100:00:00,040 –> 00:00:02,640…200:00:03,000 –> 00:00:04,440Welcome to Open The Bible300:00:04,520 –> 00:00:05,840with Pastor Colin Smith.400:00:05,920 –> 00:00:07,040I’m David Pick.500:00:07,120 –> 00:00:08,560I’m glad you could join us today.600:00:08,640 –> 00:00:11,000We have a very special programme today.700:00:11,080 –> 00:00:13,320We’re doing something a little bit different.800:00:13,400 –> 00:00:15,800We have a special programme with a special guest900:00:15,880 –> 00:00:18,320and we will introduce you to them in a moment.1000:00:18,400 –> 00:00:20,440But first, Colin, would you talk a little about1100:00:20,520 –> 00:00:22,879the mission of Open The Bible?1200:00:23,000 –> 00:00:24,639Well, the mission of Open The Bible1300:00:24,719 –> 00:00:26,920is to raise up a movement of people1400:00:27,000 –> 00:00:29,320who love to open the Bible themselves1500:00:29,320 –> 00:00:32,160and are equipped to open the Bible with others.1600:00:32,240 –> 00:00:35,480The word love is really important here.1700:00:35,560 –> 00:00:37,799I think a lot of people have the idea1800:00:37,880 –> 00:00:39,639that reading the Bible’s a good thing to do.1900:00:39,720 –> 00:00:41,599We ought to do it, it’ll do us good,2000:00:41,680 –> 00:00:43,119and so forth and so on.2100:00:43,200 –> 00:00:45,840But you know, the Bible is so wonderfully rich.2200:00:45,919 –> 00:00:49,520It’s life-giving and it’s life-sustaining.2300:00:49,599 –> 00:00:51,799And I think when people discover that,2400:00:51,880 –> 00:00:54,119there’s a love for opening God’s Word.2500:00:54,200 –> 00:00:57,360There’s an experience of actually meeting2600:00:57,639 –> 00:00:59,720God in His Word,2700:00:59,799 –> 00:01:03,680and of coming to know Him in a rich, and real, and personal way.2800:01:03,759 –> 00:01:06,239That’s what we want to encourage people in.2900:01:06,320 –> 00:01:08,559When people discover that for themselves,3000:01:08,639 –> 00:01:10,279they want to share it with other people as well.3100:01:10,360 –> 00:01:14,680Absolutely. That’s exactly what our guest today has discovered and is doing.3200:01:14,760 –> 00:01:17,919So, why don’t you introduce us to our special guest?3300:01:18,000 –> 00:01:22,400Well, it’s a joy to have with me, here, in the studio,3400:01:22,480 –> 00:01:25,160Mike Forbus, a dear, personal friend.3500:01:25,239 –> 00:01:27,120We’ve been friends for some years now.3600:01:27,120 –> 00:01:30,239We’ve had the opportunity of serving together.3700:01:30,320 –> 00:01:31,879You’re not from Scotland.3800:01:31,959 –> 00:01:35,239People are going to love your accent as soon as you begin to speak.3900:01:35,320 –> 00:01:37,760Tell us where you’re from and a little about your background.4000:01:37,839 –> 00:01:40,879Well, I’m from Memphis, Tennessee, and I don’t think I have an accent.4100:01:40,959 –> 00:01:44,080And neither do I have one.4200:01:44,160 –> 00:01:47,839Right, right, but I grew up in a small town in Arkansas,4300:01:47,919 –> 00:01:50,199Northeast Arkansas, called Harrisburg.4400:01:50,279 –> 00:01:52,080I was out in the country. Country boy.4500:01:52,160 –> 00:01:55,199I grew up, was raised in a church all my life.4600:01:55,519 –> 00:01:58,000But married now.4700:01:58,080 –> 00:02:00,440I have a lovely wife, Sandy.4800:02:00,519 –> 00:02:02,040We’ve been married for 33 years.4900:02:02,120 –> 00:02:04,239I have four children, nine grandchildren.5000:02:04,639 –> 00:02:05,760That’s marvelous.5100:02:05,839 –> 00:02:10,119Now, the reason that I wanted people to meet you through this program, Mike,5200:02:10,199 –> 00:02:14,600is that God has done a wonderful work through the scriptures in your life.5300:02:14,679 –> 00:02:17,199You were helped by the Ministry of Open the Bible,5400:02:17,279 –> 00:02:21,639and now you are helping other people to open the Bible, as well.5500:02:21,720 –> 00:02:23,919And so I want people to hear that story,5600:02:24,279 –> 00:02:27,000Because it really goes to the heart of the mission statement5700:02:27,080 –> 00:02:28,839that we were speaking about a moment ago –5800:02:28,919 –> 00:02:32,199that people would love to open the Bible for themselves,5900:02:32,279 –> 00:02:34,880and that they’d be equipped to open the Bible for others.6000:02:34,960 –> 00:02:36,199You’re doing this,6100:02:36,279 –> 00:02:38,800and I think you have a marvellous story in that regard.6200:02:38,880 –> 00:02:42,279Tell us a little bit more about your life, your business.6300:02:42,360 –> 00:02:44,720You’re a business guy, and God has blessed your business.6400:02:44,800 –> 00:02:46,839Tell us about what you’ve been doing over these years.6500:02:46,919 –> 00:02:49,919Yes, sir. I have a construction company called F&F Construction.6600:02:50,000 –> 00:02:50,960It’s based in Memphis.6700:02:51,039 –> 00:02:52,960We have an office in Panama City6800:02:53,000 –> 00:02:56,080and an office outside of Dallas.6900:02:56,160 –> 00:03:00,720So we’re a national company, we work for national businesses.7000:03:00,800 –> 00:03:02,399We work all over the United States.7100:03:02,479 –> 00:03:04,399My three sons work with me.7200:03:04,479 –> 00:03:07,360That is a great blessing, to be able to work together with them.7300:03:07,440 –> 00:03:09,759I tell folks now, I finally like them.7400:03:11,279 –> 00:03:13,039It’s not everyone that can work with family.7500:03:13,119 –> 00:03:17,320But if you can do that, it is a marvellous, marvellous gift,7600:03:17,399 –> 00:03:19,199and I’m so glad you have that opportunity.7700:03:19,279 –> 00:03:20,880Yes, sir. It’s a time of my life now,7800:03:20,919 –> 00:03:22,839to be able to work with my boys and watch them mature7900:03:22,919 –> 00:03:25,199and take on the reigns and grow the business.8000:03:25,720 –> 00:03:29,399Now, you’ve been a Christian, Mike, for a lot of years,8100:03:29,479 –> 00:03:32,399but it’s only really in recent years that,8200:03:32,479 –> 00:03:35,119well, you’ve put it to me, you’ve kind of come alive.8300:03:35,199 –> 00:03:36,199Yes, sir.8400:03:36,279 –> 00:03:38,479Tell us about how that happened.8500:03:38,559 –> 00:03:42,440Actually, I became sick with Covid, and I was in the hospital8600:03:42,520 –> 00:03:45,679and the doctor had given me some pretty tough news,8700:03:45,759 –> 00:03:47,759that my Covid was so serious.8800:03:47,839 –> 00:03:50,199It was the beginning days of Covid.8900:03:50,360 –> 00:03:54,639We didn’t really know how to treat it and where it was going to go.9000:03:55,160 –> 00:03:56,919I remember him telling me that night, he said,9100:03:57,000 –> 00:03:58,479you could die.9200:03:58,559 –> 00:04:01,720It was that time in my life I began to get really, really serious.9300:04:01,800 –> 00:04:05,160There were things in my life, I’ve been a Christian for 35 years,9400:04:05,520 –> 00:04:07,839but I had drifted9500:04:08,559 –> 00:04:13,639and I knew then that I was not fully ready to meet God.9600:04:13,919 –> 00:04:15,600And he says, you could die tonight?9700:04:15,720 –> 00:04:17,480He did, he did.9800:04:17,480 –> 00:04:21,040And so when you’re on your back in a hospital room,9900:04:21,559 –> 00:04:23,399you have no way to look but up.10000:04:23,640 –> 00:04:26,239And so I did business with God that night.10100:04:26,320 –> 00:04:28,200I said, I want to renew,10200:04:29,239 –> 00:04:32,359get back into being serious about my faith.10300:04:33,160 –> 00:04:35,959But after I had gotten out of the hospital,10400:04:36,040 –> 00:04:39,359I turn on the radio one morning and I heard open the Bible.10500:04:39,640 –> 00:04:42,799And I tell everybody, I said the accent drew me in10600:04:43,040 –> 00:04:44,399when I heard you speak,10700:04:44,480 –> 00:04:47,359but the depth of the teaching is what kept me there.10800:04:47,359 –> 00:04:48,959What you guys were saying earlier,10900:04:49,040 –> 00:04:50,239what you were saying earlier, Sarah,11000:04:50,320 –> 00:04:53,720about the word is food for our soul.11100:04:53,920 –> 00:04:57,600We feed our natural body three times a day.11200:04:57,679 –> 00:05:00,200More sometimes, but we feed our natural body.11300:05:00,279 –> 00:05:04,119But we we forget that we need to feed our soul, our spirit.11400:05:04,399 –> 00:05:06,600And God’s word did that.11500:05:06,679 –> 00:05:09,200And I began to get excited about the word.11600:05:09,760 –> 00:05:11,760Where you guys had opened the Bible,11700:05:11,839 –> 00:05:16,519did for me, is what Paul was telling Timothy to stir that flame back up.11800:05:17,040 –> 00:05:19,359And so it got me excited.11900:05:19,440 –> 00:05:21,279And so I started reading the Bible.12000:05:21,359 –> 00:05:25,760We actually I would tell other guys in the office and we’d listen to the program.12100:05:25,839 –> 00:05:27,399It comes on at six a.m., by the way,12200:05:27,600 –> 00:05:31,720in Memphis, so not you know, you got to be almost construction worker to be.12300:05:31,920 –> 00:05:33,320But it comes out.12400:05:33,399 –> 00:05:36,480But we would listen to it on the way to work and get to work and discuss it.12500:05:36,519 –> 00:05:38,600And we said, well, why don’t we just start reading the Bible that way?12600:05:38,799 –> 00:05:41,880And we began reading short blocks of scripture12700:05:42,079 –> 00:05:46,480and coming to the office and discussing it for what I found.12800:05:47,440 –> 00:05:54,119He one of the things I found out was that God wanted a personal relationship with me.12900:05:54,320 –> 00:05:56,239Yeah. And that relationship is built on13000:05:56,440 –> 00:06:00,480conversation and conversation as God speaking to me through his word and me13100:06:00,679 –> 00:06:05,079speaking to him through prayer and it became my faith exploded.13200:06:05,279 –> 00:06:06,399It became a life.13300:06:06,600 –> 00:06:10,040And I’m excited about those times with him13400:06:10,239 –> 00:06:12,040every day now. That’s wonderful.13500:06:12,239 –> 00:06:16,480And I love the way that you describe this dual conversation.13600:06:16,679 –> 00:06:22,760We have God speaking to us through his word and we speak to him through prayer.13700:06:22,959 –> 00:06:28,399And, you know, I think some people have the idea that we hear the voice of God13800:06:28,600 –> 00:06:30,399independently of Scripture.13900:06:30,519 –> 00:06:34,320And one of the things that I’ve appreciated so much about the emphasis14000:06:34,440 –> 00:06:39,799that you’ve had in your ministry, as God is using you, is that you want people to14100:06:40,000 –> 00:06:44,320hear the voice of God through Scripture and then to respond to the voice of God14200:06:44,359 –> 00:06:46,399with a communication that goes in two directions.14300:06:46,600 –> 00:06:51,239You know, I was telling somebody, you know, as a contractor, I receive a set14400:06:51,440 –> 00:06:56,399of blueprints from an architect and he’s put his mind on paper for me14500:06:56,600 –> 00:07:00,320to build a building per his instructions.14600:07:00,480 –> 00:07:05,720God gave us the Bible, which is his mind, his mind.14700:07:05,920 –> 00:07:08,359And for me to just take those blueprints14800:07:08,559 –> 00:07:12,640and throw them to the side and go build a building for my customer.14900:07:12,839 –> 00:07:14,239And then when I get done I say,15000:07:14,320 –> 00:07:16,000well, I’ve built you what I thought you wanted.15100:07:16,200 –> 00:07:17,279And they’re good. No, no, no.15200:07:17,480 –> 00:07:20,279That’s not my building. You built another building.15300:07:20,480 –> 00:07:21,760You build your building.15400:07:21,959 –> 00:07:24,600And so I realized that’s the same with my faith.15500:07:24,799 –> 00:07:29,119I had been doing a lot of religious things, but I hadn’t been building God’s15600:07:29,320 –> 00:07:31,559building, his mind is that Bible.15700:07:31,760 –> 00:07:33,480And as I get it in my,15800:07:33,679 –> 00:07:37,359I’m now doing and following him the way he would have me to.15900:07:37,559 –> 00:07:38,559And that’s exciting.16000:07:38,720 –> 00:07:42,320How else would you describe the change that this has brought in your life?16100:07:42,320 –> 00:07:43,519I mean, how has it changed you?16200:07:43,519 –> 00:07:45,440You’ve got enthusiasm, joy.16300:07:45,640 –> 00:07:50,119You’ve got you’ve got so much life about you that comes from from the Word of God.16400:07:50,320 –> 00:07:52,440How has it changed things in your family,16500:07:52,640 –> 00:07:54,640in your own life and relationships and so forth?16600:07:54,839 –> 00:07:57,600But what have you seen and what are you seeing?16700:07:57,600 –> 00:07:59,519Because it doesn’t happen all at once, does it?16800:07:59,720 –> 00:08:02,000So it does not. One thing I have peace,16900:08:02,119 –> 00:08:05,119peace with God, peace of God, and peace with God.17000:08:05,399 –> 00:08:09,480And that is such a thing that I didn’t have when I was in the hospital.17100:08:09,480 –> 00:08:10,959I didn’t have that peace because, you know,17200:08:11,000 –> 00:08:15,679thinking about meeting him, I’m watching it and go with my friends,17300:08:15,880 –> 00:08:20,519meeting friends and sharing this method of how we read the Bible and study17400:08:20,720 –> 00:08:24,799the Bible and watching them grow individually, just watching when they17500:08:25,000 –> 00:08:28,320when they realized that they can have this personal relationship with God.17600:08:28,320 –> 00:08:31,959That’s something they had kind of set aside, even though they were in church,17700:08:32,159 –> 00:08:34,239they kind of set it aside to realize that17800:08:34,440 –> 00:08:36,840conversation and that discipleship method.17900:08:37,039 –> 00:08:38,919So I watched him get excited about it.18000:08:38,919 –> 00:08:40,280I’ve got my friend Andy Price,18100:08:40,359 –> 00:08:43,359he came with me today and he follows me all over the world.18200:08:43,400 –> 00:08:44,719We go around teaching this.18300:08:44,919 –> 00:08:47,440My oldest son, Chris, just went through18400:08:47,640 –> 00:08:51,520an interesting situation where he had a bad diagnosis18500:08:51,719 –> 00:08:56,400and when he came out of it, he wasn’t he didn’t go to church.18600:08:56,599 –> 00:09:00,280But when he came out of that situation, his health situation, he said,18700:09:00,479 –> 00:09:02,559could I come to the Bible study with you?18800:09:02,760 –> 00:09:05,520Well, my goodness, can you come to the Bible, sit with me.18900:09:05,719 –> 00:09:06,719Absolutely.19000:09:06,719 –> 00:09:08,400It’s a nice question to your son asked.19100:09:08,799 –> 00:09:10,880It’s a wonderful question for your son to ask you.19200:09:11,080 –> 00:09:13,960And and now he’s involved in it.19300:09:14,159 –> 00:09:17,599And I just trust God to deal with him through his word.19400:09:17,799 –> 00:09:21,280I don’t have to go to my son and say, no, you need to do this, this and this.19500:09:21,479 –> 00:09:25,799I just I’m trusting God with him and saying, son, because he’s 43, he’s a grown19600:09:26,000 –> 00:09:29,640man, I’m saying, son, just read the word and let God speak to you.19700:09:29,760 –> 00:09:30,159Love it.19800:09:30,359 –> 00:09:33,039So we talked a little bit about the effect19900:09:33,239 –> 00:09:35,119of the word of God in your own life. Yes, sir.20000:09:35,119 –> 00:09:39,440It’s brought new life to you in a very, very wonderful way.20100:09:39,640 –> 00:09:41,719Let’s think a little bit about how20200:09:41,919 –> 00:09:46,000you are trying to encourage others to get into the word of God.20300:09:46,200 –> 00:09:48,320You’ve spoken already about gathering20400:09:48,520 –> 00:09:51,119a group of people and reading the Bible together.20500:09:51,320 –> 00:09:53,400And you’ve kind of developed that20600:09:53,599 –> 00:09:58,919into a simple approach that has been helpful to you and is helpful to others.20700:09:58,919 –> 00:10:00,400Tell us a little bit more about your20800:10:00,599 –> 00:10:04,200approach, how the small group works and what the method is.20900:10:04,200 –> 00:10:07,119Sure. So what we do, we originally we21000:10:07,119 –> 00:10:11,080started with the book of John and we said we’re going to read chapter one this week.21100:10:11,280 –> 00:10:19,039So every day we read chapter one of John chapter one every day for a week.21200:10:19,239 –> 00:10:22,919And then we gather together on Wednesday mornings and we discuss.21300:10:22,919 –> 00:10:25,719But we we read it prayerfully,21400:10:25,919 –> 00:10:29,559we read it asking God to teach us and show us because, you know,21500:10:29,760 –> 00:10:33,320the Bible says that if we’re saved, we have the Holy Spirit in us.21600:10:33,960 –> 00:10:35,479God’s the greatest teacher, right?21700:10:35,599 –> 00:10:38,599Yeah. So God said he would teach us, he would lead us.21800:10:38,599 –> 00:10:41,880He would guide us. He would remind us of things Jesus said.21900:10:42,080 –> 00:10:47,200So we jot down any notes, anything that we see for the first time.22000:10:47,400 –> 00:10:52,119And what I found about the Bible is you’ll never plumb the depths of the Bible.22100:10:52,320 –> 00:10:54,719I can. I’ve read John Chapter one because we go22200:10:54,919 –> 00:10:57,880we always start off new groups, we say, let’s go with John chapter one.22300:10:58,000 –> 00:10:59,080I’ve read John chapter one.22400:10:59,280 –> 00:11:02,280I can’t tell you how many times in the last two years.22500:11:02,479 –> 00:11:07,119And every time I read it for a week, I get new truth out of it, new revelation.22600:11:07,320 –> 00:11:09,880So we come together, a group of twelve is22700:11:10,080 –> 00:11:14,159a perfect size because five minutes for each person is an hour.22800:11:14,359 –> 00:11:16,440And so we go around the room and we ask22900:11:16,640 –> 00:11:20,080everybody to share what God revealed to them through the spirit23000:11:20,280 –> 00:11:22,239and through his word that week.23100:11:22,440 –> 00:11:26,080And it’s just beautiful because everybody’s at different places in their lives.23200:11:26,280 –> 00:11:28,640Some may be grieving the loss of a child.23300:11:28,640 –> 00:11:31,000Some may be celebrating the birth of a child.23400:11:31,200 –> 00:11:32,559But there’s one truth.23500:11:32,760 –> 00:11:35,080We don’t have multiple truth they’re one truth.23600:11:35,280 –> 00:11:37,119But it’s multiple application,23700:11:37,200 –> 00:11:39,919how it applies, how it reaches people in their lives.23800:11:40,119 –> 00:11:43,479And so we go around, we discuss it and we learn off of each other.23900:11:43,679 –> 00:11:45,000Nobody’s teaching.24000:11:45,200 –> 00:11:46,880Everybody’s sharing.24100:11:47,080 –> 00:11:49,000I love that24200:11:49,200 –> 00:11:54,559because you’re encouraging people to slow down in their reading of the Bible.24300:11:54,760 –> 00:12:00,359So this idea of read the same chapter every day for a week24400:12:00,760 –> 00:12:05,119and you’ll see new things in it the second time, the third time,24500:12:05,320 –> 00:12:08,000the fifth time, the sixth time and the seventh time,24600:12:08,200 –> 00:12:12,520because scripture is so wonderfully, wonderfully rich.24700:12:12,719 –> 00:12:15,080You know, my pastor taught me early24800:12:15,280 –> 00:12:22,239in life, slow down in reading the Bible, read a few verses and try and find one24900:12:22,440 –> 00:12:26,919thing that you will take into your mind and into your heart and carry it with you.25000:12:26,919 –> 00:12:28,200I think what you’re doing is you’re25100:12:28,200 –> 00:12:32,280spiritually encouraging people to to capture six or seven things over the25200:12:32,280 –> 00:12:36,880course of a week just by going to the same passage and letting it drip feed25300:12:37,080 –> 00:12:43,200into the mind and into the heart so that more and more is being drawn out of it.25400:12:43,400 –> 00:12:44,559I think it’s a marvelous thing.25500:12:44,559 –> 00:12:46,400And you understand the depth of the word.25600:12:46,599 –> 00:12:49,479Now. Now the word becomes so alive to you,25700:12:49,679 –> 00:12:54,760sir, that you realize this word was was given to us from someone25800:12:54,799 –> 00:12:59,799who’s holier than my words can explain or, or our minds can comprehend us.25900:13:00,000 –> 00:13:02,479And he’s communicating to us through this.26000:13:02,679 –> 00:13:05,479And it just goes layer after layer after layer.26100:13:05,679 –> 00:13:08,919We just did John chapter one and Guatemala last week.26200:13:09,119 –> 00:13:13,239And so I was reading, John the Baptist says, I’m just the voice of one.26300:13:13,440 –> 00:13:14,719Well, I’d never seen it that way.26400:13:14,719 –> 00:13:16,599I’m the voice of one in the wilderness.26500:13:16,799 –> 00:13:20,479He said, I’m just the voice of one in the wilderness, you know?26600:13:20,479 –> 00:13:22,520And for us, that’s what we are.26700:13:22,679 –> 00:13:25,200We’re the voice of one and we live in a wilderness.26800:13:25,400 –> 00:13:28,599And we’re saying, behold, the word of God.26900:13:28,799 –> 00:13:30,960See, another thing that I love about27000:13:31,159 –> 00:13:35,599what you’re doing is not only do you have the highest confidence in the word of God27100:13:35,799 –> 00:13:40,559as God actually speaking to us, but you have real confidence in the presence27200:13:40,760 –> 00:13:45,840and the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer to enable us27300:13:46,039 –> 00:13:48,760to understand and benefit from the word of God.27400:13:48,760 –> 00:13:50,000Talk a little bit about that,27500:13:50,000 –> 00:13:53,000because it seems to me that that’s something very important and valuable.27600:13:53,200 –> 00:13:55,239Absolutely. Because he’s our teacher.27700:13:55,440 –> 00:13:57,000He’s he’s the one and you know,27800:13:57,000 –> 00:14:00,280the Bible says he will convict of sin, righteousness and judgement.27900:14:00,479 –> 00:14:02,200He will lead you. He will guide you.28000:14:02,200 –> 00:14:04,960He will remind you of everything that Jesus said.28100:14:05,159 –> 00:14:13,119So we believe that the word of God, it has to be revealed, truth has to be revealed.28200:14:13,320 –> 00:14:15,960You can preach truth, but the Holy Spirit reveals truth.28300:14:16,000 –> 00:14:16,719Right. Yeah.28400:14:16,919 –> 00:14:19,799So we believe every say person,28500:14:19,799 –> 00:14:21,440the Bible makes it clear that every saved28600:14:21,640 –> 00:14:24,640person has God himself as the Holy Spirit living in them.28700:14:24,840 –> 00:14:28,039Yeah, he is the revealer of truth.28800:14:28,239 –> 00:14:31,559Yeah. And so we have that capacity in us.28900:14:31,760 –> 00:14:37,679If we will apply ourselves to get into the word and let him teach us and guide us29000:14:37,880 –> 00:14:42,039and we gather together to discuss and when we come together as groups.29100:14:42,239 –> 00:14:44,760You think about the twelve disciples.29200:14:45,000 –> 00:14:48,760They were with Jesus every day walking around, hearing truth,29300:14:48,960 –> 00:14:53,080hearing truth, you know, they had to get together and discuss it to talk about,29400:14:53,280 –> 00:14:56,640did you understand this, did you understand that we never come29500:14:56,640 –> 00:14:59,520at our meetings saying we have all the answers we don’t29600:14:59,719 –> 00:15:03,840that that we understand we’re talking about a God beyond our imagination.29700:15:04,039 –> 00:15:05,799So we come together to discuss the29800:15:06,000 –> 00:15:09,359revelation that we’ve been given that way, but it’s always29900:15:09,559 –> 00:15:11,679revelation from the word, by the spirit.30000:15:11,960 –> 00:15:17,119Yeah. And that the Bible is a book that a believer can actually understand.30100:15:17,320 –> 00:15:22,479I love the way that Peter puts this and second Peter and in chapter one,30200:15:22,679 –> 00:15:29,080he’s talking about we were eyewitnesses of his, that’s Christ’s Majesty.30300:15:29,280 –> 00:15:31,599And so he’s speaking about the word that30400:15:31,799 –> 00:15:34,280is now in the gospels that are given to us.30500:15:34,479 –> 00:15:40,599And he says we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed to which you will do30600:15:41,000 –> 00:15:46,679as well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place.30700:15:46,840 –> 00:15:49,239Well, I’ve heard people talk about the Bible as being, you know,30800:15:49,320 –> 00:15:53,000such an obscure and difficult book that nobody could ever possibly understand it.30900:15:53,200 –> 00:15:57,039It sounds like it’s a sort of murky well that you could never get into.31000:15:57,239 –> 00:16:00,320This says it’s a lamp shining in a dark place.31100:16:00,520 –> 00:16:06,400And when a believer is indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we don’t understand everything,31200:16:06,520 –> 00:16:11,760but we really can open the Bible and we can hear the voice of God31300:16:11,960 –> 00:16:16,000and we can discern and understand and grasp His word.31400:16:16,200 –> 00:16:17,840Whenever I was saved,31500:16:18,039 –> 00:16:22,440it happened because God opened my eyes to see His holiness,31600:16:22,640 –> 00:16:26,440my depravity, and the only hope I had was Jesus Christ.31700:16:26,640 –> 00:16:32,159Yeah, He opened my eyes to see that prior to I was religious, but lost.31800:16:32,359 –> 00:16:35,840Now when I read the Bible, God through the Holy Spirit,31900:16:36,039 –> 00:16:39,039reveals light, just like He revealed my condition.32000:16:39,239 –> 00:16:43,679He is revealing Himself to me and He’s revealing about, you know,32100:16:43,880 –> 00:16:48,960you read, at first you’re reading words, but after a couple of three days,32200:16:49,159 –> 00:16:52,679you begin to see God’s ways and how He works.32300:16:52,679 –> 00:16:54,320And then you’re reminded, well, wait a minute.32400:16:54,520 –> 00:16:55,840He did this in Genesis.32500:16:55,840 –> 00:16:57,039He did this in Revelation.32600:16:57,159 –> 00:17:00,440You know, you can just see this beautiful thread through the Bible.32700:17:00,640 –> 00:17:04,599One message, God restoring man back into fellowship from Him,32800:17:04,800 –> 00:17:08,520which was lost in the garden, restored by way of Jesus,32900:17:08,719 –> 00:17:13,319until we’re back into the city, which looks like to me,33000:17:13,319 –> 00:17:14,959it’s going to be similar to the garden.33100:17:14,959 –> 00:17:18,760Well, you’re talking my language when you talk about the whole Bible being33200:17:18,959 –> 00:17:22,479one story and begins in the garden, and ends in the city and all the way through.33300:17:22,680 –> 00:17:24,640It’s about the Lord Jesus Christ,33400:17:24,839 –> 00:17:28,239and isn’t it beautiful where you’re able to see these things tying together?33500:17:28,239 –> 00:17:31,839It’s the most exciting time I’ve ever had in my faith, in my faith walk.33600:17:32,040 –> 00:17:33,040It is so exciting.33700:17:33,239 –> 00:17:36,400Every day is exciting, knowing that we get to meet and talk33800:17:36,599 –> 00:17:40,839with, have communication with, a conversation with this God.33900:17:41,040 –> 00:17:42,439Do you know, another thing that I’m34000:17:42,640 –> 00:17:47,839finding to be really helpful these days is just to notice how often34100:17:48,040 –> 00:17:52,719in the Scripture, where there’s a command, there’s also a promise34200:17:52,800 –> 00:17:57,160and, you know, love one another as I have loved you.34300:17:57,160 –> 00:17:58,599So there’s that there’s a command there34400:17:58,800 –> 00:18:01,599on the one hand and there’s a promise there on the other.34500:18:01,800 –> 00:18:05,560Forgive one another as God in Christ has forgiven you.34600:18:05,760 –> 00:18:09,479Be content with what you have for God has said, I will never leave you.34700:18:09,599 –> 00:18:10,479I’ll never forsake you.34800:18:10,680 –> 00:18:15,199I’ve got in the habit, Mike, of every time I see a command in the Bible.34900:18:15,400 –> 00:18:17,040I’m saying, is there a promise somewhere35000:18:17,040 –> 00:18:19,680around here that’s going to enable me to fulfill it?35100:18:19,839 –> 00:18:21,599Because it seems to me that something35200:18:21,800 –> 00:18:26,800wonderful that God has given to us in the gospel is that he gives in his35300:18:27,000 –> 00:18:32,760promises what we need in order to live a life in obedience to his commands.35400:18:32,760 –> 00:18:35,359And that connection seems to me to be absolutely vital.35500:18:35,400 –> 00:18:36,800And and there’s one more thing I would35600:18:36,800 –> 00:18:41,959think about I wanted to mention, and the fact in how Moses, when he35700:18:42,160 –> 00:18:45,760was in Deuteronomy and he was telling he’s about to leave35800:18:45,959 –> 00:18:48,839and he’s talking about the words that he had written, to commandments35900:18:49,119 –> 00:18:51,560he said these words you’ll have in your heart.36000:18:51,760 –> 00:18:53,800You will teach them to your children36100:18:54,000 –> 00:18:57,680and you’ll talk about them when you rise up, when you lie down,36200:18:57,680 –> 00:19:01,160when you’re going out and when you’re coming in and you’ll have them on your36300:19:01,239 –> 00:19:05,160doorpost, on your gate, you’ll have them on your hand, you’ll have them on your36400:19:05,359 –> 00:19:10,239head, and if you really chew on that and think about what Moses was talking about,36500:19:10,239 –> 00:19:13,800he’s saying, I want you to saturate your mind with these scriptures.36600:19:14,000 –> 00:19:16,560I want you to get together and discuss them.36700:19:16,800 –> 00:19:19,319But it’s because you read it repetitively,36800:19:19,479 –> 00:19:22,880just like hearing a song over and over and over, it sticks in your mind36900:19:23,079 –> 00:19:26,119using this Bible study method, the way we’re doing.37000:19:26,300 –> 00:19:27,560When I wake up in the morning, I’m37100:19:27,760 –> 00:19:31,160thinking about the scripture, the last thoughts in my end of my day.37200:19:31,359 –> 00:19:32,400I’m thinking about scripture.37300:19:32,599 –> 00:19:35,119So I have never, ever been able to do that.37400:19:35,319 –> 00:19:36,359The other benefit.37500:19:36,560 –> 00:19:40,160I have victory over sin that I did not have before.37600:19:40,280 –> 00:19:41,119Wow, that’s powerful.37700:19:41,319 –> 00:19:43,560Whenever you know the Bible says I’ve37800:19:43,560 –> 00:19:45,880hid your word in my heart that I might not sin…37900:19:46,780 –> 00:19:50,040And so to understand that there was the38000:19:50,079 –> 00:19:53,800hidden sins. Lust, pride, greed, envy, you know, those sins,38100:19:54,000 –> 00:19:58,119we can hide them from people, but we don’t hide them from God and pride,38200:19:58,319 –> 00:19:59,040those type things.38300:19:59,239 –> 00:20:04,040But having the word in your heart will keep you, give you victory over those sins.38400:20:04,239 –> 00:20:06,599And brother, there’s nothing like walking in victory.38500:20:06,800 –> 00:20:08,719Yeah, when we’re walking in victory.38600:20:08,920 –> 00:20:10,199We’re excited about our faith.38700:20:10,400 –> 00:20:11,680Yeah, yeah, indeed.38800:20:11,880 –> 00:20:15,920Let me read a couple of verses from Psalm 19.38900:20:16,119 –> 00:20:20,239I love these verses because they remind us not only that the Bible is the word39000:20:20,439 –> 00:20:23,439of God, but that the Bible actually does the work of God.39100:20:23,439 –> 00:20:25,079And I think they describe what you’ve39200:20:25,239 –> 00:20:28,040been talking about and what all of us are really looking for.39300:20:28,239 –> 00:20:31,400This is Psalm 19, verses seven and eight.39400:20:31,599 –> 00:20:34,119The law of the Lord is perfect.39500:20:34,140 –> 00:20:36,880And then look what it does, reviving the soul.39600:20:36,880 –> 00:20:38,160I mean, that’s what’s happened to you.39700:20:38,319 –> 00:20:39,560Your soul’s been revived.39800:20:39,800 –> 00:20:43,599The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simples.39900:20:43,599 –> 00:20:45,800So you’re someone who says, I’ve never40000:20:46,000 –> 00:20:49,640been to a seminary, but the word of God makes40100:20:49,839 –> 00:20:52,319wise to the person who’s invoked by the spirit.40200:20:52,520 –> 00:20:55,520The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.40300:20:55,520 –> 00:20:58,800Well, I mean, there’s been a whole lot of joy in our conversation right here.40400:20:59,000 –> 00:21:02,280The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.40500:21:02,479 –> 00:21:06,520So actually, it’s not simply learning information.40600:21:06,640 –> 00:21:08,800This is life that comes to us.40700:21:09,000 –> 00:21:13,199And you have experienced it and you’re now seeing it happen.40800:21:13,400 –> 00:21:14,640Well, tell us,40900:21:14,839 –> 00:21:19,040the Bible study that you started is now all over the world.41000:21:19,239 –> 00:21:21,920We have it going all over South America, Latin America.41100:21:22,040 –> 00:21:23,119We have it in Africa.41200:21:23,119 –> 00:21:24,239We have it in seminaries.41300:21:24,439 –> 00:21:29,520We have it in schools because the Method works and people are excited about it.41400:21:29,719 –> 00:21:36,319We just got back from Guatemala City last week and we have a three year plan with41500:21:36,520 –> 00:21:40,319the guys that we’re working with over there that our goal is to have ten41600:21:40,520 –> 00:21:45,520thousand leaders trained in three years that will have ten thousand groups.41700:21:45,560 –> 00:21:47,520Each group will have at least ten people.41800:21:47,520 –> 00:21:51,079So that would be one hundred thousand people that we’re trying to disciple.41900:21:51,280 –> 00:21:52,800And when I say try to disciple,42000:21:53,000 –> 00:21:57,920it’s not our work, it’s trusting in the word, God’s word to do his work.42100:21:57,920 –> 00:21:59,439I like to say we’re just trying to get42200:21:59,640 –> 00:22:03,359God’s people into God’s Word until God’s Word gets into God’s people.42300:22:03,560 –> 00:22:05,560It’s beautifully simple and God is42400:22:05,560 –> 00:22:08,839blessing it and thank you for sharing the story.42500:22:09,040 –> 00:22:10,920I mean, this is such an encouragement42600:22:11,119 –> 00:22:14,079that God’s Word has got into your life, Mike.42700:22:14,280 –> 00:22:16,479It’s brought such a change in your life42800:22:16,680 –> 00:22:20,560that now it’s coming into the lives of many, many other people.42900:22:20,800 –> 00:22:22,439And I think, you know, just43000:22:22,640 –> 00:22:27,560to kind of wrap this conversation that the challenge for all of us I think is43100:22:27,760 –> 00:22:30,199we’re receiving the word of God.43200:22:30,400 –> 00:22:34,280What can we do that will then mean that43300:22:34,280 –> 00:22:37,280we are not only receiving, but we’re becoming channels to actually43400:22:37,280 –> 00:22:38,599share it and give it with others?43500:22:38,800 –> 00:22:43,400The simplicity of what you’ve got here, read the Bible, pray and ask God,43600:22:43,400 –> 00:22:44,719what are you showing me through this?43700:22:44,719 –> 00:22:46,119And then share it with some other people.43800:22:46,199 –> 00:22:47,280I mean, that’s so simple.43900:22:47,479 –> 00:22:49,040Anyone can do this,44000:22:49,239 –> 00:22:53,959and it’s going to enrich people’s lives in the most wonderful, wonderful way.44100:22:54,160 –> 00:22:56,959Mike, thank you so much for being on the program today.44200:22:57,160 –> 00:22:59,319Appreciate your friendship, your ministry,44300:22:59,520 –> 00:23:02,760your testimony, and God bless you in all that you’re doing.44400:23:02,959 –> 00:23:03,959Thank you so much, sir.44500:23:04,040 –> 00:23:05,400God bless you.44600:23:05,599 –> 00:23:07,239You’re listening to a special edition44700:23:07,239 –> 00:23:09,359of Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.44800:23:09,560 –> 00:23:11,199And I’m encouraged listening to this44900:23:11,400 –> 00:23:14,599conversation between Pastor Colin and Studios founder Mike Forbiss,45000:23:14,760 –> 00:23:17,880as they’re talking about getting into the word of God.45100:23:18,079 –> 00:23:20,959And a great way to do that is to read God’s Word,45200:23:21,160 –> 00:23:26,800the same passage every day for a week and then get together and discuss that.45300:23:27,000 –> 00:23:29,160If you want to have more information about that,45400:23:29,359 –> 00:23:33,319check out the website for simple discipleship.org.45500:23:33,479 –> 00:23:37,839There’s a lot more information and resources about this Bible study method.45600:23:38,040 –> 00:23:41,760That’s at simple discipleship.org.45700:23:41,959 –> 00:23:43,839One of the things we’re passionate about45800:23:44,040 –> 00:23:48,079here at Open the Bible is getting people to open God’s Word to have a better45900:23:48,280 –> 00:23:52,160understanding of it and to see how it applies to our lives.46000:23:52,359 –> 00:23:54,719A great way to do that is to read God’s46100:23:54,920 –> 00:23:58,000Word with a friend, to discuss what you’re learning.46200:23:58,199 –> 00:24:00,079If this is something you’d like to do,46300:24:00,079 –> 00:24:04,400why not ask a friend to do our fly through the Bible course with you.46400:24:04,599 –> 00:24:06,719You can either download the free fly46500:24:06,920 –> 00:24:10,560through the Bible app or watch the videos on our website.46600:24:10,760 –> 00:24:13,579That’s that Open theBible.org.uk46700:24:13,579 –> 00:24:15,479and then click on courses,46800:24:15,680 –> 00:24:19,040there is a Bible passage to read, a video of Colin to watch,46900:24:19,239 –> 00:24:21,560and questions to discuss.47000:24:21,760 –> 00:24:25,239Open the Bible is supported financially by our many listeners.47100:24:25,439 –> 00:24:26,920And we’re extremely grateful for your47200:24:27,119 –> 00:24:30,000support, if you already give to support our work.47300:24:30,199 –> 00:24:32,119It’s the last day of the month today.47400:24:32,119 –> 00:24:33,680And if you’re considering beginning to47500:24:33,880 –> 00:24:38,160support open the Bible financially, it’s the last day of our offer to send47600:24:38,359 –> 00:24:41,280you a copy of Pastor Colin’s book grow in hope.47700:24:41,479 –> 00:24:43,400We’ll send you a copy of that book when47800:24:43,599 –> 00:24:47,680you begin a new direct debit of five pounds per month or more or a one off47900:24:47,880 –> 00:24:51,760gift of £60 or more to support the work of open the Bible.48000:24:51,959 –> 00:24:54,920Full details, terms and conditions are on our website48100:24:54,920 –> 00:25:00,079that’s open thebible.org.uk and you can give online.48200:25:00,280 –> 00:25:02,119Don’t forget though to leave your full48300:25:02,319 –> 00:25:06,760name and address so we can send you your gift for Open the Bible and Pastor48400:25:06,760 –> 00:25:08,239Colin smith, David Pick.48500:25:08,439 –> 00:25:10,319And I hope you’ll join us again next time.48600:25:20,599 –> 00:25:22,520If you’ve been tempted to feel that your48700:25:22,520 –> 00:25:27,959labour for the Lord might have been in vain, join us next time on Open the Bible.