100:00:00,380 –> 00:00:12,200The biggest stewardship decisions of your life are not the decisions about how much you will give.200:00:12,220 –> 00:00:21,480The biggest stewardship decisions of your life will be the decisions you make about how much you tie up300:00:21,480 –> 00:00:24,280so that you cannot give it.400:00:24,340 –> 00:00:27,959Welcome to OPEN THE BIBLE, with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick.500:00:27,959 –> 00:00:29,719I’m glad you could be with us today.600:00:29,719 –> 00:00:37,220And Colin, I know most of us don’t enjoy sermons about giving because we’re just thinking so how much do I have to give?700:00:37,220 –> 00:00:40,020But it’s great to hear that reframed.800:00:40,040 –> 00:00:44,759It’s not how much money you’re going to give, it’s how much are you going to tie up.900:00:45,439 –> 00:00:50,299And it comes right out of the scripture, because one of the issues that Jesus raises with the Pharisees1000:00:50,299 –> 00:00:55,599was about an obscure idea in those times called corban1100:00:55,599 –> 00:00:58,419which meant that you could tie some resources up1200:00:58,459 –> 00:01:01,680and then you said well, they’re tied up, so they’re not available for any other use1300:01:01,980 –> 00:01:05,059and therefore it was a form of selfishness.1400:01:05,059 –> 00:01:08,680But you know, this goes right to the heart of some of the economic issues1500:01:08,680 –> 00:01:13,940that are afflicting millions of people’s lives in our country today.1600:01:13,940 –> 00:01:21,379The decision to overreach so that money is tied up and pressures are brought on life1700:01:21,379 –> 00:01:23,959that are very, very difficult to get out of.1800:01:24,300 –> 00:01:29,580What if, decisions were made that the commitments I make1900:01:29,580 –> 00:01:34,500are to be within the range of what Christ has trusted to me2000:01:34,500 –> 00:01:38,000so that I’m a wise steward of everything that He has given2100:01:38,000 –> 00:01:43,519and not someone who puts myself in a position where I’m always going to be behind2200:01:43,519 –> 00:01:46,440because I’ve made commitments I should never have taken on.2300:01:46,440 –> 00:01:50,040It’s amazing how the Bible speaks so practically into these issues2400:01:50,040 –> 00:01:53,000and this is one place, an often neglected place in the Bible2500:01:53,220 –> 00:01:55,459that speaks very practically2600:01:55,459 –> 00:01:57,879into not just the issues of how much we give2700:01:57,879 –> 00:02:01,739but the issues of how much we tie up so that we’re no longer able to give.2800:02:01,959 –> 00:02:06,320So let’s get right into that today where in Mark chapter 72900:02:06,320 –> 00:02:10,380as we begin the message, Jesus cleanses the hearts of His people.3000:02:10,380 –> 00:02:11,259Here’s Colin.3100:02:11,899 –> 00:02:14,559Today we’re going to see something else very wonderful indeed3200:02:14,559 –> 00:02:21,259and it’s right there in our title that Jesus cleanses the hearts of His people.3300:02:21,580 –> 00:02:26,000We’re going to see why we need to be cleansed3400:02:26,000 –> 00:02:31,160and how it is that Jesus Christ can do that for us.3500:02:31,740 –> 00:02:36,119Now, it’s worth just remembering that the Bible uses two very important words3600:02:36,119 –> 00:02:37,940and they have some distinction in their meaning.3700:02:37,940 –> 00:02:44,000The Bible talks about forgiveness but it also talks about cleansing.3800:02:44,479 –> 00:02:49,300We need to be forgiven so that we can be at peace with God.3900:02:49,559 –> 00:02:54,080We need to be cleansed so that we can live in the presence of God.4000:02:55,259 –> 00:02:59,559Forgiveness, if I can just put it for those who like to have a sort of theological frame in4100:02:59,559 –> 00:03:03,559their minds, just a couple of sentences here, forgiveness really properly belongs4200:03:03,559 –> 00:03:08,520to the realm of justification, that is coming to be at peace with God.4300:03:08,940 –> 00:03:15,679There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, that’s where forgiveness belongs.4400:03:16,399 –> 00:03:19,619But cleansing belongs to the realm of sanctification.4500:03:19,619 –> 00:03:24,080The Bible also says without holiness no one can see the Lord.4600:03:24,179 –> 00:03:29,279So think of it this way, forgiveness is essentially about restoring your relationship with God.4700:03:29,279 –> 00:03:33,860Cleansing is about restoring your life before God.4800:03:33,860 –> 00:03:36,839And these are the two great promises of the Gospel.4900:03:37,160 –> 00:03:40,300They are ours in Jesus Christ, never the one without the other.5000:03:40,339 –> 00:03:43,199Now of course, we hear a great deal about forgiveness.5100:03:44,000 –> 00:03:47,320But not so much, I think, about cleansing.5200:03:47,339 –> 00:03:51,679Therefore this is a very important subject that is before us today.5300:03:52,899 –> 00:03:55,539I hope you won’t find it to be too much information.5400:03:56,460 –> 00:04:01,300But the truth is I was just thinking about this as one does sometimes in the shower one5500:04:01,300 –> 00:04:02,740morning earlier this week.5600:04:02,740 –> 00:04:06,520I didn’t do all of the sermon preparation in the shower just so that you know that.5700:04:06,520 –> 00:04:09,699And while I was there I picked up this shampoo bottle.5800:04:09,699 –> 00:04:12,500I didn’t say whose it was, I just picked it up.5900:04:12,740 –> 00:04:13,940And this is what it says.6000:04:13,940 –> 00:04:17,040Herbal essences and they’ve coined a new word.6100:04:17,799 –> 00:04:19,140And I like this word.6200:04:20,000 –> 00:04:21,579De-gunkify.6300:04:23,519 –> 00:04:28,640You turn it around and just ahead of the instructions on how to use this particular substance.6400:04:28,640 –> 00:04:32,600Which I always find very helpful that they put that on the back of the bottle.6500:04:32,600 –> 00:04:35,399It explains the meaning of this new word that they have coined.6600:04:35,959 –> 00:04:36,959De-gunkify.6700:04:37,519 –> 00:04:46,420Lose the leftover gunk and ick of gels and of sprays.6800:04:46,420 –> 00:04:47,820Now I don’t know about you.6900:04:47,839 –> 00:04:51,440But when I get up in the morning and kind of staggered out of bed.7000:04:51,440 –> 00:04:54,000And kind of bleary eyed head towards the shower.7100:04:54,000 –> 00:04:57,299I know that I need to be de-gunkified.7200:04:57,299 –> 00:05:06,420That is exactly how I feel and apparently this stuff will de-gunkify your hair.7300:05:06,459 –> 00:05:11,420But the question before us this morning is what will de-gunkify your heart?7400:05:12,059 –> 00:05:15,399That’s the question.7500:05:15,399 –> 00:05:22,119What will de-gunkify your life?7600:05:22,119 –> 00:05:25,640And I hope you have the Bible open in front of you because we are going to see three things7700:05:25,640 –> 00:05:30,660from Mark’s gospel and Chapter 7.7800:05:30,660 –> 00:05:38,480And the first of them is simply this, that if your heart, if your life is to be cleansed,7900:05:38,920 –> 00:05:49,859de-gunkified then you need to begin by measuring your life by the right standard.8000:05:49,859 –> 00:05:53,160And that really seems to me to be the main theme of Verses 1-13.8100:05:53,160 –> 00:05:55,600And I hope you have the Bible open so that we can look at it together.8200:05:56,059 –> 00:06:03,980You’re gonna start if you’re to find cleansing of heart by measuring your life by the right standard.8300:06:03,980 –> 00:06:05,320Now let’s jump in at Verse 1.8400:06:05,359 –> 00:06:10,500The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem.8500:06:10,739 –> 00:06:12,459We’ve met these characters before.8600:06:12,899 –> 00:06:15,140They gathered around Jesus.8700:06:15,779 –> 00:06:20,179Now straightaway we know that these folks had already rejected the Lord Jesus.8800:06:20,899 –> 00:06:23,859Remember from Mark in chapter 3 in Verse 6.8900:06:24,200 –> 00:06:29,220We saw that the Pharisees were plotting how to kill Jesus.9000:06:30,140 –> 00:06:31,739That’s a pretty clear rejection.9100:06:31,739 –> 00:06:33,660That’s chapter 3 in verse 6, the Pharisees.9200:06:33,899 –> 00:06:37,559And the other group here are the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem.9300:06:37,779 –> 00:06:40,059Now, we’ve met these characters before as well, haven’t we?9400:06:40,059 –> 00:06:44,380Remember, in chapter 3 and in verse 22.9500:06:44,720 –> 00:06:45,920They were the ones who came down.9600:06:45,920 –> 00:06:50,040We pictured them with the clipboards making an official assessment of the Ministry of Jesus.9700:06:50,200 –> 00:06:53,359And their official report was that he’s doing the work of the devil.9800:06:53,760 –> 00:06:55,600That’s chapter 3 in verse 22.9900:06:55,600 –> 00:06:58,600Now, these are pretty clear expressions of rejection.10000:06:58,839 –> 00:07:04,220What I want you to notice is that those who had rejected God’s son were incredibly religious.10100:07:05,500 –> 00:07:08,420And you see that in verse 3 and in verse 4.10200:07:09,000 –> 00:07:17,000They were scrupalous these folks who had so clearly rejected Jesus, about ceremonial washing.10300:07:17,559 –> 00:07:23,899Of their hands in verse 3, and of cups, and of pitchers, and of kettles in verse 4.10400:07:24,760 –> 00:07:29,320And that, you know if you have an opportunity to travel around the world, just watch for this.10500:07:29,320 –> 00:07:34,540This is a universal phenomenon. It goes across every continent, it skips across cultures.10600:07:35,320 –> 00:07:39,839This rights of pouring water over different parts of the body.10700:07:39,839 –> 00:07:44,679Pouring water over things that you use, cups and dishes and utensils, and so forth.10800:07:45,239 –> 00:07:51,739As a kind of ritual washing, and the Pharisees were scrupulous, the teachers of the law, scrupulous about doing these things.10900:07:52,279 –> 00:08:02,720Because they felt that these ritual washings of hands and feet, and cups and kettles would in some way preserve purity before God.11000:08:02,880 –> 00:08:05,739And so they were scrupulous about these things.11100:08:06,459 –> 00:08:10,820Now I want you to notice what Jesus says to these folks in verse 8.11200:08:10,859 –> 00:08:13,440It is absolutely astonishing.11300:08:13,880 –> 00:08:15,440Jesus says to them,11400:08:26,839 –> 00:08:32,659Now it’s honestly hard for us really to feel the shock value of these words.11500:08:33,440 –> 00:08:38,539These folks were the custodians of values within the community at the time.11600:08:38,679 –> 00:08:40,940They were the role models of moral behavior.11700:08:40,940 –> 00:08:44,299If you were a parent with younger children you would point to the Pharisees and say11800:08:44,299 –> 00:08:46,840these are the kind of guys you want to be like.11900:08:46,840 –> 00:08:51,719That’s how people thought of those who were moral leaders within the community.12000:08:51,719 –> 00:08:54,700And Jesus comes to these exemplary characters,12100:08:54,700 –> 00:08:56,440as they were perceived to be,12200:08:56,559 –> 00:08:57,840and Jesus says to them,12300:09:03,000 –> 00:09:04,599Kind of speechless!12400:09:05,460 –> 00:09:10,760Now I want you to notice that Jesus gives us a specific example.12500:09:10,760 –> 00:09:16,400God is absolutely just, He never gives vague general indictments against people.12600:09:16,400 –> 00:09:21,880On the last day when God brings charges against all men and women they will be very specific,12700:09:21,880 –> 00:09:25,900no one will ever be in hell and not know why.12800:09:25,900 –> 00:09:29,219And Jesus here gives an example of that, he says, let’s get specific,12900:09:29,219 –> 00:09:33,679let’s give an example of how you have let go of the commandments of God13000:09:33,719 –> 00:09:38,119and chooses just one example, though you I want you to notice in verse 1313100:09:38,119 –> 00:09:41,119that he says this is just one of many possible examples.13200:09:41,119 –> 00:09:46,700He says, you do many things like this.13300:09:46,700 –> 00:09:49,140Let’s look at the example then, one of many.13400:09:49,140 –> 00:09:53,380Verse 10, Jesus quotes the fifth commandment,13500:09:53,380 –> 00:09:58,299Moses said, honour your father and your mother,13600:09:58,299 –> 00:10:02,940but our lord says, verse 11, you say that if a man says13700:10:02,960 –> 00:10:07,500to his father and mother, whatever help you might have received from me is Corban,13800:10:07,500 –> 00:10:11,080that is, a gift devoted to God,13900:10:11,080 –> 00:10:17,140then you no longer let him do anything for his father and his mother.14000:10:18,280 –> 00:10:22,080Now, very simply, the Pharisees had this program14100:10:22,080 –> 00:10:28,760in which you could declare money or possessions to be Corban.14200:10:28,760 –> 00:10:32,840And what that meant was that if you declared something to be Corban,14300:10:32,840 –> 00:10:36,280it meant that that possession, house or whatever,14400:10:36,280 –> 00:10:40,440or these particular funds were restricted14500:10:40,440 –> 00:10:43,619and could not be used for certain purposes.14600:10:43,619 –> 00:10:48,859In other words, this program was a way of tying up money14700:10:48,859 –> 00:10:52,859so that it was not available for other use.14800:10:52,859 –> 00:10:55,820Now, I mean, there are many ways in which we do that today.14900:10:55,820 –> 00:10:58,799I mean, a good example would be like a pension fund.15000:10:58,799 –> 00:11:01,960You have a designated use for this particular fund.15100:11:02,059 –> 00:11:04,520It is still your money, and at some point15200:11:04,520 –> 00:11:07,599you will use and access that money,15300:11:07,599 –> 00:11:09,900but it is set aside for particular use.15400:11:09,900 –> 00:11:11,960You don’t touch it through most of your life,15500:11:11,960 –> 00:11:13,559or at least there are penalties15600:11:13,559 –> 00:11:16,640that will be incurred if you do.15700:11:17,799 –> 00:11:22,140Now, you see how this program worked.15800:11:22,140 –> 00:11:25,840If you had declared assets to be Korban,15900:11:25,840 –> 00:11:29,219and then someone in your family16000:11:29,679 –> 00:11:32,400came along with a particular need,16100:11:32,400 –> 00:11:34,080then you could honestly say,16200:11:34,080 –> 00:11:36,400you know I’d love to be able to help you,16300:11:36,400 –> 00:11:39,880but I just don’t have the resources available to do it.16400:11:39,880 –> 00:11:42,799And your father and mother might say,16500:11:42,799 –> 00:11:45,239well, wait a minute, you’re a millionaire son, aren’t you?16600:11:45,239 –> 00:11:46,219And then you would say,16700:11:46,219 –> 00:11:47,760oh yeah, yeah, but all of that is Korban.16800:11:47,760 –> 00:11:50,700You see, it’s all in restricted access,16900:11:50,700 –> 00:11:52,039it’s for particular use,17000:11:52,039 –> 00:11:54,119and it’s not available therefore17100:11:54,119 –> 00:11:56,559for this particular purpose of helping you.17200:11:56,580 –> 00:11:59,419That’s basically how the program worked.17300:11:59,419 –> 00:12:01,340And in the Korban program,17400:12:01,340 –> 00:12:04,859you could choose what the restrictions were.17500:12:04,859 –> 00:12:06,919So for example, if someone was saying,17600:12:06,919 –> 00:12:09,099you know I can see that my mother and father17700:12:09,099 –> 00:12:12,799are going to have extensive financial needs17800:12:12,799 –> 00:12:14,179and the last thing I want17900:12:14,179 –> 00:12:15,900is for it to come out of my pocket,18000:12:15,900 –> 00:12:16,900what you did you see18100:12:16,900 –> 00:12:19,820was you declared assets Korban against them.18200:12:19,820 –> 00:12:22,260So there was a restriction whatever else it could be used18300:12:22,260 –> 00:12:24,799for it couldn’t be used in relation to them.18400:12:24,859 –> 00:12:27,000And in that way the money was protected18500:12:27,000 –> 00:12:29,679from being drained and so forth and so on.18600:12:29,679 –> 00:12:33,140That’s basically how the system worked.18700:12:33,140 –> 00:12:35,979And so in verse 11 Jesus describes this situation18800:12:35,979 –> 00:12:38,059in which let’s suppose a man declares18900:12:38,059 –> 00:12:41,000his property Korban to his parents.19000:12:41,000 –> 00:12:42,640And you could imagine how this might happen19100:12:42,640 –> 00:12:44,840perhaps there was a big argument in the family19200:12:44,840 –> 00:12:46,739and the son has fallen out with the father19300:12:46,739 –> 00:12:49,739and he says well I’m not gonna use a penny19400:12:49,739 –> 00:12:51,659of my money to help him.19500:12:51,659 –> 00:12:55,979And so he declares his assets Korban to his father19600:12:55,979 –> 00:12:59,719but then let’s suppose one day there’s a change of heart19700:12:59,719 –> 00:13:01,460and there’s a wonderful reconciliation,19800:13:01,460 –> 00:13:03,820son is reconciled to the father19900:13:03,820 –> 00:13:05,219and he really feels because his father20000:13:05,219 –> 00:13:07,059is in quite a desperate situation20100:13:07,059 –> 00:13:09,840that he wants to be able to use these resources20200:13:09,840 –> 00:13:12,159to help his dad.20300:13:12,159 –> 00:13:15,099So he comes to the Pharisees20400:13:15,099 –> 00:13:19,679and he wants to release the restriction, see?20500:13:19,679 –> 00:13:21,559It’s kind of like although this is the other way20600:13:21,799 –> 00:13:24,979it’s kind of like what happens with a will, isn’t it?20700:13:24,979 –> 00:13:27,799You know, father and son have a great argument20800:13:27,799 –> 00:13:32,539and father says well he’s not gonna get his filthy hands20900:13:32,539 –> 00:13:33,840on one penny of my money21000:13:33,840 –> 00:13:35,099so off he goes to the lawyer21100:13:35,099 –> 00:13:38,179and cuts the boy out the will, you see.21200:13:38,179 –> 00:13:39,419And then in the goodness of God21300:13:39,419 –> 00:13:42,580five years later there’s a wonderful reconciliation21400:13:42,580 –> 00:13:46,260and the two hearts are softened towards each other21500:13:47,260 –> 00:13:51,039and the dad says, you know I wanna change my will,21600:13:51,059 –> 00:13:52,520I’m gonna put him back in.21700:13:52,520 –> 00:13:55,159I’m so thankful for the change that’s taken place21800:13:55,159 –> 00:13:56,960so what does he do, goes off to the lawyer21900:13:56,960 –> 00:13:58,219and changes the will.22000:13:58,219 –> 00:14:00,400You see it’s kind of like that situation.22100:14:00,400 –> 00:14:01,539Here it’s the other way around.22200:14:01,539 –> 00:14:04,380The son has declared things Korban against his parents22300:14:04,380 –> 00:14:06,580he now goes back to the Pharisees22400:14:06,580 –> 00:14:09,479and says that he wants to be able to use these resources22500:14:09,479 –> 00:14:12,400to be able to help his parents22600:14:12,400 –> 00:14:13,700and here’s the problem.22700:14:13,700 –> 00:14:15,760The Pharisees didn’t allow you to do that.22800:14:15,760 –> 00:14:19,880Once you had declared an asset Korban22900:14:20,400 –> 00:14:22,799it could not be changed.23000:14:24,039 –> 00:14:25,479Now of course if you think about it23100:14:25,479 –> 00:14:27,359in the way that systems work23200:14:27,359 –> 00:14:30,679some people probably found that very useful23300:14:30,679 –> 00:14:32,799because the fact that the Pharisees protected23400:14:32,799 –> 00:14:35,760that Korban vow could never be changed23500:14:35,760 –> 00:14:38,039kind of took the pressure off anyone23600:14:38,039 –> 00:14:39,919feeling that perhaps they ought to change it.23700:14:39,919 –> 00:14:41,979That’s how systems work isn’t it?23800:14:43,239 –> 00:14:45,679By the way this is a good example23900:14:46,619 –> 00:14:50,099of Christ holding accountable24000:14:50,099 –> 00:14:55,099men and women who create and uphold systems24100:14:55,200 –> 00:14:57,640that are fundamentally unjust.24200:14:57,640 –> 00:14:59,419This was the Pharisee’s program24300:15:00,460 –> 00:15:05,460and it mitigated, it contradicted hearts of compassion24400:15:08,239 –> 00:15:10,440and Jesus holds them accountable24500:15:10,440 –> 00:15:13,840for what they had created and for the effects of it.24600:15:15,859 –> 00:15:19,440Now very simply then, the Korban program24700:15:19,440 –> 00:15:22,739was a way of tying up money24800:15:22,739 –> 00:15:24,559so that it was no longer available24900:15:24,559 –> 00:15:28,840to meet a particular or even an obvious need.25000:15:28,840 –> 00:15:31,539Money that could have been used25100:15:31,539 –> 00:15:35,799to assist someone God had placed very close25200:15:35,799 –> 00:15:38,140to a person was restricted25300:15:38,140 –> 00:15:41,380and because it was restricted it was thereby protected25400:15:41,380 –> 00:15:43,780so that it could not be released25500:15:43,780 –> 00:15:45,619and a son could say to his father,25600:15:45,619 –> 00:15:48,780I’d really love to help you but I really can’t25700:15:48,780 –> 00:15:54,619because you see it’s all tied up.25800:15:55,880 –> 00:15:57,960That was then, what about now?25900:15:57,979 –> 00:16:00,979We’ll come back in just a moment and find out.26000:16:00,979 –> 00:16:02,380You’re listening to Open The Bible26100:16:02,380 –> 00:16:04,159with Pastor Colin Smith26200:16:04,159 –> 00:16:05,799and a message called26300:16:05,799 –> 00:16:09,059Jesus Cleanses The Hearts Of His People26400:16:09,059 –> 00:16:11,299If you’ve missed any of the messages26500:16:11,299 –> 00:16:13,299in this series which is called26600:16:13,299 –> 00:16:15,099The Gospel According To Jesus26700:16:15,119 –> 00:16:18,479You can always catch up or go back and listen again online26800:16:18,479 –> 00:16:22,159come to our web site www.openthebible.org.uk26900:16:22,159 –> 00:16:24,580and either listen to the programs online27000:16:24,580 –> 00:16:26,940or follow the link to a podcast version27100:16:26,940 –> 00:16:28,700of Pastor Colin’s messages27200:16:28,700 –> 00:16:31,000Those are on all the major podcast sites27300:16:31,000 –> 00:16:32,960and you can easily find them by following27400:16:32,960 –> 00:16:34,659the link on our website27500:16:34,659 –> 00:16:37,719Maybe you consider yourself a sceptic27600:16:37,719 –> 00:16:39,979you haven’t exactly accepted Jesus27700:16:39,979 –> 00:16:41,979but you haven’t rejected him either27800:16:41,979 –> 00:16:43,780you have questions27900:16:43,780 –> 00:16:45,900what would Jesus say to you?28000:16:45,900 –> 00:16:48,260Well, we can find out in the Bible28100:16:48,260 –> 00:16:50,859Jesus took time to talk to sceptics28200:16:50,859 –> 00:16:52,080and even better28300:16:52,080 –> 00:16:53,960he offered them a route to faith28400:16:53,960 –> 00:16:56,960That’s the subject of Pastor Colin’s new booklet28500:16:56,960 –> 00:16:59,419What Jesus Says to Sceptics28600:16:59,419 –> 00:17:00,900This month we’re offering28700:17:00,900 –> 00:17:02,700five copies of that booklet28800:17:02,700 –> 00:17:04,819to anyone who’s able to begin a new28900:17:04,819 –> 00:17:07,500direct debit to the work of Open the Bible29000:17:07,500 –> 00:17:10,280in the amount of £5 per month or more29100:17:10,280 –> 00:17:13,319or a one-time gift of £5029200:17:13,359 –> 00:17:15,880More details later on in the broadcast29300:17:15,880 –> 00:17:17,339so I hope you’ll stay with us29400:17:17,339 –> 00:17:18,880Back to the message now29500:17:18,880 –> 00:17:20,160Here’s Colin29600:17:20,300 –> 00:17:21,819Now you know in first glance29700:17:21,819 –> 00:17:23,239you read through Mark chapter 729800:17:23,239 –> 00:17:24,979you think this is a you know29900:17:24,979 –> 00:17:26,900light years away from where we are today30000:17:26,900 –> 00:17:27,900The more I’ve looked at it30100:17:27,900 –> 00:17:30,479the more I’ve become absolutely convicted that30200:17:30,479 –> 00:17:34,079it raises some really important questions for us30300:17:34,079 –> 00:17:35,239and they’re issues that30400:17:35,239 –> 00:17:39,060everyone of us in this century faces30500:17:39,880 –> 00:17:45,239The biggest stewardship decisions of your life30600:17:45,239 –> 00:17:50,619are not the decisions about how much you will give30700:17:50,619 –> 00:17:54,560The biggest stewardship decisions of your life30800:17:54,560 –> 00:17:57,140will be the decisions you make about30900:17:57,140 –> 00:17:59,319how much you tie up31000:17:59,319 –> 00:18:03,560so that you cannot give it31100:18:03,560 –> 00:18:05,400and these are questions honestly31200:18:05,400 –> 00:18:06,680that all of us face31300:18:06,680 –> 00:18:10,160and on which we have to make judgements31400:18:10,160 –> 00:18:12,219How much of what you have31500:18:12,219 –> 00:18:18,500should you tie up in a house?31600:18:18,500 –> 00:18:25,140How much should you tie up in your pension?31700:18:25,140 –> 00:18:30,780How much should you tie up in a venture?31800:18:30,780 –> 00:18:32,839Or in travel?31900:18:32,839 –> 00:18:33,979Or in sports?32000:18:33,979 –> 00:18:35,040Or in interests?32100:18:35,599 –> 00:18:38,579Or in pleasures?32200:18:38,579 –> 00:18:43,439These are discipleship decisions32300:18:43,439 –> 00:18:48,660because what you tie up you cannot release32400:18:48,660 –> 00:18:51,160so the great decisions we’re making32500:18:51,160 –> 00:18:53,280are not kind of belated decisions32600:18:53,280 –> 00:18:55,420about you know, should I give this or this32700:18:55,420 –> 00:18:57,699The real decisions are being made32800:18:57,699 –> 00:19:00,439when we are determining what we tie up32900:19:00,520 –> 00:19:05,699When we tie up we cannot release33000:19:05,699 –> 00:19:08,300And as you move through life33100:19:08,300 –> 00:19:10,439if having money is more important to you33200:19:10,439 –> 00:19:11,939than meeting needs33300:19:11,939 –> 00:19:13,280This is what will happen33400:19:13,280 –> 00:19:16,739you will find ways of tying up33500:19:16,739 –> 00:19:17,880more and more money33600:19:17,880 –> 00:19:21,020so that you have less available33700:19:21,020 –> 00:19:22,880to meet the needs of the very people33800:19:22,880 –> 00:19:25,579that God has placed around you33900:19:25,579 –> 00:19:28,400because it’s all protected34000:19:28,400 –> 00:19:31,199and restricted34100:19:31,199 –> 00:19:33,900and corbanned34200:19:33,900 –> 00:19:38,599and tied up34300:19:38,599 –> 00:19:40,699Now nothing to do with a message today34400:19:40,699 –> 00:19:43,599but I just so happened to have a conversation34500:19:43,599 –> 00:19:47,300this week with someone in the congregation here34600:19:47,300 –> 00:19:50,040and we’re talking about whether he would apply34700:19:50,040 –> 00:19:51,400for another job and so forth34800:19:51,400 –> 00:19:53,000and so on and the various issues34900:19:53,000 –> 00:19:56,000and then we got on to talk about35000:19:56,000 –> 00:19:59,199where he was living and he said35100:19:59,199 –> 00:20:00,699you know35200:20:00,699 –> 00:20:03,800we are at the stage where the natural thing35300:20:03,800 –> 00:20:06,199for my wife, for our kids, would be35400:20:06,199 –> 00:20:11,400for us to move up to a larger house35500:20:11,400 –> 00:20:13,500but he said honestly35600:20:13,500 –> 00:20:15,900we don’t need to do that35700:20:15,900 –> 00:20:17,099and we’ve talked about it35800:20:17,099 –> 00:20:20,800and we’ve decided that we’re not going to do that35900:20:20,800 –> 00:20:23,000and for him36000:20:23,099 –> 00:20:27,400this was a discipleship decision36100:20:27,400 –> 00:20:30,099that was motivated by the desire to use36200:20:30,099 –> 00:20:32,800the larger amounts of money that were now becoming available36300:20:32,800 –> 00:20:36,099as he was getting well-well down in paying off his mortgage36400:20:36,099 –> 00:20:39,300a desire to use what was becoming available36500:20:39,300 –> 00:20:40,900for ministry36600:20:40,900 –> 00:20:44,300rather than tying up more and more and more36700:20:44,300 –> 00:20:48,800as the years move forward in his life36800:20:48,800 –> 00:20:50,199now let me say this very clearly36900:20:50,400 –> 00:20:53,900we must be very careful37000:20:53,900 –> 00:20:56,500that we do not judge our brother37100:20:56,500 –> 00:20:58,199or our sister in this matter37200:20:58,199 –> 00:21:00,800and if you’re immediately thinking about37300:21:00,800 –> 00:21:03,400someone else who you think has tied up too much37400:21:03,400 –> 00:21:06,699then you’re seeing a speck of sawdust in someone else’s life37500:21:06,699 –> 00:21:08,599there’s very probably in Jesus’ words37600:21:08,599 –> 00:21:11,099a plank of wood in your own37700:21:11,099 –> 00:21:12,199Okay37800:21:14,699 –> 00:21:18,400but we must be rigorous37900:21:18,400 –> 00:21:21,000in examining ourselves38000:21:21,000 –> 00:21:24,699on the really big stewardship decisions38100:21:24,699 –> 00:21:28,599which are the decisions about how much you tie up38200:21:28,599 –> 00:21:29,900because38300:21:29,900 –> 00:21:32,000what you tie up38400:21:32,000 –> 00:21:37,900you cannot release38500:21:37,900 –> 00:21:39,900By the way38600:21:39,900 –> 00:21:40,760this is38700:21:40,760 –> 00:21:44,599one of the biggest reasons and motivations38800:21:44,599 –> 00:21:48,199for getting out of debt38900:21:48,400 –> 00:21:53,599the last thing in the world you want in your life39000:21:53,599 –> 00:21:59,500is for your resources to be core banned on a credit card39100:21:59,500 –> 00:22:00,699right?39200:22:02,400 –> 00:22:04,800And you honor God39300:22:04,800 –> 00:22:06,699if you’re in that position39400:22:07,199 –> 00:22:12,000by getting out of that as quickly as you possibly can39500:22:12,800 –> 00:22:18,900and you honor God by staying out of that as vigorously39600:22:18,900 –> 00:22:20,699as you possibly can39700:22:22,199 –> 00:22:28,099So that what God has trusted to you may be wisely stewarded39800:22:28,099 –> 00:22:31,699and you may be in a position to use39900:22:31,699 –> 00:22:33,500what has been trusted to you40000:22:34,599 –> 00:22:38,300as expressions of loving God with all your heart40100:22:38,300 –> 00:22:40,900and loving your neighbor40200:22:41,800 –> 00:22:44,800as much as you love yourself40300:22:45,300 –> 00:22:47,500A great reminder there from Pastor Colin40400:22:47,500 –> 00:22:49,599that if your heart is going to be cleansed40500:22:49,599 –> 00:22:52,500you must measure it by the right standard40600:22:52,500 –> 00:22:53,400Our message is40700:22:53,400 –> 00:22:56,400Jesus cleanses the hearts of his people40800:22:56,400 –> 00:22:58,900It’s from a wider series called40900:22:58,900 –> 00:23:00,599The Gospel according to Jesus41000:23:00,599 –> 00:23:03,099and if you’ve ever missed any of the series41100:23:03,099 –> 00:23:04,199don’t forget, you can41200:23:04,199 –> 00:23:05,900catch up or go back and listen again41300:23:05,900 –> 00:23:07,699online at our website41400:23:07,699 –> 00:23:10,599OpenTheBible.org.uk41500:23:11,099 –> 00:23:14,099Also on our website and available as a podcast41600:23:14,099 –> 00:23:16,099is open the Bible daily41700:23:16,099 –> 00:23:17,900That’s our series of short41800:23:17,900 –> 00:23:20,300two to three minute daily reflections41900:23:20,300 –> 00:23:22,199based on Pastor Colin’s teaching42000:23:22,199 –> 00:23:25,199and read in the UK by Sue MacLeish42100:23:25,300 –> 00:23:27,400Open the Bible is supported by our listeners42200:23:27,400 –> 00:23:29,400and it’s your financial support42300:23:29,400 –> 00:23:32,000that keeps Pastor Colin’s teaching on the air42400:23:32,000 –> 00:23:34,000So thank you if you already give42500:23:34,000 –> 00:23:36,199to support Open the Bible42600:23:36,199 –> 00:23:37,699If you don’t already give42700:23:37,699 –> 00:23:39,599but that’s something you’d like to do42800:23:39,599 –> 00:23:41,300this month we have an offer for you42900:23:41,300 –> 00:23:43,699If you’re able to set up a new direct debit43000:23:43,699 –> 00:23:46,199to the work of Open the Bible this month43100:23:46,199 –> 00:23:48,800in the amount of £5 per month or more43200:23:48,800 –> 00:23:51,900or a one off gift of £50 or more43300:23:51,900 –> 00:23:53,300we’d love to say thank you43400:23:53,300 –> 00:23:55,000by sending you five copies43500:23:55,000 –> 00:23:56,300of Pastor Colin’s new booklet43600:23:56,300 –> 00:23:58,400What Jesus says to skeptics43700:23:58,400 –> 00:24:00,099that’s one copy for you to read43800:24:00,099 –> 00:24:03,500and 4 to give away to your friends and family43900:24:03,500 –> 00:24:05,800Colin, there may be someone who is listening today44000:24:05,800 –> 00:24:08,500who is a skeptic when it comes to the Christian faith44100:24:09,099 –> 00:24:11,500How would this booklet be helpful to them?44200:24:11,500 –> 00:24:13,300Well I think the first thing is44300:24:13,300 –> 00:24:14,800that a skeptic might think44400:24:14,800 –> 00:24:18,199Well, because I don’t yet believe44500:24:18,199 –> 00:24:20,300Jesus Christ is not going to have very much time for me44600:24:20,300 –> 00:24:22,400But what we find in the gospels44700:24:22,400 –> 00:24:26,199is that Jesus cared very very deeply about skeptics44800:24:26,199 –> 00:24:30,000He spent time with people who had honest questions44900:24:30,000 –> 00:24:33,099and engaged with them at a very deep level45000:24:33,099 –> 00:24:36,199and He offered them a pathway to faith45100:24:36,300 –> 00:24:39,500So if you or someone you know is a skeptic45200:24:39,500 –> 00:24:41,500this is an opportunity for you45300:24:41,500 –> 00:24:44,000to hear what Jesus has to say to you45400:24:44,000 –> 00:24:47,400We’d love to send you five copies of Pastor Colin’s booklet45500:24:47,400 –> 00:24:49,500What Jesus says to skeptics45600:24:49,500 –> 00:24:52,800as our way to say thank you for your financial support45700:24:52,800 –> 00:24:55,900You can find out more including full terms and conditions45800:24:55,900 –> 00:25:00,699and give online at openthebible.org.uk45900:25:00,699 –> 00:25:03,099For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith46000:25:03,099 –> 00:25:04,099I am David Pick46100:25:04,099 –> 00:25:07,160And I hope you’ll be able to join us again next time46200:25:11,959 –> 00:25:16,160What are the greatest challenges to Christians living a holy life?46300:25:16,160 –> 00:25:19,760Find out why it’s not Hollywood or the Internet46400:25:19,760 –> 00:25:22,359That’s next time on Open the Bible