100:00:00,820 –> 00:00:02,820I200:00:03,300 –> 00:00:09,340Wonder if you have come to a wonderfully decisive place in your own life of saying I300:00:10,260 –> 00:00:13,560Have reached this conclusion, and I take this stand400:00:13,560 –> 00:00:19,520This is my conviction and I stake my eternity on it that Jesus is the Christ500:00:20,440 –> 00:00:23,959Welcome to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick600:00:24,040 –> 00:00:26,920Glad you could be with us today and in the message700:00:26,920 –> 00:00:33,700We continued today to look at mark seven and eight about how Jesus gives sight to his people and Colin800:00:33,700 –> 00:00:37,480We’ve been hearing how Jesus slowly begins to reveal his purposes900:00:37,680 –> 00:00:41,759To his followers and we see Peter saying you are the Christ1000:00:41,980 –> 00:00:47,740Yeah, and this is the great moment in the center of marks Gospel. It’s like, ah, he’s got it the Eiffel’s got it1100:00:47,759 –> 00:00:55,360And the fascinating thing is that while the Holy Spirit has revealed that to Peter and it is the most marvelous confession1200:00:55,540 –> 00:01:01,020Jesus is the Christ the very next thing that happens. Is that Peter gets something completely wrong1300:01:01,020 –> 00:01:05,820He says to Jesus now. You’re not gonna go to the cross Christ has to correct him now1400:01:05,820 –> 00:01:13,919Here’s a fascinating thing what that means is that as a Christian in whom the Holy Spirit dwells I am going to need correcting1500:01:13,919 –> 00:01:21,839That’s true of every Christian and the way in which Christ corrects us is not by intuition and by impulse but by his Word1600:01:22,180 –> 00:01:23,239It strikes me1700:01:23,239 –> 00:01:28,419that is why we need to be in the Word of God every day not just to have warm feelings about you know a nice1800:01:28,440 –> 00:01:30,980devotional thought that made me feel better for the day or whatever1900:01:31,500 –> 00:01:34,800but so that I can place myself under the2000:01:35,279 –> 00:01:42,080discipline of the Word of God and be corrected where I need to be corrected. The Word of God’s profitable for rebuke, correction2100:01:42,500 –> 00:01:45,680training and righteousness and it’s given to us for this purpose.2200:01:45,680 –> 00:01:46,500It is.2300:01:46,500 –> 00:01:48,599So let’s get into the word today2400:01:48,599 –> 00:01:55,580and we’re in as I say Mark chapter 7 & 8. As we continue the message Jesus gives sight to his people.2500:01:55,839 –> 00:02:00,160Here’s Colin. Let’s follow the story very simply the disciples are in the boat2600:02:00,160 –> 00:02:05,279and they’re crossing the lake with Jesus and verse 14 Mark says they’d forgotten to bring bread2700:02:05,699 –> 00:02:10,800except for one loaf that they had with them in the boat one loaf 13 men not enough for lunch.2800:02:11,740 –> 00:02:19,460And verse 15 Jesus is using this opportunity of this quiet time on in the boat on2900:02:19,460 –> 00:02:21,820the lake with his disciples to teach them.3000:02:22,339 –> 00:02:26,419And he’s teaching them about the power of evil in the world.3100:02:26,419 –> 00:02:26,860Be very careful.3200:02:26,860 –> 00:02:33,179Verse 15 he’s warned them watch out for the yeast of the pharisees and that of herod3300:02:33,179 –> 00:02:38,479yeast is often used in the Bible as a figure for evil evil influence.3400:02:39,039 –> 00:02:43,300And so he’s saying watch out for the evil influence of the Pharisees and had it.3500:02:43,320 –> 00:02:46,500Watch out for evil in the religious world and in the political world.3600:02:46,539 –> 00:02:47,419that’s what he’s saying.3700:02:49,020 –> 00:02:52,639Now think about the opportunity that the disciples have here.3800:02:54,100 –> 00:02:58,580They’re sitting in the boat a few feet from the son of God.3900:02:59,500 –> 00:03:04,240God in the flesh is so near that they could touch it4000:03:05,699 –> 00:03:14,539and he wants to teach them about how they need to beware of the spreading influence of evil within,4100:03:14,539 –> 00:03:20,699as it were, church and within society, within the religious sphere, and within the nation at large.4200:03:21,820 –> 00:03:26,240Now, you think of all the debates, all the questions, that have run through your mind perhaps and have run4300:03:26,639 –> 00:03:29,559through the mind of Christians over two thousand years,4400:03:29,559 –> 00:03:33,380that the disciples could have raised with Jesus at that moment.4500:03:33,380 –> 00:03:35,119What an opportunity!4600:03:36,240 –> 00:03:40,940But, instead of seizing that opportunity, what we find is that the disciples slide into4700:03:40,940 –> 00:03:44,800a rather pointless discussion about having no bread.4800:03:45,759 –> 00:03:50,279Verse 17, aware of their discussion, Jesus says,4900:03:50,360 –> 00:03:54,080Why are you talking about having no bread?5000:03:56,339 –> 00:03:59,100And then, I want you to hear the Scriptures here as they must5100:03:59,100 –> 00:04:02,179have heard it, surely, because from verse 17 on,5200:04:02,179 –> 00:04:06,339Jesus Christ really gives it straight to his disciples.5300:04:07,820 –> 00:04:09,740Look at what he says,5400:04:09,740 –> 00:04:13,039Do you still not see or understand?5500:04:13,039 –> 00:04:15,539Are your hearts hardened?5600:04:15,539 –> 00:04:17,019Do you have eyes but fail to see5700:04:17,019 –> 00:04:20,260and ears but fail to hear and don’t you remember?5800:04:20,260 –> 00:04:22,239When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000,5900:04:22,239 –> 00:04:26,239how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?6000:04:26,239 –> 00:04:27,980Twelve, they replied.6100:04:29,179 –> 00:04:31,140When I broke seven loaves of the 4,000,6200:04:31,140 –> 00:04:33,420how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick?6300:04:33,420 –> 00:04:35,679And the answered, Seven.6400:04:35,679 –> 00:04:39,760And he said to them, do you still not understand?6500:04:41,019 –> 00:04:44,260Well, I think there must have been a long silence6600:04:44,260 –> 00:04:47,100in the boat after that, don’t you?6700:04:50,459 –> 00:04:54,279Jesus is clearly rebuking his disciples here.6800:04:55,519 –> 00:04:59,220Now, praise God he never abandons us in that position.6900:04:59,220 –> 00:05:00,959The Lord Jesus Christ rebukes us7000:05:00,959 –> 00:05:02,359because he loves us and because7100:05:02,359 –> 00:05:04,679he wants us to move forward.7200:05:05,600 –> 00:05:08,059And if you feel that rebuke this morning,7300:05:08,059 –> 00:05:10,000then let’s follow with Jesus as to7400:05:10,000 –> 00:05:12,700where he takes the disciples after this.7500:05:12,700 –> 00:05:15,720Because in verse 27 through 30,7600:05:15,720 –> 00:05:19,459we find Peter’s great confession of faith7700:05:19,459 –> 00:05:23,160that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah.7800:05:23,160 –> 00:05:24,640This is really the center point7900:05:24,640 –> 00:05:26,040of the whole of Mark’s gospel,8000:05:26,040 –> 00:05:27,140it comes right in the middle,8100:05:27,140 –> 00:05:30,160and it is of great importance.8200:05:30,160 –> 00:05:33,079They go verse 27 to Caesarea Philippi,8300:05:33,079 –> 00:05:34,380and Jesus asks the question now,8400:05:34,380 –> 00:05:35,440what are people saying about me?8500:05:35,440 –> 00:05:37,459Who do people say that I am?8600:05:37,459 –> 00:05:39,940And they give various answers,8700:05:39,940 –> 00:05:42,059and then Jesus asks the really important question,8800:05:42,059 –> 00:05:43,640now what about you?8900:05:44,559 –> 00:05:46,899Of all you’ve learned,9000:05:46,899 –> 00:05:48,440of all you’ve heard in the church,9100:05:48,440 –> 00:05:49,459perhaps over the years,9200:05:49,459 –> 00:05:52,540what is your conclusion about Jesus?9300:05:55,220 –> 00:05:57,799And Peter, faced with this question,9400:05:57,799 –> 00:06:00,339makes this most marvelous response,9500:06:00,339 –> 00:06:03,260and I hope that it is a response that you have made,9600:06:03,260 –> 00:06:06,760or if not, that you will make today.9700:06:06,760 –> 00:06:09,100He says, you are the Christ.9800:06:12,739 –> 00:06:16,140The word Christ means Messiah, or Savior,9900:06:17,019 –> 00:06:20,100the one who has come to deliver people10000:06:20,100 –> 00:06:23,519from sin and death and hell,10100:06:24,440 –> 00:06:26,739the one who can be trusted in all these things,10200:06:26,739 –> 00:06:30,040the one who brings change in human lives10300:06:31,100 –> 00:06:33,459one who ultimately will bring the new heaven10400:06:33,459 –> 00:06:36,540and the new earth in all of its glory10500:06:36,540 –> 00:06:39,279and usher his people into the joys10600:06:39,279 –> 00:06:41,179of eternity in his presence.10700:06:41,179 –> 00:06:44,859You are the Christ.10800:06:44,859 –> 00:06:46,339This is a marvelous moment.10900:06:48,500 –> 00:06:52,040Peter has been around Jesus for a long time.11000:06:53,579 –> 00:06:57,100Just like some of us have been around11100:06:57,100 –> 00:06:59,779spiritual things for a long time.11200:07:01,339 –> 00:07:03,859But actually, this is the first time in the Gospel11300:07:03,859 –> 00:07:06,059that we have Peter or indeed any of the disciples11400:07:06,059 –> 00:07:11,059making a clear-cut decisive confession of faith.11500:07:11,779 –> 00:07:15,880Finally, halfway through the Gospel, they get it.11600:07:17,559 –> 00:07:19,739And there’s something wonderfully decisive here.11700:07:19,739 –> 00:07:21,880I wonder if you have come to a wonderfully11800:07:21,880 –> 00:07:25,959decisive place in your own life of saying,11900:07:25,959 –> 00:07:29,959I have reached this conclusion and I take this stand,12000:07:29,959 –> 00:07:33,279this is my conviction and I stake my eternity on it,12100:07:33,279 –> 00:07:36,200that Jesus is the Christ.12200:07:36,200 –> 00:07:37,920Or that if you’ve not come there12300:07:37,920 –> 00:07:39,619you would come right there today12400:07:39,660 –> 00:07:41,179and take your stand with Peter12500:07:41,179 –> 00:07:43,440and every other Christian throughout history12600:07:43,440 –> 00:07:45,200and the whole Church of God12700:07:45,200 –> 00:07:49,579and declare Jesus to be your Christ,12800:07:49,579 –> 00:07:54,579your Savior, your Lord and your Master.12900:07:56,019 –> 00:07:57,980Mark has told us right from the beginning13000:07:57,980 –> 00:07:59,640that this is what the Gospel is all about,13100:07:59,640 –> 00:08:04,640Jesus Christ, the Son of God and now halfway through,13200:08:04,720 –> 00:08:08,859the leading disciple, finally, gets it.13300:08:09,739 –> 00:08:12,220And you know, it is a saving moment.13400:08:12,220 –> 00:08:15,440When you come to confess Jesus Christ,13500:08:15,440 –> 00:08:19,200Jesus, your Savior, when you come to trust Him,13600:08:19,200 –> 00:08:24,200to believe in Him, your whole relationship with God changes.13700:08:26,899 –> 00:08:29,739Now, remember, Peter had been around Jesus,13800:08:29,739 –> 00:08:32,400had made sacrifices for Jesus, all this stuff,13900:08:33,419 –> 00:08:35,460but being around Jesus,14000:08:35,460 –> 00:08:38,039making sacrifices for Jesus doesn’t save you.14100:08:38,880 –> 00:08:43,719You are not saved by anything that you do for Jesus.14200:08:43,719 –> 00:08:46,700You are saved by what Jesus does for you,14300:08:47,640 –> 00:08:52,479and His work in your life, His saving work in your life14400:08:52,479 –> 00:08:56,320will take place as you confess Him14500:08:57,159 –> 00:09:00,479to be your Savior, and your Lord.14600:09:00,479 –> 00:09:02,719It will be a saving moment for you14700:09:02,719 –> 00:09:04,700to confess Jesus Christ today,14800:09:04,700 –> 00:09:09,020and to take your stand with Peter.14900:09:09,020 –> 00:09:11,020Have you come to make this confession?15000:09:13,419 –> 00:09:16,940Have you come to see that it is Jesus Christ15100:09:18,179 –> 00:09:20,640in whom you will find peace with God?15200:09:21,799 –> 00:09:26,320That it is Jesus Christ from whom you will find power15300:09:26,320 –> 00:09:27,940to live a new kind of life?15400:09:29,219 –> 00:09:31,479And it is Jesus Christ on whom15500:09:32,479 –> 00:09:34,080all your hopes of heaven depend.15600:09:34,080 –> 00:09:35,340It all comes from him.15700:09:36,520 –> 00:09:39,539And if you have come to believe that about Jesus Christ,15800:09:39,539 –> 00:09:41,979then you may want to come to God, even today.15900:09:41,979 –> 00:09:44,580And simply to make this kind of prayer to him,16000:09:44,580 –> 00:09:48,599you may say Lord Jesus, I believe that you are the Christ.16100:09:49,599 –> 00:09:52,280I believe that you’re the only Savior and therefore,16200:09:52,280 –> 00:09:55,020I believe that you are ready to be my Savior16300:09:55,020 –> 00:09:56,719and I ask you to be my Savior.16400:09:57,599 –> 00:10:01,760I ask you to give me peace with God through your shed blood.16500:10:03,020 –> 00:10:06,219I ask you to give me power to live a new and different life16600:10:06,219 –> 00:10:08,900that I don’t have of myself but you can give me that,16700:10:08,900 –> 00:10:10,599I believe that by your spirit.16800:10:11,820 –> 00:10:15,599And I ask you to walk with me from this day through my life16900:10:15,599 –> 00:10:19,700and then bring me safely into your presence in heaven17000:10:19,700 –> 00:10:23,159and I’m gonna trust you for these things17100:10:23,159 –> 00:10:26,479because you are the Christ and this is what I believe17200:10:26,479 –> 00:10:31,239and I put my trust in you as my savior today.17300:10:31,239 –> 00:10:36,239Now, if you will do that it will be a saving moment for you17400:10:37,679 –> 00:10:39,020and it will be the beginning17500:10:39,020 –> 00:10:42,880of a whole new relationship with God17600:10:42,880 –> 00:10:45,719and a whole new direction in your life17700:10:46,760 –> 00:10:51,760as Jesus Christ is your Lord and your savior.17800:10:52,299 –> 00:10:53,140Savior.17900:10:55,239 –> 00:10:59,619Now, let’s go back to the story of the blind man18000:10:59,619 –> 00:11:00,859and pick up the thread.18100:11:03,239 –> 00:11:05,799Remember that there were two stages in the miracle.18200:11:07,200 –> 00:11:10,900There’s a man who doesn’t see, then he sees in part,18300:11:11,940 –> 00:11:15,200then when Christ touches his eyes a second time18400:11:15,200 –> 00:11:16,799he sees clearly.18500:11:18,679 –> 00:11:20,679Now, we said that Jesus is using this18600:11:20,719 –> 00:11:23,520to illustrate what is happening in the disciples.18700:11:24,599 –> 00:11:25,840When they’re in the boat with Jesus,18800:11:25,840 –> 00:11:27,500clearly they’re just not seeing.18900:11:29,080 –> 00:11:30,919When they make this great confession19000:11:30,919 –> 00:11:34,159that Jesus is the Christ, where would you place them?19100:11:35,799 –> 00:11:38,340Would you say that at this point in verse 2919200:11:38,340 –> 00:11:40,460they are seeing in part,19300:11:41,640 –> 00:11:44,599or would you say that they are seeing clearly?19400:11:46,619 –> 00:11:48,119Let’s expand the question.19500:11:48,119 –> 00:11:51,619When you come to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,19600:11:51,619 –> 00:11:53,280where would you put yourself?19700:11:55,219 –> 00:11:56,979Would you put yourself when you come19800:11:56,979 –> 00:11:59,239to saving faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ,19900:11:59,239 –> 00:12:01,299would you put yourself in the position20000:12:01,299 –> 00:12:04,000of someone who sees in part?20100:12:05,580 –> 00:12:07,700Or would you regard yourself20200:12:07,700 –> 00:12:10,659as being someone who now sees clearly?20300:12:11,739 –> 00:12:13,900This is a very important question,20400:12:13,900 –> 00:12:17,359and it has huge practical outworkings20500:12:17,359 –> 00:12:20,400as we’re going to see in just a moment’s time.20600:12:20,400 –> 00:12:24,359You’re listening to The Message Jesus gives sight20700:12:24,359 –> 00:12:25,599to His people.20800:12:25,599 –> 00:12:28,320It’s Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith20900:12:28,320 –> 00:12:30,919and if you’ve missed any of The Message today21000:12:30,919 –> 00:12:33,119or if you’ve missed any of the earlier messages21100:12:33,119 –> 00:12:35,599in the series, don’t forget you can always21200:12:35,599 –> 00:12:37,760go to our website and listen back21300:12:37,760 –> 00:12:40,500to any of the previously broadcast messages.21400:12:40,500 –> 00:12:45,320Our website address is OpenTheBible.org.UK.21500:12:45,320 –> 00:12:46,400Back to The Message now,21600:12:46,520 –> 00:12:49,359we’re in Mark seven and eight, here’s Colin.21700:12:49,359 –> 00:12:52,000I have to say I look at Peter’s great confession here,21800:12:52,000 –> 00:12:54,979You are the Christ, and I thought,21900:12:54,979 –> 00:12:56,520oh this is marvelous, he sees clearly.22000:12:56,520 –> 00:12:58,859I want to put him in the see clearly category.22100:13:00,440 –> 00:13:02,859But then let’s read on just a few verses22200:13:02,859 –> 00:13:05,340and we’ll see where the truth lies.22300:13:05,340 –> 00:13:09,460Verse 31, Jesus began to teach them22400:13:09,460 –> 00:13:12,840that the son of man must suffer many things.22500:13:12,840 –> 00:13:16,119Verse 32 he spoke plainly about this22600:13:16,200 –> 00:13:18,780and Peter took him aside,22700:13:18,780 –> 00:13:20,659and Peter began to rebuke him.22800:13:22,080 –> 00:13:24,159When Jesus turned and looked at his disciple,22900:13:24,159 –> 00:13:25,320he rebuked Peter.23000:13:25,320 –> 00:13:26,400Get behind me, Satan.23100:13:26,400 –> 00:13:30,140He said, you do not have in mind the things of God,23200:13:31,400 –> 00:13:32,979but the things of men.23300:13:32,979 –> 00:13:34,780It’s kind of a great let down, isn’t it?23400:13:34,780 –> 00:13:38,719This marvelous confession of saving faith.23500:13:40,539 –> 00:13:42,239And then immediately he goes and23600:13:43,640 –> 00:13:46,059tries to correct Jesus and blows it23700:13:46,700 –> 00:13:50,219and shows us, he doesn’t see that clearly at all.23800:13:52,119 –> 00:13:54,219So I think it’s very obvious here23900:13:54,219 –> 00:13:55,960that what we have in these verses24000:13:55,960 –> 00:14:00,479is Jesus correcting disciples who really only see in part.24100:14:01,479 –> 00:14:03,119And that is the position that Peter is in,24200:14:03,119 –> 00:14:05,700and that is the position that you and I are in24300:14:05,700 –> 00:14:08,960throughout our lives in this world.24400:14:08,960 –> 00:14:11,119Peter has been given this wonderful light24500:14:11,119 –> 00:14:13,559of knowing that Jesus is the Christ.24600:14:14,539 –> 00:14:18,380He feels so confident about his new understanding24700:14:18,380 –> 00:14:19,820that he now thinks he’s in a position24800:14:19,820 –> 00:14:21,580to tell Jesus what to do.24900:14:23,659 –> 00:14:25,820And of course the first lesson that he learns here25000:14:25,820 –> 00:14:28,219is that, having trusted Jesus as his savior,25100:14:28,219 –> 00:14:30,780he must take Jesus as his teacher.25200:14:31,859 –> 00:14:35,260The spirit is indeed at work in his life,25300:14:35,260 –> 00:14:39,859but he needs to be guided by the word of Christ.25400:14:39,880 –> 00:14:44,020He needs to be guided by the word of God.25500:14:45,840 –> 00:14:48,400And for anyone who becomes a new Christian,25600:14:48,400 –> 00:14:49,840this is one of the most important25700:14:49,840 –> 00:14:51,979early lessons for us to learn.25800:14:52,880 –> 00:14:54,320When you become a new Christian,25900:14:54,320 –> 00:14:56,659you say, everything seems wonderfully new.26000:14:56,659 –> 00:14:58,760Boy, I’ve suddenly got this understanding,26100:14:58,760 –> 00:15:02,059this light of faith, I’ve come to be one of God’s people.26200:15:02,059 –> 00:15:05,159I’ve been converted, the Holy Spirit lives within me.26300:15:05,159 –> 00:15:07,580And you can easily slide into thinking26400:15:07,580 –> 00:15:09,960that every impulse and every thought that you have26500:15:09,960 –> 00:15:11,219therefore comes from God.26600:15:12,200 –> 00:15:15,159Trust your gut, your gut will never take you too far wrong.26700:15:15,159 –> 00:15:16,260Well, often it will.26800:15:17,299 –> 00:15:21,640And that’s exactly what we learn from Peter here.26900:15:22,520 –> 00:15:26,419He needs to be guided by the word of God.27000:15:26,419 –> 00:15:28,619He needs to submit all his ideas27100:15:28,619 –> 00:15:30,520about what God ought to be doing,27200:15:30,520 –> 00:15:32,559and he has many ideas about that,27300:15:32,559 –> 00:15:35,520to the word of the Lord Jesus Christ27400:15:35,859 –> 00:15:38,580who will tell him what is true.27500:15:39,919 –> 00:15:43,559See, when you come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,27600:15:44,919 –> 00:15:49,919you see some things, but you don’t see all things,27700:15:51,900 –> 00:15:54,200and it’s very important to grasp that.27800:15:55,760 –> 00:15:57,140Paul makes it clear to us27900:15:57,140 –> 00:15:59,719in Second Corinthians chapter five and verse seven.28000:15:59,719 –> 00:16:01,500Do you remember what he says there?28100:16:01,559 –> 00:16:06,559We walk by faith and not by, not by sight, not by sight.28200:16:11,419 –> 00:16:14,520We do not see everything clearly in this world.28300:16:16,419 –> 00:16:20,340Or, First Corinthians in chapter 13 and verse 12.28400:16:20,340 –> 00:16:21,760Remember Paul says there,28500:16:21,760 –> 00:16:26,760we see, but a poor reflection in a mirror.28600:16:27,900 –> 00:16:31,340Only then, when Christ comes,28700:16:31,340 –> 00:16:34,619will we see face to face.28800:16:34,619 –> 00:16:38,260But right now he says, here’s what our sight is like,28900:16:38,260 –> 00:16:42,960it’s like looking in a first century bad mirror,29000:16:42,960 –> 00:16:45,280which would give you a very poor reflection.29100:16:48,419 –> 00:16:51,039That’s what our experience is like in this world.29200:16:52,659 –> 00:16:55,080Paul says I know in part,29300:16:55,080 –> 00:16:57,500the Apostle Paul with all the revelation given to him,29400:16:57,500 –> 00:16:59,099he says I know in part,29500:16:59,400 –> 00:17:01,260but only then shall I know fully,29600:17:01,260 –> 00:17:04,040even as now I am fully known.29700:17:04,040 –> 00:17:07,000So a proper grasp of the gospel29800:17:08,020 –> 00:17:11,239will give you both the confidence29900:17:11,239 –> 00:17:14,800to know that you can trust Christ in all things,30000:17:14,800 –> 00:17:18,500and the humility to recognize there are many things30100:17:18,500 –> 00:17:21,140that he has not yet revealed.30200:17:21,140 –> 00:17:25,339And we need both faith’s confidence and faith’s humility.30300:17:25,339 –> 00:17:26,819Without faith’s humility,30400:17:26,819 –> 00:17:29,920we become arrogant and nobody will listen to us.30500:17:30,859 –> 00:17:33,579Without faith’s confidence, we become agnostic30600:17:33,579 –> 00:17:35,400and we don’t have anything to say.30700:17:36,599 –> 00:17:40,459So let us have great confidence in what God has revealed.30800:17:40,459 –> 00:17:45,459Jesus is the Christ, I know whom I have believed.30900:17:47,619 –> 00:17:49,979I know that my Redeemer lives.31000:17:51,339 –> 00:17:54,459There is an affirmation of faith31100:17:54,459 –> 00:17:56,780that is sufficient for life.31200:17:56,780 –> 00:18:00,420That is given to us through what God has revealed31300:18:00,420 –> 00:18:01,500in the scriptures.31400:18:01,500 –> 00:18:06,099But please, let us not for a moment imagine31500:18:07,319 –> 00:18:11,280that God will reveal all things to us.31600:18:13,180 –> 00:18:15,380See, if you think that you’re going to be able31700:18:15,380 –> 00:18:18,300to work out how every pain and every suffering31800:18:18,300 –> 00:18:22,180and every trauma and every evil31900:18:22,180 –> 00:18:24,800that God permits within the world32000:18:24,800 –> 00:18:28,160how all of this is being worked together to God’s glory,32100:18:28,160 –> 00:18:30,300if you expect to see all of that right now,32200:18:30,300 –> 00:18:32,400you will be desperately disappointed.32300:18:34,020 –> 00:18:36,040We do not see all things clearly.32400:18:37,979 –> 00:18:41,719The promise is, that one day we will32500:18:42,699 –> 00:18:46,339when Christ comes in power and in glory.32600:18:46,339 –> 00:18:47,599Then we will see clearly.32700:18:48,579 –> 00:18:51,939Until that day, we walk by faith not by sight32800:18:52,920 –> 00:18:56,680putting our confidence in what Christ has revealed to us,32900:18:56,680 –> 00:18:59,199but exercising humility to say33000:18:59,199 –> 00:19:03,119that there is so much that we do not yet know.33100:19:04,239 –> 00:19:06,239And that is why just like the disciples,33200:19:06,239 –> 00:19:11,239we need to be constantly corrected by the word of God.33300:19:11,880 –> 00:19:13,319That’s what Peter needed here33400:19:14,219 –> 00:19:16,760and thought he knew more than he did33500:19:16,760 –> 00:19:19,160and he needed the word of Christ to correct him.33600:19:20,060 –> 00:19:24,459Here’s a question worth pondering just for a moment.33700:19:24,459 –> 00:19:28,000Are you living in the word of God enough33800:19:28,000 –> 00:19:30,520to be corrected by it?33900:19:30,520 –> 00:19:33,400You say, how much do I need to be in the word of God?34000:19:34,359 –> 00:19:37,579Amongst other things, you need to be in the word of God34100:19:37,579 –> 00:19:39,719enough to be corrected by it.34200:19:41,880 –> 00:19:46,260Enough so that where you’re thinking is off,34300:19:47,140 –> 00:19:51,760God may speak to you and bring you back online by His Word,34400:19:51,760 –> 00:19:53,599it is for this purpose it’s been given,34500:19:53,599 –> 00:19:55,479for teaching, rebuking, correcting,34600:19:55,479 –> 00:19:56,900and training in righteousness.34700:19:58,939 –> 00:20:03,079And if you are a disciple who is not in the word of God,34800:20:03,079 –> 00:20:04,319here’s what will happen.34900:20:04,319 –> 00:20:05,880You’ll just trust all your instincts,35000:20:05,880 –> 00:20:07,000you’ll assume that they’re all God35100:20:07,000 –> 00:20:08,239speaking to you and leading you,35200:20:08,239 –> 00:20:10,280and you will end up a long way off track35300:20:11,920 –> 00:20:14,619because you’re operating as if you see everything clearly35400:20:14,619 –> 00:20:16,119and you don’t.35500:20:16,939 –> 00:20:17,839None of us do.35600:20:19,520 –> 00:20:22,079We need the correction of the word of God35700:20:22,079 –> 00:20:25,040throughout our pilgrimage in this life.35800:20:25,920 –> 00:20:28,520So there’s a rebuke for disciples who don’t see,35900:20:28,520 –> 00:20:31,199there is correction for disciples who see in part,36000:20:31,199 –> 00:20:35,900and need to remember that we only see in part,36100:20:35,900 –> 00:20:38,540but then there is a wonderful promise,36200:20:38,540 –> 00:20:40,400and this just in this last moment,36300:20:41,760 –> 00:20:45,719for disciples who will, one day, see clearly.36400:20:45,719 –> 00:20:48,339And it comes right at the end of the chapter here,36500:20:48,339 –> 00:20:51,300when in verse 38 Jesus speaks of the day36600:20:51,300 –> 00:20:53,300when the Son of man will come36700:20:53,300 –> 00:20:57,060in his father’s glory with all his holy angels.36800:20:57,060 –> 00:20:59,000And then he says in chapter nine in verse one,36900:20:59,000 –> 00:21:00,660I tell you the truth,37000:21:00,660 –> 00:21:03,420some of you who are standing here37100:21:03,420 –> 00:21:05,680will not taste death before they see37200:21:05,680 –> 00:21:08,060the kingdom of God come with power.37300:21:09,819 –> 00:21:13,180Now Jesus is referring here to the transfiguration,37400:21:13,180 –> 00:21:16,959where Peter, James and John saw his glory,37500:21:16,959 –> 00:21:19,459but of course the whole point of the transfiguration37600:21:19,459 –> 00:21:22,140is that they had a glimpse37700:21:22,140 –> 00:21:26,180of what every believer will one day see37800:21:26,180 –> 00:21:28,780when Christ comes for his people37900:21:28,780 –> 00:21:33,560and his glory is wonderfully revealed.38000:21:33,560 –> 00:21:38,260Now we see in part.38100:21:39,140 –> 00:21:45,699Now, there are some questions to which you have no answers.38200:21:45,699 –> 00:21:50,040Now there are issues where you say,38300:21:50,040 –> 00:21:52,599I believe that God works in all things for good,38400:21:52,599 –> 00:21:56,800but I just can’t see how he’s doing it here.38500:21:56,800 –> 00:21:59,140That’s what it is to walk by faith and not by sight,38600:21:59,140 –> 00:22:00,939if you could see how he’s doing it here,38700:22:00,939 –> 00:22:05,219you wouldn’t need faith anymore.38800:22:05,219 –> 00:22:08,800But the promise is that a day is soon coming38900:22:08,800 –> 00:22:11,459when faith will be turned to sight39000:22:11,459 –> 00:22:13,160and we will not simply believe39100:22:13,160 –> 00:22:15,400that he works in all things for our good.39200:22:15,400 –> 00:22:18,979We will see that it was so.39300:22:21,420 –> 00:22:25,839Don that day, every question you have ever had for God39400:22:25,839 –> 00:22:28,859as a Christian believer will be answered.39500:22:28,859 –> 00:22:30,660On that day, the Bible says,39600:22:30,660 –> 00:22:34,280God will wipe every tear from your eyes.39700:22:34,280 –> 00:22:36,900And on that day when he does it,39800:22:36,900 –> 00:22:41,900you will say now I see clearly.39900:22:45,119 –> 00:22:48,579And when you see clearly with all the people of God,40000:22:49,719 –> 00:22:52,180we will rejoice and praise Him40100:22:53,359 –> 00:22:57,319that he has done everything well.40200:22:58,859 –> 00:23:00,640You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith40300:23:00,640 –> 00:23:02,339on Open the Bible and the message40400:23:02,479 –> 00:23:05,479called Jesus gives sight to His people.40500:23:05,479 –> 00:23:08,760It’s part of our series, The Gospel According to Jesus,40600:23:08,760 –> 00:23:10,219and if you ever want to catch up40700:23:10,219 –> 00:23:12,239with one of the messages that you might have missed40800:23:12,239 –> 00:23:13,780or go back and listen again,40900:23:13,780 –> 00:23:16,260you can do that online at our website,41000:23:16,260 –> 00:23:17,459openthebible.org.uk.41100:23:20,020 –> 00:23:22,579Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners,41200:23:22,579 –> 00:23:24,619that’s people just like you,41300:23:24,619 –> 00:23:27,920and we’re very grateful for the support you give us.41400:23:27,920 –> 00:23:29,699If you’re thinking about supporting41500:23:29,699 –> 00:23:31,699Open the Bible in this way,41600:23:31,699 –> 00:23:34,020we have an offer for you this month.41700:23:34,020 –> 00:23:36,540If you’re able to set up a new direct debit41800:23:36,540 –> 00:23:39,420in the amount of five pounds per month or more,41900:23:39,420 –> 00:23:42,339or give a one-off gift of £50 or more,42000:23:42,339 –> 00:23:43,920we’d love to say thank you42100:23:43,920 –> 00:23:47,619by sending you five copies of Pastor Colin’s new booklet,42200:23:47,619 –> 00:23:49,760What Jesus says to Skeptics.42300:23:49,760 –> 00:23:51,459That’s one copy for you,42400:23:51,459 –> 00:23:54,560and four copies to give away to your friends and family.42500:23:54,560 –> 00:23:55,380Colin,42600:23:55,380 –> 00:23:57,119who is this booklet for?42700:23:57,119 –> 00:23:58,400Well, people have always42800:23:58,400 –> 00:24:01,060had very different reactions to Jesus.42900:24:01,219 –> 00:24:02,540Some are committed followers,43000:24:02,540 –> 00:24:05,260others are hardcore opponents.43100:24:05,260 –> 00:24:06,420But there’ll be many people43200:24:06,420 –> 00:24:08,540who are listening to the programme today43300:24:08,540 –> 00:24:10,479who would identify with neither of these things.43400:24:10,479 –> 00:24:12,300You’re not particularly committed to Jesus,43500:24:12,300 –> 00:24:14,060you haven’t rejected Him, either.43600:24:14,060 –> 00:24:16,140You do have questions.43700:24:16,140 –> 00:24:18,260And this booklet is for you.43800:24:18,260 –> 00:24:20,099And for others listening,43900:24:20,099 –> 00:24:22,459there will be a skeptic in your life.44000:24:22,459 –> 00:24:25,140There’ll be someone you know and love44100:24:25,140 –> 00:24:26,660who has real questions.44200:24:26,660 –> 00:24:28,819They’re not yet committed to Jesus.44300:24:28,819 –> 00:24:30,300But this booklet44400:24:30,339 –> 00:24:32,300really gives an opportunity44500:24:32,300 –> 00:24:35,619to listen to what Jesus has to say to sceptics.44600:24:35,619 –> 00:24:38,500Well, we’d love to send you five copies of this booklet44700:24:38,500 –> 00:24:39,939as our way of saying thank you44800:24:39,939 –> 00:24:42,979for setting up a new regular monthly direct debit44900:24:42,979 –> 00:24:45,500of five pounds per month, or more.45000:24:45,500 –> 00:24:49,420Or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more this month.45100:24:49,420 –> 00:24:51,420If you value Pastor Colin’s teaching45200:24:51,420 –> 00:24:53,140on the radio and online,45300:24:53,140 –> 00:24:54,900you’ll be helping to keep it here45400:24:54,900 –> 00:24:57,459and to support the work of Open the Bible.45500:24:57,459 –> 00:24:59,060Full terms and conditions45600:24:59,060 –> 00:25:01,099about this offer are on our website,45700:25:01,099 –> 00:25:04,459openthebible.org.uk.45800:25:04,459 –> 00:25:06,900For Pastor Colin Smith and Open the Bible,45900:25:06,900 –> 00:25:07,900I’m David Pick,46000:25:07,900 –> 00:25:10,300and I hope you’ll join us again next time.46100:25:15,619 –> 00:25:19,339You’re probably familiar with this advertising formula,46200:25:19,339 –> 00:25:21,260maximize the benefits,46300:25:21,260 –> 00:25:22,739minimize the risks,46400:25:22,739 –> 00:25:25,979and put all the costs in the fine print.46500:25:25,979 –> 00:25:28,380Find out what formula Jesus uses46600:25:28,380 –> 00:25:30,380next time on Open the Bible.