760in God’s promises,44900:24:25,760 –> 00:24:29,199even in the middle of challenges and uncertainty.45000:24:29,199 –> 00:24:31,040We would love to send you a copy45100:24:31,040 –> 00:24:33,479as a thank you for supporting the Ministry45200:24:33,479 –> 00:24:36,239with either a one-off gift of £6045300:24:36,239 –> 00:24:40,060or a new monthly donation of at least £5.45400:24:40,060 –> 00:24:42,739But please do remember to leave your name and address45500:24:42,739 –> 00:24:45,959when you give so that we know where to send your book.45600:24:45,959 –> 00:24:48,619Well, we’d love to send you Pastor Colin’s new book45700:24:48,619 –> 00:24:52,140when you begin to support Open the Bible this month.45800:24:52,140 –> 00:24:54,760Full terms and conditions can be found on our website45900:24:54,760 –> 00:24:58,560that’s at openthebible.org.uk46000:24:58,560 –> 00:25:00,119and you can give online.46100:25:01,140 –> 00:25:03,719For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,46200:25:03,719 –> 00:25:05,599I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll be able46300:25:05,599 –> 00:25:07,819to join us again next time.46400:25:07,819 –> 00:25:14,819Some wonderful things will happen in your life46500:25:16,339 –> 00:25:18,079as you grow in hope.46600:25:18,079 –> 00:25:19,560Find out what they are46700:25:19,560 –> 00:25:21,420next time on Open the Bible.