100:00:00,440 –> 00:00:07,500We think of waiting primarily as something that we have to200:00:07,600 –> 00:00:13,320endure in order to get what we want, but God speaks of waiting300:00:13,420 –> 00:00:19,879as the way in which we grow when we don’t have what we want,400:00:19,980 –> 00:00:23,160and there’s all the difference in the world between these two500:00:23,260 –> 00:00:24,700things.600:00:24,799 –> 00:00:27,059Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.700:00:28,059 –> 00:00:30,459I’m David Pick, glad you could join us today.800:00:30,559 –> 00:00:32,660And Colin, none of us like waiting.900:00:32,759 –> 00:00:35,119We live in a world where we expect things to happen1000:00:35,220 –> 00:00:37,259immediately, if not sooner.1100:00:37,360 –> 00:00:40,959So if God wants us to wait, does that mean we have to change1200:00:41,060 –> 00:00:42,439our whole mindset?1300:00:42,540 –> 00:00:44,500Well, I think it’s a completely different way1400:00:44,599 –> 00:00:47,340about thinking about our whole relationship with God.1500:00:47,439 –> 00:00:49,480God is not like a kind of slot machine1600:00:49,580 –> 00:00:53,080who’s there for me to manipulate and get what I want.1700:00:53,180 –> 00:00:54,939And hey, I just have to wait a little longer,1800:00:55,040 –> 00:00:56,779and then I’m going to get what I want from God.1900:00:56,799 –> 00:00:59,700God may actually grow me in my faith2000:00:59,799 –> 00:01:02,639precisely in the situation where I don’t get what I want,2100:01:02,740 –> 00:01:05,599and it’s there that his mercy and his grace2200:01:05,699 –> 00:01:08,000begins to bear fruit within my life.2300:01:08,120 –> 00:01:10,120So sometimes when I don’t have what2400:01:10,220 –> 00:01:13,120I want, that’s the most critical moment of development2500:01:13,220 –> 00:01:14,379in the Christian life.2600:01:14,480 –> 00:01:16,699Often when we look back, we realise2700:01:16,779 –> 00:01:19,019those are the times when our faith grew,2800:01:19,120 –> 00:01:20,779when we were dependent on God.2900:01:20,900 –> 00:01:22,620It’s just fascinating listening to people3000:01:22,720 –> 00:01:24,260talk and giving their testimony.3100:01:24,360 –> 00:01:25,639How many people have you ever heard3200:01:25,639 –> 00:01:27,760who say, you know, I really grew as a Christian3300:01:27,860 –> 00:01:29,760when I was being fantastically successful?3400:01:29,860 –> 00:01:31,260Usually not the case.3500:01:31,360 –> 00:01:34,860And fruit comes in some of the situations of disappointment3600:01:34,959 –> 00:01:37,459where we’re not receiving what we wanted3700:01:37,559 –> 00:01:40,620and we’re learning to look to the Lord in a way that’s3800:01:40,720 –> 00:01:41,959different from other times.3900:01:42,059 –> 00:01:44,839So, join us if you can today in Jude4000:01:44,940 –> 00:01:47,739verse 21 as we begin a message.4100:01:47,839 –> 00:01:48,980Learn to wait.4200:01:49,080 –> 00:01:50,180Here is Colin.4300:01:50,279 –> 00:01:52,699Now we’re returning today to our series entitled4400:01:52,940 –> 00:01:55,680keeping yourself in spiritual shape,4500:01:55,779 –> 00:01:57,779where we’re learning seven workouts4600:01:57,879 –> 00:02:01,239for a healthy Christian life.4700:02:01,339 –> 00:02:03,980And as you have your Bible open at the letter of Jude,4800:02:04,080 –> 00:02:06,779if you look at verse 20, you’ll be reminded there4900:02:06,879 –> 00:02:10,699of the early workouts that we’ve considered and learned5000:02:10,800 –> 00:02:13,199and I trust been practicing together.5100:02:13,300 –> 00:02:18,059Number one, build yourself up in your most holy faith.5200:02:18,160 –> 00:02:21,399Number two, pray in the Holy Spirit.5300:02:21,639 –> 00:02:24,699Number three, keep yourselves in the love of God.5400:02:24,800 –> 00:02:27,380If you want to live a healthy Christian life,5500:02:27,479 –> 00:02:31,139this is how you get yourself in shape.5600:02:31,240 –> 00:02:34,720Now, if we pause there for just a moment,5700:02:34,820 –> 00:02:36,080my observation would be this.5800:02:36,179 –> 00:02:40,419There is nothing surprising there, is there?5900:02:40,520 –> 00:02:45,520If you had been asked to write a list of key things6000:02:45,619 –> 00:02:48,360that you should work on in order to have6100:02:48,460 –> 00:02:49,800a healthy Christian life,6200:02:50,100 –> 00:02:52,559I think you would have come up with these three,6300:02:52,660 –> 00:02:53,759and so would I.6400:02:53,860 –> 00:02:55,699You would have been able to say,6500:02:55,800 –> 00:02:58,399you know, I need to build up my faith,6600:02:58,500 –> 00:03:00,139I need to work on prayer,6700:03:00,240 –> 00:03:02,839and I need to know more about love.6800:03:02,940 –> 00:03:04,279But my question is,6900:03:04,380 –> 00:03:06,539if you had been asked to write this list,7000:03:06,639 –> 00:03:08,979would you have got the fourth one?7100:03:09,080 –> 00:03:12,479Because I don’t think I would have.7200:03:12,580 –> 00:03:15,059Look at it in verse 21.7300:03:15,160 –> 00:03:17,860Keep yourselves in the love of God,7400:03:17,880 –> 00:03:20,500and then here’s the fourth workout.7500:03:20,600 –> 00:03:23,800As you wait, as you wait…7600:03:26,300 –> 00:03:29,839for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ7700:03:29,940 –> 00:03:33,899to bring you to eternal life.7800:03:35,339 –> 00:03:38,479You boil this fourth workout down to one word.7900:03:38,580 –> 00:03:39,940It would be simply this.8000:03:40,039 –> 00:03:42,320Waiting.8100:03:42,419 –> 00:03:44,520Waiting.8200:03:44,619 –> 00:03:45,720What have you got to do8300:03:45,720 –> 00:03:49,660if you’re to keep yourself in good spiritual shape?8400:03:49,759 –> 00:03:54,479You’re going to have to learn to wait.8500:03:55,860 –> 00:03:57,619To wait.8600:03:57,720 –> 00:03:59,259Now, at the beginning of our series,8700:03:59,360 –> 00:04:01,759we noted that a good fitness routine8800:04:01,860 –> 00:04:03,940will exercise all of the muscles of the body.8900:04:04,039 –> 00:04:07,259And we also noticed that the exercises,9000:04:07,360 –> 00:04:10,240if we’re in a training routine, we enjoy the most9100:04:10,339 –> 00:04:12,380are usually the ones that exercise the muscles9200:04:12,479 –> 00:04:13,679that are already the strongest.9300:04:13,779 –> 00:04:14,639That’s why we enjoy it,9400:04:14,660 –> 00:04:16,100and that’s why these muscles are strong9500:04:16,200 –> 00:04:19,559because we enjoy doing that exercise, we’re good at it.9600:04:19,660 –> 00:04:21,040But, of course, the exercise9700:04:21,140 –> 00:04:22,799in any physical fitness routine9800:04:22,899 –> 00:04:25,339that we most need is the one that addresses9900:04:25,440 –> 00:04:30,220the muscle groups that are weakest within the body.10000:04:30,320 –> 00:04:32,579And I think that this fourth workout10100:04:32,679 –> 00:04:35,279develops an area of the spiritual life10200:04:35,380 –> 00:04:40,399in which most, if not all, of us really struggle.10300:04:42,600 –> 00:04:43,720Now, just thinking about this subject,10400:04:43,980 –> 00:04:46,119it struck me there is a lot of waiting10500:04:46,220 –> 00:04:48,920that is going on among us right now.10600:04:49,019 –> 00:04:50,820Some of us are searching for a job.10700:04:50,920 –> 00:04:52,519We’ve been looking and we still are.10800:04:52,619 –> 00:04:56,660But it hasn’t opened up and you’re waiting.10900:04:56,760 –> 00:04:58,920Some of us are looking for that special person11000:04:59,019 –> 00:05:01,899to share life with, but we have not found them.11100:05:02,000 –> 00:05:04,779You’re waiting.11200:05:04,859 –> 00:05:06,959Others are longing for a child,11300:05:07,059 –> 00:05:10,540but nothing has happened and you’re waiting.11400:05:10,640 –> 00:05:12,899Others are longing to see a deep change11500:05:13,079 –> 00:05:16,019in someone who you love and have prayed for.11600:05:16,119 –> 00:05:20,399But you have not seen it yet and you’re waiting.11700:05:21,519 –> 00:05:23,299So there is, indeed, an awful lot11800:05:23,399 –> 00:05:25,040of waiting going on among us.11900:05:25,140 –> 00:05:26,480We could multiply examples.12000:05:26,559 –> 00:05:30,140They will tumble through our minds, I’m sure.12100:05:30,260 –> 00:05:33,239And it could well be that learning to wait12200:05:33,339 –> 00:05:35,040in the way that the Bible describes it12300:05:35,140 –> 00:05:37,179to us will turn out to be one of the most12400:05:37,279 –> 00:05:40,519important spiritual disciplines of your whole life12500:05:40,720 –> 00:05:44,339. If you want to keep yourself in spiritual shape,12600:05:44,440 –> 00:05:48,660you need to learn to wait.12700:05:48,760 –> 00:05:50,720Well, that’s our subject this morning.12800:05:50,820 –> 00:05:54,119And we’re going to develop three exercises that will help12900:05:54,220 –> 00:05:57,000us in this fourth workout.13000:05:57,100 –> 00:05:59,299But first I want simply to remind13100:05:59,399 –> 00:06:02,660you of how important the subject of waiting13200:06:02,760 –> 00:06:04,859is in the Bible, because it’s only13300:06:04,959 –> 00:06:07,200when we understand its importance13400:06:07,299 –> 00:06:10,339that we’ll be motivated to get into this fourth workout13500:06:10,339 –> 00:06:14,239and to get ourselves in spiritual shape in this regard.13600:06:14,339 –> 00:06:17,399So let me give you just a very quick sample13700:06:17,500 –> 00:06:20,179of the Scripture that speaks to this very13800:06:20,279 –> 00:06:22,239important subject of waiting.13900:06:22,339 –> 00:06:24,720I want us to have the flavour, so let me just14000:06:24,820 –> 00:06:27,679read to you five verses from the Old Testament14100:06:27,779 –> 00:06:28,980and then five from the New.14200:06:29,079 –> 00:06:33,079And I want simply for us to have the sense of how God repeatedly14300:06:33,179 –> 00:06:35,399speaks to us about waiting.14400:06:35,500 –> 00:06:36,119Wait.14500:06:36,220 –> 00:06:37,220Wait.14600:06:37,320 –> 00:06:38,899Wait.14700:06:39,000 –> 00:06:39,959Psalm 27.14800:06:39,980 –> 00:06:42,279Psalm 37 and verse 14.14900:06:42,380 –> 00:06:44,579Wait for the Lord.15000:06:44,679 –> 00:06:46,720Be strong and take heart.15100:06:46,820 –> 00:06:49,720Wait for the Lord.15200:06:49,820 –> 00:06:52,359Psalm 37 and verse 7.15300:06:52,459 –> 00:06:58,359Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.15400:06:58,480 –> 00:06:59,579And notice the context.15500:06:59,679 –> 00:07:02,899Do not fret when men succeed in their ways15600:07:03,000 –> 00:07:04,640and they carry out their evil schemes.15700:07:04,739 –> 00:07:07,320You see evil being displayed on the news.15800:07:07,420 –> 00:07:09,739Wait for the Lord.15900:07:09,739 –> 00:07:11,519And verses 5 and 30, verses 5 and 6.16000:07:11,619 –> 00:07:14,779I wait for the Lord, my soul waits.16100:07:14,880 –> 00:07:19,760And in his word I put my hope, my soul waits for the Lord16200:07:19,859 –> 00:07:24,119more than watchmen wait for morning.16300:07:24,220 –> 00:07:27,140Isaiah chapter 8 and verse 17.16400:07:27,239 –> 00:07:32,359I will wait for the Lord who is hiding his face16500:07:32,480 –> 00:07:33,899from the house of Jacob.16600:07:34,000 –> 00:07:35,779Very important verse that16700:07:35,880 –> 00:07:37,380to understand the Christian life.16800:07:37,519 –> 00:07:39,980Sometimes when God, though he does not remove his presence,16900:07:40,079 –> 00:07:44,459hides his face, and I say, where are you, O God?17000:07:44,559 –> 00:07:48,359Isaiah says, I will wait for the Lord17100:07:48,459 –> 00:07:51,399who is hiding his face from Jacob.17200:07:51,500 –> 00:07:53,399And then Isaiah 40, 31,17300:07:53,500 –> 00:07:55,799perhaps the best-known in the authorized version.17400:07:55,899 –> 00:07:59,079Those who wait upon the Lord17500:07:59,179 –> 00:08:01,179shall renew their strength.17600:08:01,279 –> 00:08:03,000They shall soar on wings like eagles.17700:08:03,100 –> 00:08:04,779They shall run and not grow weary.17800:08:04,779 –> 00:08:07,559They shall walk and not faint.17900:08:07,660 –> 00:08:09,559Now, when we come into the New Testament,18000:08:09,660 –> 00:08:13,119it’s fascinating that the whole Christian community,18100:08:13,220 –> 00:08:16,119the church, is described as a community18200:08:16,220 –> 00:08:19,119of people who are waiting.18300:08:19,220 –> 00:08:21,6401 Corinthians 1, and verse 7.18400:08:21,739 –> 00:08:24,059You do not lack any spiritual gift,18500:08:24,160 –> 00:08:26,299Paul says, to the Corinthians church18600:08:26,399 –> 00:08:30,040as you eagerly wait18700:08:30,140 –> 00:08:33,280for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.18800:08:33,340 –> 00:08:35,679Or 1 Thessalonians 1, 9 and 10,18900:08:35,780 –> 00:08:37,479speaking of the testimony of these people19000:08:37,580 –> 00:08:39,479who’d come to faith in Jesus Christ.19100:08:39,580 –> 00:08:41,780You turned to God from idols19200:08:41,880 –> 00:08:43,659to serve the living and true God19300:08:43,760 –> 00:08:49,260and to wait for His Son from heaven.19400:08:49,359 –> 00:08:52,500Or Titus, speaking about holiness of life.19500:08:52,599 –> 00:08:54,599The grace of God teaches us19600:08:54,700 –> 00:08:57,960to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions19700:08:58,059 –> 00:09:00,900and to live self-controlled and upright and godly lives19800:09:00,960 –> 00:09:06,799in this present age while we wait for our blessed hope.19900:09:06,900 –> 00:09:10,900The glorious appearing of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.20000:09:11,000 –> 00:09:13,280Or Hebrews 9.28,20100:09:13,380 –> 00:09:15,299Christ was sacrificed once20200:09:15,400 –> 00:09:17,140to take away the sins of many people.20300:09:17,239 –> 00:09:19,640He will appear a second time not to bear sin20400:09:19,739 –> 00:09:21,440but to bring salvation to who?20500:09:21,539 –> 00:09:25,419Those who are waiting for Him.20600:09:25,520 –> 00:09:27,260You see, that’s what the Christian community is.20700:09:27,359 –> 00:09:29,820It is a community of people who are waiting,20800:09:30,140 –> 00:09:32,820looking, longing for the appearing20900:09:32,919 –> 00:09:34,340of the Lord Jesus Christ.21000:09:34,440 –> 00:09:36,919And then finally our verse this morning, Jude 1.21.21100:09:37,020 –> 00:09:39,479Keep yourselves in the love of God21200:09:39,580 –> 00:09:44,159as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ21300:09:44,260 –> 00:09:47,200to bring you to eternal life.21400:09:47,299 –> 00:09:49,799Now, that’s just a very, very small sample.21500:09:49,900 –> 00:09:52,760Could have gone on throughout our entire time.21600:09:52,859 –> 00:09:55,140The Bible is full of it,21700:09:55,239 –> 00:09:58,880and it’s one of the most neglected disciplines21800:09:58,940 –> 00:10:01,380in the whole of the spiritual life21900:10:02,679 –> 00:10:05,119in our instant society.22000:10:06,479 –> 00:10:07,679You’re listening to Open The Bible22100:10:07,780 –> 00:10:09,280with Pastor Colin Smith22200:10:09,380 –> 00:10:12,140and a message called Learn to Wait.22300:10:12,260 –> 00:10:13,679We’ve got to pause briefly there,22400:10:13,780 –> 00:10:16,359but you won’t have to wait for long.22500:10:16,460 –> 00:10:20,320It’s part of our series Keeping Yourself in Spiritual Shape22600:10:20,419 –> 00:10:22,219based on the book of Jude.22700:10:22,320 –> 00:10:23,919And if you ever miss one of the programs22800:10:24,039 –> 00:10:25,260or if you want to go back and listen22900:10:25,359 –> 00:10:27,500to any of them or all of them again,23000:10:27,619 –> 00:10:29,760they’re all up there on the internet23100:10:29,859 –> 00:10:33,820at our website OpenTheBible.org.uk.23200:10:33,919 –> 00:10:36,919Or alternatively, you can find them as a podcast23300:10:37,020 –> 00:10:38,719on all the main podcast sites23400:10:38,840 –> 00:10:41,280by searching for Open The Bible UK.23500:10:41,380 –> 00:10:44,039Or you can follow a link from our website.23600:10:44,140 –> 00:10:46,280I know many of you listen to podcasts23700:10:46,380 –> 00:10:47,919and we’re excited to tell you23800:10:48,020 –> 00:10:50,539about a new podcast for Open The Bible.23900:10:50,640 –> 00:10:53,479It’s a companion to Pastor Colin’s book24000:10:53,580 –> 00:10:55,159Hike Through The Bible.24100:10:55,159 –> 00:10:57,979And each week I’ll read a chapter from the book24200:10:58,080 –> 00:11:00,599and then I get to discuss it with some friends.24300:11:00,700 –> 00:11:03,840So if you join us on the podcast in 50 weeks,24400:11:03,940 –> 00:11:06,940we’ll cover 50 chapters of the Bible together.24500:11:07,039 –> 00:11:11,419Then in a year you’ll have hiked through the entire Bible story.24600:11:11,520 –> 00:11:14,219Now, if you think hiking sounds like hard work,24700:11:14,320 –> 00:11:16,179don’t worry, I promise you24800:11:16,280 –> 00:11:19,200this hike will be an easy, gentle pace.24900:11:19,299 –> 00:11:20,700There’s a link to the podcast25000:11:21,000 –> 00:11:22,539and lots more information,25100:11:22,640 –> 00:11:24,039on our website at25200:11:26,859 –> 00:11:29,140Back to the message now, here again is Colin.25300:11:29,239 –> 00:11:31,940The problem, of course, with waiting25400:11:32,039 –> 00:11:33,539is that it always seems25500:11:33,640 –> 00:11:37,039like a complete waste of time, doesn’t it?25600:11:37,140 –> 00:11:39,739I’m waiting for a train.25700:11:39,840 –> 00:11:42,919I’m waiting for my appointment.25800:11:43,020 –> 00:11:46,219So we look for things to do while we’re waiting,25900:11:46,320 –> 00:11:48,320which is why there are magazines26000:11:49,020 –> 00:11:50,960in a doctor’s waiting room.26100:11:51,059 –> 00:11:54,219We try and fill up the time that is redundant.26200:11:54,320 –> 00:11:56,080You take a book in my pocket26300:11:56,179 –> 00:12:00,820because I don’t want to waste the time while I’m waiting.26400:12:00,919 –> 00:12:03,960So we think of waiting primarily26500:12:04,059 –> 00:12:06,960as something that we have to endure26600:12:07,059 –> 00:12:10,099in order to get what we want.26700:12:11,799 –> 00:12:14,940But God speaks of waiting26800:12:15,039 –> 00:12:17,700as the way in which we grow26900:12:17,700 –> 00:12:20,400when we don’t have what we want.27000:12:20,500 –> 00:12:22,559And there’s all the difference in the world27100:12:22,659 –> 00:12:25,599between these two things.27200:12:25,700 –> 00:12:28,359Waiting, as God speaks to us about it,27300:12:28,479 –> 00:12:32,799is never wasted time.27400:12:32,900 –> 00:12:35,280Waiting is one of the workouts27500:12:35,380 –> 00:12:40,919that will properly used shape your Christian life.27600:12:41,020 –> 00:12:45,159Waiting can be one of the greatest growth opportunities27700:12:45,280 –> 00:12:48,859in your entire walk with God.27800:12:48,960 –> 00:12:50,859And if we could grasp that, it will27900:12:50,960 –> 00:12:53,400change our whole perspective on some28000:12:53,500 –> 00:12:56,159of the situations we find most difficult and most28100:12:56,260 –> 00:12:59,299frustrating in our lives.28200:12:59,400 –> 00:13:01,440Now, I want to suggest three ways in which you28300:13:01,539 –> 00:13:06,000can grow while you’re waiting.28400:13:06,099 –> 00:13:12,119The first is simply this, grow in patience28500:13:12,179 –> 00:13:18,419as you embrace the disappointments of your life.28600:13:18,520 –> 00:13:20,260Listen to our verse again, keep yourselves28700:13:20,359 –> 00:13:25,059in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord28800:13:25,159 –> 00:13:29,599Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.28900:13:29,700 –> 00:13:32,239Now, waiting is of course what we29000:13:32,340 –> 00:13:37,280do when things have not worked out as we had hoped.29100:13:37,359 –> 00:13:39,940Somewhere within every heart there29200:13:40,039 –> 00:13:46,179is a dream, a dream of life as we would like it to be.29300:13:46,280 –> 00:13:51,859That dream is placed in your heart by God himself.29400:13:51,960 –> 00:13:55,159And when Jude uses the word wait he29500:13:55,260 –> 00:13:58,299reminds us that the dream in your heart29600:13:58,400 –> 00:14:01,760will never be fulfilled in this world.29700:14:01,859 –> 00:14:04,539That’s a fundamental Christian conviction29800:14:04,700 –> 00:14:08,000if to order our thinking by the Bible.29900:14:08,099 –> 00:14:10,539Our first parents, this is one of the first things30000:14:10,640 –> 00:14:12,679you learn in the Bible, our first parents30100:14:12,780 –> 00:14:16,739were driven out of the Garden of Eden.30200:14:16,840 –> 00:14:20,140Paradise was lost.30300:14:20,239 –> 00:14:24,059And the dream cannot be fulfilled here30400:14:24,159 –> 00:14:28,200because this world though blessed in so many ways30500:14:28,299 –> 00:14:31,599by the goodness of God, is none-the-less under a curse.30600:14:31,719 –> 00:14:37,359It is a fallen world in which we live this life.30700:14:37,460 –> 00:14:42,039Now if you and I lived in a land that was blighted by famine,30800:14:42,140 –> 00:14:46,239and if your total net worth was a small shack30900:14:46,340 –> 00:14:49,299at the side of a track, and a couple of buffalo,31000:14:49,400 –> 00:14:54,000you would understand that absolutely clearly.31100:14:54,099 –> 00:14:56,840But it is very hard for us to understand31200:14:56,940 –> 00:15:01,119this Bible principle living in the Northwest suburbs.31300:15:01,200 –> 00:15:06,419You see, we are so blessed that we easily31400:15:06,520 –> 00:15:11,299confuse this with paradise.31500:15:11,400 –> 00:15:14,299We think that if we’re not in paradise now,31600:15:14,400 –> 00:15:16,700we’re nearly there and if we just have a little bit more,31700:15:16,799 –> 00:15:17,320we will be.31800:15:20,140 –> 00:15:22,539I enjoyed the testimony of one of our high schoolers31900:15:22,640 –> 00:15:24,979few years ago, now coming back from the Jamaica trip.32000:15:25,080 –> 00:15:26,539She’d been greatly helped and it had32100:15:26,640 –> 00:15:28,179had a profound impact on her life.32200:15:28,299 –> 00:15:33,119She said, you know, it really helped me to go to Jamaica32300:15:33,219 –> 00:15:37,619because my idea of suffering before I went32400:15:37,719 –> 00:15:42,080was not getting a new car at graduation.32500:15:42,179 –> 00:15:46,059Now, we smile and we understand that32600:15:46,159 –> 00:15:47,400and it was good for her to go.32700:15:50,260 –> 00:15:52,239But you see, we’re living in a culture32800:15:52,340 –> 00:15:58,039that is sold out in the pursuit of paradise now,32900:15:58,700 –> 00:16:01,159and if you give yourself, whatever age you are,33000:16:01,260 –> 00:16:03,940high school, or at any other stage of life,33100:16:04,039 –> 00:16:08,380if you give yourself to the pursuit of paradise now,33200:16:08,479 –> 00:16:12,479you will be disappointed.33300:16:12,580 –> 00:16:13,919You will live in disappointment.33400:16:16,580 –> 00:16:19,020And when that happens, I’ll tell you what you’ll do.33500:16:19,119 –> 00:16:21,020You’ll be angry with God because you’ll say,33600:16:21,119 –> 00:16:24,260God, you haven’t fulfilled my dream.33700:16:24,359 –> 00:16:25,919That’s what you’ll say.33800:16:25,919 –> 00:16:27,820And that is what a great number of people33900:16:27,919 –> 00:16:30,020in our culture who call themselves Christians34000:16:30,119 –> 00:16:32,280are right now.34100:16:32,380 –> 00:16:34,580It’s where we are.34200:16:34,679 –> 00:16:37,479And God has one word to say to us about all of this,34300:16:37,580 –> 00:16:42,299and it’s the word, wait.34400:16:42,400 –> 00:16:44,559Wait.34500:16:44,659 –> 00:16:48,960You will not find paradise in this world.34600:16:52,739 –> 00:16:54,200You have to get that into your head34700:16:54,320 –> 00:16:58,059if you’re going to be a Christian believer.34800:16:58,159 –> 00:17:00,059It is a fundamental point at which34900:17:00,159 –> 00:17:03,260the Bible and our culture are in headlong opposition.35000:17:03,359 –> 00:17:08,199You will not find paradise in this world.35100:17:11,599 –> 00:17:12,699Now I’ve got a little idea.35200:17:12,800 –> 00:17:15,479Here’s a practical suggestion for you.35300:17:15,579 –> 00:17:20,160I’ve been thinking that we could design a little sign,35400:17:20,219 –> 00:17:22,579And it would say on it four words.35500:17:22,680 –> 00:17:27,459This is not paradise.35600:17:27,560 –> 00:17:30,819And I’m going to ask you to be creative in your minds35700:17:30,920 –> 00:17:32,780now, and you can talk about this over lunch35800:17:32,880 –> 00:17:37,640as to all kinds of places where you could put this sign.35900:17:37,739 –> 00:17:41,939This is not paradise.36000:17:42,040 –> 00:17:43,739I mean, you might want to hang it36100:17:43,839 –> 00:17:47,380over the front door of your home.36200:17:47,380 –> 00:17:51,140And it would greatly help you, because some of us36300:17:51,239 –> 00:17:55,920are so sold out on the pursuit of this perfect family36400:17:56,020 –> 00:17:59,459life, which we cannot attain within this world,36500:17:59,560 –> 00:18:02,420that we become utterly crushing for everyone around us.36600:18:02,520 –> 00:18:05,380Take a great deal of pressure off you.36700:18:05,500 –> 00:18:07,520If you could just acknowledge the truth of the Bible36800:18:07,619 –> 00:18:09,660and put a little sign over your home that says this36900:18:09,760 –> 00:18:13,439is not paradise.37000:18:13,560 –> 00:18:19,400You could put it over your desk at work.37100:18:19,500 –> 00:18:23,000You could put it in your new car,37200:18:23,099 –> 00:18:25,040because it would really help you when you’re37300:18:25,140 –> 00:18:26,479there on the Kennedy, and you’re so37400:18:26,579 –> 00:18:28,079frustrated with this marvelous car,37500:18:28,180 –> 00:18:29,719and you can’t go anywhere because you’re37600:18:29,819 –> 00:18:32,119in a traffic jam.37700:18:32,219 –> 00:18:34,420I’d be more than happy to put it on the entrance37800:18:34,520 –> 00:18:35,579to the church here.37900:18:35,680 –> 00:18:37,020This is not paradise.38000:18:37,119 –> 00:18:39,359If you came here looking for perfect believers38100:18:39,459 –> 00:18:41,560in a perfect church, you certainly haven’t found it.38200:18:41,660 –> 00:18:42,920You have come to the wrong place.38300:18:43,099 –> 00:18:44,939Keep looking, but you’ll be very disappointed.38400:18:48,180 –> 00:18:49,339Some couples might want to put it38500:18:49,439 –> 00:18:52,319over the door to the bedroom.38600:18:52,420 –> 00:18:53,859Take a lot of pressure off.38700:18:53,959 –> 00:19:01,859My kids might want to put it over the door to their bedroom.38800:19:01,959 –> 00:19:06,699This is not paradise.38900:19:06,800 –> 00:19:11,979But the problem is that many of us think it should be,39000:19:12,040 –> 00:19:15,479because we don’t believe the Bible.39100:19:15,579 –> 00:19:18,380We expect more than God has promised in this life.39200:19:18,479 –> 00:19:20,180And the result is that we live a level39300:19:20,280 –> 00:19:24,640of constant frustration and constant disappointment.39400:19:24,739 –> 00:19:28,280The baseline for us, the baseline39500:19:28,380 –> 00:19:30,959is health and wealth and emotional fulfillment,39600:19:31,060 –> 00:19:34,160to be loved, to be honored, to be appreciated.39700:19:34,260 –> 00:19:37,300We want the sinners around us to be saints.39800:19:37,400 –> 00:19:38,739But at the same time, of course, we39900:19:38,839 –> 00:19:41,660want the saints around us to understand that we are sinners.40000:19:41,739 –> 00:19:43,719We want to work the minimum number of hours40100:19:43,819 –> 00:19:45,359for the maximum amount of pay.40200:19:45,459 –> 00:19:47,380We want it to be absolutely fulfilling work.40300:19:47,479 –> 00:19:49,619We want larger cars, larger homes,40400:19:49,719 –> 00:19:51,560more luxurious vacations.40500:19:51,660 –> 00:19:55,660And in the pursuit of creating this paradise on earth,40600:19:55,760 –> 00:19:59,339we run up massive debt, massive debt.40700:20:02,099 –> 00:20:05,699And then we find out that the paradise that was promised40800:20:05,900 –> 00:20:07,099has eluded us.40900:20:09,520 –> 00:20:13,219That it was an advertiser’s dream.41000:20:13,319 –> 00:20:14,760It faded with the commercials.41100:20:17,560 –> 00:20:20,979We find ourselves living under a burden.41200:20:21,079 –> 00:20:22,500And we don’t know how we got there.41300:20:22,599 –> 00:20:24,579We got there because we didn’t believe the Bible.41400:20:27,439 –> 00:20:33,959Now, when God does not give you what you want,41500:20:33,959 –> 00:20:36,579in this world and this culture where we have so much,41600:20:36,680 –> 00:20:41,160when God does not give you what you want,41700:20:41,260 –> 00:20:44,819he opens a door of critical opportunity41800:20:44,920 –> 00:20:48,160for your spiritual growth.41900:20:48,260 –> 00:20:52,800And I want to encourage you here, embrace that pain.42000:20:52,900 –> 00:20:54,780Love God in that disappointment.42100:20:54,880 –> 00:20:58,500Recognize that in a world of abundance,42200:20:58,599 –> 00:21:00,640this may be one of the most important junctures42300:21:00,739 –> 00:21:03,520in your Christian life.42400:21:03,579 –> 00:21:07,680Here is one place where you have the opportunity42500:21:07,780 –> 00:21:12,959to detach yourself from the headlong pursuit of paradise42600:21:13,060 –> 00:21:17,199in this world and to set yourself apart for Jesus42700:21:17,300 –> 00:21:21,160Christ as Lord and the places where42800:21:21,260 –> 00:21:24,239you may have that opportunity in this life may be42900:21:24,339 –> 00:21:28,000relatively few, so seize them.43000:21:28,099 –> 00:21:29,099Grasp them.43100:21:29,099 –> 00:21:34,359They are critical to your spiritual fitness.43200:21:34,459 –> 00:21:37,540The places where God calls you to wait43300:21:37,640 –> 00:21:40,099are of great importance in your Christian life.43400:21:40,199 –> 00:21:44,500This is a wake-up call to reality that God is giving you.43500:21:44,599 –> 00:21:47,579There are discoveries of grace that you can make while you43600:21:47,680 –> 00:21:51,219are waiting that you will never make while you’re43700:21:51,319 –> 00:21:55,119careering on your way with everything fulfilled.43800:21:55,219 –> 00:21:59,060What you do not have is the place43900:21:59,160 –> 00:22:02,839when God will do a deep work in your life.44000:22:02,939 –> 00:22:08,199So grow in patience as you embrace44100:22:08,300 –> 00:22:12,199the disappointments of your life.44200:22:12,319 –> 00:22:14,339Well, we have to pause the message there,44300:22:14,439 –> 00:22:17,719but we’ll be back again with the second part of this message44400:22:17,819 –> 00:22:19,079in the next program.44500:22:19,180 –> 00:22:21,560The message is called Learn To Wait,44600:22:21,660 –> 00:22:23,819and it’s part of our series, Keeping44700:22:23,920 –> 00:22:27,800Yourself In Spiritual Shape, based on the Book of Jude.44800:22:27,800 –> 00:22:30,260You’ve been listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin44900:22:30,359 –> 00:22:33,040Smith, and if you ever miss one of Colin’s messages,45000:22:33,140 –> 00:22:35,739it’s very easy to catch up or go back and listen again45100:22:35,839 –> 00:22:40,979online at our website, openthebible.org.uk.45200:22:41,079 –> 00:22:43,479Open the Bible is able to stay on this station45300:22:43,579 –> 00:22:46,420and the internet, and available as a podcast45400:22:46,520 –> 00:22:48,479because of the generous financial support45500:22:48,579 –> 00:22:49,520of our listeners.45600:22:49,619 –> 00:22:51,339That’s people like you.45700:22:51,459 –> 00:22:53,819And if you already give to support the work,45800:22:53,920 –> 00:22:55,660thank you so much.45900:22:55,959 –> 00:22:57,420If supporting Open the Bible is something46000:22:57,520 –> 00:22:59,780you’d like to start doing, this month we’re46100:22:59,880 –> 00:23:02,219delighted to offer a free gift.46200:23:02,319 –> 00:23:04,400Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham46300:23:04,500 –> 00:23:05,699to tell us about it.46400:23:05,800 –> 00:23:06,859Thanks, David.46500:23:06,959 –> 00:23:10,459Yes, this month we are really excited to be giving away46600:23:10,560 –> 00:23:14,140Colin Smith’s newest book and the final book46700:23:14,239 –> 00:23:17,199in the Fly and Drive Through the Bible series,46800:23:17,300 –> 00:23:19,780Hike Through the Bible.46900:23:19,880 –> 00:23:23,280This book takes you on a guided 50-session journey47000:23:23,380 –> 00:23:26,000through the whole storyline of scripture.47100:23:26,099 –> 00:23:28,680It’s a little bit like taking a steady hike47200:23:28,780 –> 00:23:31,479with a trusted pastor by your side.47300:23:31,579 –> 00:23:34,119Colin helps you navigate the rugged terrain47400:23:34,219 –> 00:23:38,359of the Old Testament, pause at places of grace and promise,47500:23:38,459 –> 00:23:41,660and then climb the peaks where the glory of Jesus47600:23:41,760 –> 00:23:43,660shines most clearly.47700:23:43,760 –> 00:23:46,500Each chapter is short and accessible47800:23:46,599 –> 00:23:48,619with simple reflection questions to help47900:23:48,719 –> 00:23:50,400you apply what you’re learning.48000:23:50,599 –> 00:23:53,420Whether you read on your own or with a small group,48100:23:53,520 –> 00:23:55,660I also particularly like the fact48200:23:55,760 –> 00:23:57,459that at the end of each chapter, there48300:23:57,560 –> 00:24:00,000is a short verse to memorize.48400:24:00,099 –> 00:24:02,160If you’ve enjoyed Fly Through the Bible48500:24:02,260 –> 00:24:05,140or Drive Through the Bible, this final installment48600:24:05,239 –> 00:24:07,199completes the journey helping you48700:24:07,300 –> 00:24:11,739see how all of scripture fits together as one great story.48800:24:11,839 –> 00:24:15,479And we would love to send you a copy for free48900:24:15,579 –> 00:24:19,319this month when you set up a new direct debit of at least49000:24:19,839 –> 00:24:22,479five pounds or give a one off gift49100:24:22,579 –> 00:24:25,520of at least £50 to support the ministry49200:24:25,619 –> 00:24:27,619of Open the Bible UK.49300:24:27,719 –> 00:24:30,180And with Christmas just around the corner,49400:24:30,280 –> 00:24:32,579I think it would be a lovely treat49500:24:32,680 –> 00:24:35,060and a really encouraging way to begin49600:24:35,160 –> 00:24:37,500the new year in God’s Word.49700:24:37,599 –> 00:24:40,000Just don’t forget to leave your address when you donate49800:24:40,099 –> 00:24:43,160so that we can make sure we can post your gift.49900:24:43,260 –> 00:24:45,040Well, we’d love to send you Colin’s new book50000:24:45,140 –> 00:24:47,760when you set up a new direct debit of five50100:24:48,260 –> 00:24:50,119pounds per month or more50200:24:50,219 –> 00:24:53,780or a one of gift of £50 or more this month.50300:24:53,880 –> 00:24:55,660Full terms and conditions online50400:24:55,760 –> 00:24:59,560at our website openthebible.org.uk50500:24:59,660 –> 00:25:01,719and you can give online.50600:25:01,819 –> 00:25:03,939Don’t forget to leave your name and address50700:25:04,040 –> 00:25:06,540so we can send you your gift.50800:25:06,640 –> 00:25:09,239For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,50900:25:09,339 –> 00:25:10,500I’m David Pick51000:25:10,619 –> 00:25:13,839and I look forward to being with you again next time.51100:25:14,839 –> 00:25:21,359I feel like I’m just wasting my time.51200:25:21,459 –> 00:25:24,380When was the last time you said that?51300:25:24,479 –> 00:25:28,260Discover how waiting can be an opportunity for you.51400:25:28,359 –> 00:25:30,660That’s next time on Open the Bible.