100:00:00,180 –> 00:00:05,220Every time we open the Bible200:00:05,220 –> 00:00:09,180God is calling us to examine our own hearts.300:00:09,180 –> 00:00:13,140We see trends and drifts within the church and then what we have to do is we400:00:13,140 –> 00:00:15,140have to examine our own hearts500:00:15,140 –> 00:00:19,299and when we do we will often find that the roots600:00:19,299 –> 00:00:22,320of the same sins that we see in others are700:00:22,320 –> 00:00:25,360actually hiding in our own hearts as well.800:00:25,360 –> 00:00:29,440Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith900:00:29,440 –> 00:00:32,480I’m David Pick. I’m so glad you could be with us today and1000:00:32,540 –> 00:00:38,000Colin, can we begin today by talking about what it means to examine our own hearts?1100:00:38,040 –> 00:00:41,279Yeah well the first thing to say is it’s a biblical command we are to examine1200:00:41,279 –> 00:00:45,459ourselves. The Lord says that to us in 2nd Corinthians and the way that we do1300:00:45,459 –> 00:00:46,180that1400:00:46,180 –> 00:00:49,360is by taking a look at our own lives to see1500:00:49,360 –> 00:00:52,380if there are particular sins1600:00:52,380 –> 00:00:56,980that are there and so I like to do this with an open Bible. Read the Bible and1700:00:57,020 –> 00:01:01,540you’ll identify sins as you read from the Bible and then ask the question1800:01:01,540 –> 00:01:05,820is there any evidence of that in my heart and you have to take a look1900:01:05,820 –> 00:01:09,480so you come across something that speaks about anger or bitterness or pride or2000:01:09,480 –> 00:01:10,400whatever2100:01:10,400 –> 00:01:13,760and you say well let me have a look. Are there areas2200:01:13,760 –> 00:01:18,440in which that is being manifested in me until you’ve identified a thing,2300:01:18,440 –> 00:01:22,199you can’t go after it, you can’t root it out, you can’t confess it, you can’t come2400:01:22,199 –> 00:01:22,519up2500:01:22,639 –> 00:01:25,040and engage in the battle against it.2600:01:25,040 –> 00:01:29,720And as we do that, as honestly as we can, that allows us to grow2700:01:29,720 –> 00:01:33,019in our walk with Christ. Yeah. And it allows us to bring2800:01:33,019 –> 00:01:36,180things in confession to the Lord and to place them2900:01:36,180 –> 00:01:39,919under the blood of Christ and to find forgiveness and to ask3000:01:39,919 –> 00:01:43,099for the help of the Holy Spirit to fight3100:01:43,099 –> 00:01:47,080more clearly against this sin that I have now seen more clearly so3200:01:47,080 –> 00:01:50,559you know you can’t battle against sin and make progress in the Christian life3300:01:50,680 –> 00:01:54,839unless and until you’ve identified what it is that you’re trying to overcome.3400:01:54,839 –> 00:01:58,940And so there’s something very realistic about self-examination3500:01:58,940 –> 00:02:00,180and the progress that comes from it.3600:02:00,180 –> 00:02:05,760Today, we’re looking at Isaiah chapter 1 as we continue the message, Rebelion.3700:02:05,760 –> 00:02:07,120Here’s Colin.3800:02:07,120 –> 00:02:11,039Now, I want you to look with me if you would at the portrait that we’re given here3900:02:11,039 –> 00:02:15,320of God’s rebel Children.4000:02:15,320 –> 00:02:19,839Verse 4, first description,4100:02:19,940 –> 00:02:23,839That they are laden with iniquity,4200:02:23,839 –> 00:02:30,800a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity.4300:02:31,039 –> 00:02:32,399They have forsaken the Lord.4400:02:32,399 –> 00:02:34,380They have despised the holy one of Israel.4500:02:34,380 –> 00:02:39,520And they are utterly estranged.4600:02:39,520 –> 00:02:41,320Very striking phrase, isn’t it?4700:02:41,320 –> 00:02:43,899Laden with inequality.4800:02:43,899 –> 00:02:45,259It speaks of weight.4900:02:45,259 –> 00:02:49,059It speaks of a burden that is being carried.5000:02:49,940 –> 00:02:55,059Imagine every sin to be a stone.5100:02:55,059 –> 00:02:59,979And every sin that a person has committed then is put into a bag5200:02:59,979 –> 00:03:04,440and the bag is carried on the person’s shoulders.5300:03:04,440 –> 00:03:07,039And over time the weight of what is carried,5400:03:07,039 –> 00:03:10,740the weight of guilt that remains upon this person5500:03:10,740 –> 00:03:12,380becomes heavier and heavier.5600:03:12,380 –> 00:03:20,600It weighs the person down, laden with iniquity.5700:03:20,600 –> 00:03:23,100Second description.5800:03:23,100 –> 00:03:25,979You’ve seen the first picture, the burden that’s weighing them down.5900:03:25,979 –> 00:03:28,520Second picture, even more vivid,6000:03:28,520 –> 00:03:31,300they are bruised and they are bleeding.6100:03:31,300 –> 00:03:34,339Verses 5 and 6.6200:03:34,339 –> 00:03:37,639Why will you still be struck down?6300:03:37,639 –> 00:03:41,080Why will you continue to rebel?6400:03:41,080 –> 00:03:46,559The whole head is sick.6500:03:46,559 –> 00:03:48,139So here’s the head.6600:03:48,139 –> 00:03:49,800It can’t think straight.6700:03:49,800 –> 00:03:51,100Doesn’t reason well.6800:03:51,100 –> 00:03:56,300There’s been a losing of the connection between actions and consequences.6900:03:56,300 –> 00:03:58,860And the heart, the whole heart is faint.7000:03:58,860 –> 00:04:04,800Here’s a person who’s worn out, increasingly running out of energy, flagging.7100:04:05,119 –> 00:04:07,539And then try and picture this in your mind.7200:04:07,539 –> 00:04:16,380From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it but bruises and7300:04:16,380 –> 00:04:28,420sores and raw wounds that are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.7400:04:28,420 –> 00:04:34,019So picture this body of this burdened person.7500:04:34,019 –> 00:04:41,040And all over from head to toe there are these open wounds, bruises.7600:04:41,040 –> 00:04:42,519And they’re not pressed out.7700:04:42,519 –> 00:04:43,519What does that mean?7800:04:43,519 –> 00:04:47,500It means that the infection has not been cleaned from them.7900:04:47,500 –> 00:04:50,260The pus remains.8000:04:50,260 –> 00:04:54,619And so, these old wounds from the past keep reinfecting.8100:04:54,619 –> 00:04:57,420It’s very powerful description, isn’t it?8200:04:57,420 –> 00:05:02,220Can’t ever get over the old wounds of the past they keep reinfecting, because they’ve8300:05:02,220 –> 00:05:06,239never actually been healed.8400:05:06,239 –> 00:05:09,140And they’re not bound up and softened with oil.8500:05:09,140 –> 00:05:14,839In other words, on the surface, the skin has dried out and it has hardened.8600:05:14,839 –> 00:05:16,679There’s no ointment that’s been placed on it.8700:05:16,679 –> 00:05:18,079There’s no bandaging.8800:05:18,079 –> 00:05:21,899There’s nothing that has caused the flesh to heal over the wound.8900:05:21,899 –> 00:05:25,739And so, the flesh remains open, hard, brittle.9000:05:25,739 –> 00:05:27,959And the wound continues to separate.9100:05:27,959 –> 00:05:30,380And it’s like that from head to toe.9200:05:30,420 –> 00:05:32,579It’s a horrible picture.9300:05:33,559 –> 00:05:35,399Third, alone and vulnerable.9400:05:35,399 –> 00:05:41,619Verse 8, the daughter of Zion, and here are three pictures, is left like a booth in a9500:05:41,619 –> 00:05:42,619vineyard.9600:05:42,619 –> 00:05:48,239That’s a little sort of shack that’s quickly constructed in the middle of a vineyard.9700:05:48,239 –> 00:05:53,380Like a lodge in a cucumber field or like a besieged city.9800:05:53,380 –> 00:05:57,739Three pictures and all of them with the same impact.9900:05:57,779 –> 00:05:59,920It’s a picture of being alone.10000:06:01,040 –> 00:06:02,320Surrounded.10100:06:03,619 –> 00:06:07,579Here’s a guy and he’s in the middle of this vast vineyard and he’s just there on10200:06:07,579 –> 00:06:10,179his own and surrounded.10300:06:10,940 –> 00:06:14,839There’s another person, he’s in a little hut and he’s surrounded by a field of melons10400:06:14,859 –> 00:06:16,299or cucumbers.10500:06:17,519 –> 00:06:22,880Someone else, he’s alone in a big city and is surrounded by an army.10600:06:24,220 –> 00:06:24,899Very interesting.10700:06:24,899 –> 00:06:30,920Nicer to be surrounded by grapes than a hostile army, I would have thought.10800:06:32,500 –> 00:06:36,420But at the end of the day, if you’re on your own it doesn’t really matter too much10900:06:36,420 –> 00:06:40,420whether you’re surrounded by all the money in the world or all the enemies in11000:06:40,420 –> 00:06:41,059the world.11100:06:42,079 –> 00:06:48,660The picture here is of being alone, of being vulnerable, of being isolated, of11200:06:48,700 –> 00:06:49,839being surrounded.11300:06:49,839 –> 00:06:52,920Now, that’s the picture.11400:06:54,119 –> 00:07:06,720God’s rebel children laden with inequity, bleeding and bruised, alone and11500:07:06,839 –> 00:07:10,160surrounded, vulnerable.11600:07:12,540 –> 00:07:19,299Now, as God paints this tragic picture of children he has loved and yet they’ve11700:07:19,339 –> 00:07:21,920rebelled against him and they’ve ended up like this.11800:07:23,940 –> 00:07:27,140The question is, what hope then is there going to be?11900:07:28,160 –> 00:07:31,760And there is wonderful hope that we’re going to follow through in this series12000:07:31,760 –> 00:07:34,239and that’s why we’re coming to it over these weeks.12100:07:34,239 –> 00:07:36,260And it begins right here.12200:07:36,899 –> 00:07:43,079The hope that God commends here rests in the remnant, the remnant.12300:07:44,079 –> 00:07:46,480Now if you don’t know that word, it’s a good word to learn.12400:07:46,480 –> 00:07:49,100It’s a Bible word and it’s important.12500:07:49,200 –> 00:07:52,839It is my truth to understand, and it’s in verse nine,12600:07:53,200 –> 00:08:01,260if the Lord of hosts had not left us, here it is, a few survivors,12700:08:02,500 –> 00:08:05,239we should have become like Sodom and like Gomorrah.12800:08:05,239 –> 00:08:07,440In other words, if there hadn’t been some left,12900:08:07,440 –> 00:08:11,399if there hadn’t been this remnant that I’m going to try and explain to you,13000:08:11,399 –> 00:08:13,140if there hadn’t been these few survivors,13100:08:14,200 –> 00:08:16,480then under God’s judgment,13200:08:17,420 –> 00:08:20,220would have become like Sodom and Gomorrah.13300:08:21,820 –> 00:08:24,500Now this reference to the few survivors,13400:08:24,720 –> 00:08:27,459and it’s a theme that comes often in the prophecy of Isaiah,13500:08:27,459 –> 00:08:32,140is very important in the Old Testament, this doctrine of the remnant.13600:08:32,140 –> 00:08:35,599Here’s what it means, very simply.13700:08:35,599 –> 00:08:39,119That even when large numbers of people fall away,13800:08:39,119 –> 00:08:43,479God always has some who continue to be faithful,13900:08:44,039 –> 00:08:47,140and his work gets done through them.14000:08:47,140 –> 00:08:49,799That’s the great Bible doctrine of the remnant.14100:08:49,799 –> 00:08:53,599Now this is communicated in multiple ways in the Bible.14200:08:53,599 –> 00:08:56,799One way in Isaiah is through a very powerful picture14300:08:56,799 –> 00:08:59,599that you’ll find in Isaiah chapter eleven and verse one.14400:08:59,599 –> 00:09:03,840Isaiah pictures God’s people as being like a tree.14500:09:03,840 –> 00:09:05,960And he says, now here’s what’s happening?14600:09:05,960 –> 00:09:11,940The tree has been cut down, and only a stump remains.14700:09:11,940 –> 00:09:14,020And you remember what he says about that stump?14800:09:14,020 –> 00:09:17,940That there’s a shoot, that there’s a new growth that comes out of the stump.14900:09:17,940 –> 00:09:23,260That’s the doctrine of the remnant, right there, that he’s explaining.15000:09:23,260 –> 00:09:28,340And Paul takes this up in the new testament in Romans and chapter eleven.15100:09:28,340 –> 00:09:32,299And explains to us that in every generation God always15200:09:32,299 –> 00:09:38,020has his own people even when there is a widespread turning away from him.15300:09:38,020 –> 00:09:42,979And he quotes to make that point, of course, the Old Testament example of Elijah.15400:09:42,979 –> 00:09:46,739Remember Elijah lived in a time where people had turned to the idols and at one15500:09:46,739 –> 00:09:51,719point he got so discouraged that he said, I even I only am left.15600:09:51,719 –> 00:09:54,919And you remember what God said to Elijah.15700:09:54,919 –> 00:10:02,820Elijah I have seven thousand who have not yet bowed the knee to Baal.15800:10:02,940 –> 00:10:08,859Now Paul quotes this example in Romans chapter 11 and then he says this,15900:10:08,859 –> 00:10:19,260So too, at the present time, there is a remnant chosen by grace,16000:10:19,260 –> 00:10:21,559there is a remnant at the present time.16100:10:21,559 –> 00:10:25,520See when Paul was writing, and this is still true today,16200:10:25,520 –> 00:10:30,719the largest number of Jewish people did not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.16300:10:30,900 –> 00:10:33,440But Paul says, there are some who do.16400:10:33,440 –> 00:10:36,440And that is still true today and thank God for it.16500:10:36,440 –> 00:10:37,440And more than that,16600:10:37,440 –> 00:10:42,799I believe that there is good reason for us to expect that in the last days,16700:10:42,799 –> 00:10:47,460the few will become many because Paul speaks in Romans 11 in verse 2616800:10:47,460 –> 00:10:50,200about all Israel being saved.16900:10:50,200 –> 00:10:52,320The wonderful statement.17000:10:52,320 –> 00:10:54,619Now here’s the point and here’s the principle.17100:10:54,619 –> 00:10:58,119God never breaks his promises.17200:10:58,280 –> 00:11:02,400And God never lets his people go.17300:11:02,400 –> 00:11:05,340When even there is a large turning away,17400:11:05,340 –> 00:11:06,979he still has his own people.17500:11:06,979 –> 00:11:10,179This is true throughout history, the time of Elijah true in America today,17600:11:10,179 –> 00:11:16,219he has his people who remain faithful and his work gets carried on through them.17700:11:16,219 –> 00:11:18,739Now, if you think about it,17800:11:18,739 –> 00:11:27,140this truth in regards to what Isaiah is saying at his time is of huge importance.17900:11:27,219 –> 00:11:32,200Because if God’s people had become like Sodom and Gomorrah in the time of Isaiah,18000:11:32,200 –> 00:11:37,780if they had been obliterated, if the line had come to an end,18100:11:37,780 –> 00:11:41,140Jesus Christ could never have come into the world.18200:11:41,140 –> 00:11:44,859He was the promised seed of Abraham.18300:11:44,859 –> 00:11:46,539He comes into the line of David.18400:11:46,539 –> 00:11:47,979He’s born to the house of Israel.18500:11:47,979 –> 00:11:50,539He’s the lion of the tribe of Judah.18600:11:51,539 –> 00:11:55,960And it is critical in this time of Isaiah, when so many have turned away and become rebel18700:11:55,960 –> 00:11:58,440children, that God continues His work.18800:11:58,440 –> 00:12:05,479And He does that through the remnant, through the redeemed children who truly are His.18900:12:05,479 –> 00:12:10,960You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called Rebellion.19000:12:10,960 –> 00:12:17,599It’s part of our series called 180 degrees, how God changes His people and His church.19100:12:17,599 –> 00:12:21,320And, don’t forget, if you miss one of the series, you can always catch up or go back19200:12:21,320 –> 00:12:26,739and listen again online at our website openthebible.org.uk.19300:12:26,739 –> 00:12:31,479There you’ll find all the previously broadcasted messages and you’ll also find them as a podcast19400:12:31,479 –> 00:12:35,559on your favourite podcast site, search for Open the Bible UK.19500:12:35,559 –> 00:12:38,400Back to the message now, in Isaiah 1.19600:12:38,400 –> 00:12:39,400Here’s Colin.19700:12:39,400 –> 00:12:44,440It is critical in this time of Isaiah, when so many have turned away and become rebel19800:12:44,440 –> 00:12:49,619children, that God continues his work, and he does that through the remnant, through19900:12:49,619 –> 00:12:54,299the redeemed children who truly are his.20000:12:54,299 –> 00:13:00,140Now, that principle remains important for us today, and it leads us to ask the question,20100:13:00,140 –> 00:13:03,460how then can there be a remnant?20200:13:03,460 –> 00:13:08,119How then, in a world of rebel children, when many are turning away from the Lord, can there20300:13:08,119 –> 00:13:13,659be a community of redeemed children through whom God will continue his work in the world?20400:13:13,659 –> 00:13:16,460That’s a huge question.20500:13:16,460 –> 00:13:22,539I want to give you in these last moments just these three wonderfully encouraging answers.20600:13:22,539 –> 00:13:25,299How can there be a community of redeemed children?20700:13:25,299 –> 00:13:28,419First, because of the Lord of hosts.20800:13:28,419 –> 00:13:31,900Do you see that in verse 9?20900:13:31,900 –> 00:13:38,700If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom21000:13:38,700 –> 00:13:39,940and like Gomorrah.21100:13:39,940 –> 00:13:40,940Why?21200:13:40,979 –> 00:13:47,260Why is there a community of redeemed children brought out of, a chute coming out of the21300:13:47,260 –> 00:13:51,020stump of the rebel children cut down?21400:13:51,020 –> 00:13:52,059It’s because of the Lord of hosts.21500:13:52,059 –> 00:13:55,820If it hadn’t been for him we would have been like Sodom and Gomorrah that’s what it says.21600:13:55,820 –> 00:14:02,619Have you ever thought about this phrase, Lord of hosts, very striking.21700:14:02,619 –> 00:14:09,179Isiah uses that phrase as a description of God 62 times.21800:14:09,380 –> 00:14:12,619It means that he’s the lord of many.21900:14:12,619 –> 00:14:16,460It means that he’s the captain of a vast army.22000:14:16,460 –> 00:14:23,859It could be translated that the Lord is the all-powerful king, that’s what it means.22100:14:23,859 –> 00:14:27,700And here’s how you should take this home into your own heart and I need to take it home22200:14:27,700 –> 00:14:30,359into mine.22300:14:30,359 –> 00:14:36,359If you should come to a place where you are so discouraged that you might say, as other22400:14:36,359 –> 00:14:40,020people have said, I don’t know.22500:14:40,020 –> 00:14:44,859I sometimes wonder if even God can help me.22600:14:44,859 –> 00:14:45,859You said that?22700:14:45,859 –> 00:14:47,179Have you thought that?22800:14:47,179 –> 00:14:53,659Well if you come to that place I don’t know if even God can help me.22900:14:53,659 –> 00:15:01,619You take a look at who this God of the Bible is, he’s the Lord of hosts.23000:15:01,619 –> 00:15:04,859He is the God of infinite power.23100:15:04,919 –> 00:15:12,780He is the God whose resources are unlimited and he is the God who always brings his purposes23200:15:12,780 –> 00:15:13,780to pass.23300:15:13,780 –> 00:15:16,460The Lord of hosts.23400:15:16,460 –> 00:15:21,039That’s how even in difficult times there’s a community of redeemed children because of23500:15:21,039 –> 00:15:25,159his great power, and he advances his work in the world through them.23600:15:25,159 –> 00:15:33,580Second, how can there be a community of redeemed children because of the suffering Savior?23700:15:33,580 –> 00:15:37,140This is the opening chapter of Isaiah.23800:15:37,140 –> 00:15:41,859What’s the best known chapter of the prophecy of Isaiah?23900:15:41,859 –> 00:15:49,059One of the most familiar in all of the Old Testament is chapter 53, in which he speaks24000:15:49,059 –> 00:15:51,179about the suffering Savior who was to come.24100:15:51,179 –> 00:15:56,419It’s the very center of what he wants to speak to us about and what God says to us24200:15:56,419 –> 00:15:57,880through him.24300:15:57,880 –> 00:15:59,219Who is the suffering Savior?24400:15:59,359 –> 00:16:07,239He is the one who is wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.24500:16:07,239 –> 00:16:10,900So part of preaching is to worship.24600:16:10,900 –> 00:16:16,500I found in my own heart just a lifting to worship as I first saw the parallel here between24700:16:16,500 –> 00:16:21,960chapter 1 and chapter 53, and then thought of the wonder and of the glory and of the24800:16:21,960 –> 00:16:24,859love of the Son of God in relation to it.24900:16:25,640 –> 00:16:30,179Have you picked up on the connections between Isaiah 1 and Isaiah 53?25000:16:31,919 –> 00:16:37,900In both chapters we have a body that is bruised and is wounded.25100:16:38,979 –> 00:16:47,020In chapter 1 it is the wounded body of God’s rebel children with all these festering sores.25200:16:48,359 –> 00:16:54,539In chapter 53 it is the bruised body of God’s one and only Son.25300:16:55,719 –> 00:17:01,919In chapter 1 in verse 4, God’s children are struck down or smitten.25400:17:01,919 –> 00:17:07,579In Isaiah in chapter 53, the smiting is on God’s only son.25500:17:07,579 –> 00:17:12,979We esteemed him stricken and smitten by God and deflected.25600:17:12,979 –> 00:17:17,819In Isaiah 1 it is God’s rebel children who are bruised.25700:17:17,819 –> 00:17:22,979In Isaiah 53, the bruising is on God’s one and only son.25800:17:22,979 –> 00:17:30,380He was pierced for our transgressions and he was bruised for our iniquities.25900:17:30,380 –> 00:17:38,239In Isaiah chapter 1 it is God’s rebel children who have these raw and open wounds.26000:17:38,239 –> 00:17:44,180But in Isaiah in chapter 53, the open wounds are on the back of the Son of God, and it26100:17:44,180 –> 00:17:49,140is by his wounds that we are healed.26200:17:49,140 –> 00:17:51,099And most of all, think about this.26300:17:51,099 –> 00:17:56,839In Isaiah chapter 1, God’s rebel children are laden with iniquity.26400:17:56,839 –> 00:18:00,380Think about that word, laden.26500:18:00,380 –> 00:18:10,119And in Isaiah and chapter 53 we are told astonishingly that our iniquities are laid on him.26600:18:10,119 –> 00:18:18,060The Lord has laid on him the iniquities of us all.26700:18:18,060 –> 00:18:25,439The Son of God, he was laden with iniquity for us.26800:18:25,439 –> 00:18:30,500The Son of God, he, in his own body, was beaten and bruised for us.26900:18:30,500 –> 00:18:34,199The Son of God, He was alone, surrounded.27000:18:34,199 –> 00:18:40,219He was surrounded by his enemies, even the love of the Father was away from him.27100:18:40,219 –> 00:18:43,040My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?27200:18:43,040 –> 00:18:47,719Everything that was the life of the rebel children became His in order that there might27300:18:47,719 –> 00:18:52,739be redeemed children through whom God would advance His great purpose in the world.27400:18:52,739 –> 00:18:55,800It’s amazing.27500:18:55,800 –> 00:19:00,140And there’s a community of redeemed children because of the Lord of hosts, the sheer power27600:19:00,300 –> 00:19:06,199of God by which He works and accomplishes His purposes, and He does it through the suffering27700:19:06,199 –> 00:19:12,560Son and He does it by the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit.27800:19:12,560 –> 00:19:17,640What’s the great work of the Holy Spirit that’s unfolded in the New Testament?27900:19:17,640 –> 00:19:23,119The work of the Holy Spirit is to gather the redeemed children.28000:19:23,119 –> 00:19:29,800It’s to awaken from among the rebels those who will become redeemed.28100:19:29,880 –> 00:19:37,060It’s to show the need of a Savior and to bring people to the Savior in repentance and in faith.28200:19:37,060 –> 00:19:42,479And then to gather these people so they’ll not be alone and isolated, but brought into28300:19:42,479 –> 00:19:43,619the body of Christ.28400:19:43,619 –> 00:19:48,660That’s why Jesus says, I will not leave you, I will come to you.28500:19:48,660 –> 00:19:54,479He says to His disciples, you will not find yourself ever in a position like a booth in28600:19:54,560 –> 00:19:59,900a vineyard or like a hut in a cucumber field or alone, besieged by others.28700:19:59,900 –> 00:20:08,920I will be with you in every circumstance of life, I will never leave you, and I will never28800:20:08,920 –> 00:20:11,800forsake you.28900:20:11,800 –> 00:20:13,640So this is marvelously clear, isn’t it?29000:20:13,640 –> 00:20:14,640From the old testament.29100:20:14,640 –> 00:20:20,119At the end of the day, there are really two kinds of people.29200:20:20,920 –> 00:20:26,760There are rebel children and there are redeemed children.29300:20:26,780 –> 00:20:36,359There are people who do not know God, who have forsaken Him, who despise holiness, are29400:20:36,359 –> 00:20:44,479laden with iniquity, whose wounds are like open sores, and who ultimately will be divided,29500:20:44,479 –> 00:20:49,699isolated, vulnerable, and alone.29600:20:50,099 –> 00:20:57,599But out of this ruin, God by His Almighty Power and through the suffering of the Saviour29700:20:57,599 –> 00:21:05,680and by the work of the Holy Spirit, is gathering a community of redeemed people for himself.29800:21:05,680 –> 00:21:09,180A group of people who will know Him.29900:21:09,180 –> 00:21:12,739People who have returned to Him.30000:21:12,739 –> 00:21:19,079People who pursue holiness because they really do love the Holy One.30100:21:19,099 –> 00:21:22,540People whose iniquity is pardoned.30200:21:22,540 –> 00:21:27,619People whose wounds are being cleansed and are being healed.30300:21:27,619 –> 00:21:33,800And people who are no longer alone and vulnerable and isolated because God gathers them into30400:21:33,800 –> 00:21:35,739the body of the redeemed.30500:21:35,739 –> 00:21:42,479The body of the Church of which Jesus Christ is the Head.30600:21:42,719 –> 00:21:54,219And he accomplishes his work in the world at all seasons through them.30700:21:54,219 –> 00:21:57,000Thank God for the remnant.30800:21:57,000 –> 00:21:58,780Right?30900:21:58,780 –> 00:22:03,739Because if the Lord of Hosts have not left us a few survivors.31000:22:03,739 –> 00:22:09,180We would have become like Sodom and Gomorrah.’31100:22:09,439 –> 00:22:12,859on Open the Bible, they’re wrapping up the message, Rebellion.31200:22:12,859 –> 00:22:14,979It’s the first in our series called,31300:22:14,979 –> 00:22:19,040180, How God changes His people and His Church.31400:22:19,040 –> 00:22:22,859And if you miss one of the series or if you want to go back and listen again,31500:22:22,859 –> 00:22:25,459you can do that by coming online to our website,31600:22:25,459 –> 00:22:29,099openthebible.org.uk.31700:22:29,099 –> 00:22:32,760You can also find on our website, Open the Bible Daily.31800:22:32,760 –> 00:22:36,959And that’s a series of short 2-3 minute daily reflections31900:22:36,959 –> 00:22:38,859based on Pastor Colin’s teaching32000:22:38,859 –> 00:22:42,160and read in the U.K. by Sue MacLeish.32100:22:42,160 –> 00:22:44,699Open the Bible is supported by our listeners32200:22:44,699 –> 00:22:47,099and this month if you are able to begin a new32300:22:47,099 –> 00:22:49,660direct debit to the work of Open the Bible32400:22:49,660 –> 00:22:52,099in the amount of £5 per month or more32500:22:52,099 –> 00:22:55,079or a one-off gift of £50 or more,32600:22:55,079 –> 00:22:57,520we’d love to send you three copies32700:22:57,520 –> 00:23:00,099of Pastor Colin’s devotional book,32800:23:00,099 –> 00:23:02,439Green Pastures, Still Waters.32900:23:02,439 –> 00:23:04,760It’s based on Psalm 23.33000:23:04,760 –> 00:23:07,719And I asked Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham33100:23:07,819 –> 00:23:10,199how we might be blessed by reading this book.33200:23:10,199 –> 00:23:11,420Thanks, David.33300:23:11,420 –> 00:23:13,479As I’m sure our listeners would agree33400:23:13,479 –> 00:23:16,699the cold dark days of January and February33500:23:16,699 –> 00:23:19,560can often feel like a hard slog.33600:23:19,560 –> 00:23:22,819And if you are already facing struggles in your life,33700:23:22,819 –> 00:23:25,260then it can be particularly hard.33800:23:25,260 –> 00:23:28,339That’s why we hope that our February book offer33900:23:28,339 –> 00:23:31,640Green Pastures, Still Waters by Colin Smith34000:23:31,640 –> 00:23:34,140will be a real encouragement to you.34100:23:34,180 –> 00:23:37,760The 31 day devotion in Psalm 2334200:23:37,760 –> 00:23:40,319reminds us that we don’t have to navigate34300:23:40,319 –> 00:23:42,540dark valleys on our own.34400:23:42,540 –> 00:23:45,579There is a good shepherd who is ready to lead us,34500:23:45,579 –> 00:23:48,819protect us, and walk with us.34600:23:48,819 –> 00:23:49,699And actually David,34700:23:49,699 –> 00:23:51,979we’re giving away three copies of the book.34800:23:51,979 –> 00:23:54,380So do be praying about whether there is someone34900:23:54,380 –> 00:23:56,020that you could give a copy to35000:23:56,020 –> 00:23:58,979who might also need that encouragement.35100:23:58,979 –> 00:24:01,180Indeed, if you find the book helpful35200:24:01,180 –> 00:24:03,500why not get in touch and let me know?35300:24:03,500 –> 00:24:05,380I would love to hear from you,35400:24:05,380 –> 00:24:10,380you can contact me at hello at openthebible.org.uk.35500:24:12,060 –> 00:24:15,239If you’ve been blessed by Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching35600:24:15,239 –> 00:24:17,160and you’d like to reach out to us,35700:24:17,160 –> 00:24:19,959you can write to us at Open The Bible,35800:24:19,959 –> 00:24:24,959P.O. Box 1420 Cheltnam, GL50, 9PG,35900:24:26,619 –> 00:24:30,939that’s Open The Bible, P.O. Box 142036000:24:30,959 –> 00:24:33,040Cheltnam, GL50, 9PG.36100:24:35,060 –> 00:24:37,199Our address and telephone number36200:24:37,199 –> 00:24:39,260and email address are available36300:24:39,260 –> 00:24:43,380on our website, openthebible.org.uk.36400:24:43,380 –> 00:24:45,339So three copies of that book,36500:24:45,339 –> 00:24:48,900”Green Pastures, Still Waters’ by Pastor Colin Smith36600:24:48,900 –> 00:24:50,859are our gift to you if you’re able36700:24:50,859 –> 00:24:54,140to set up a new direct debit to the work of Open The Bible36800:24:54,140 –> 00:24:56,979in the amount of five pounds per month or more,36900:24:56,979 –> 00:25:00,060or a one-off gift of £50 or more.37000:25:00,099 –> 00:25:02,140Full details, terms and conditions,37100:25:02,140 –> 00:25:03,380are on our website,37200:25:03,380 –> 00:25:05,339that’s at openthebible.org.uk.37300:25:07,560 –> 00:25:10,099For Open The Bible and for Pastor Colin Smith,37400:25:10,099 –> 00:25:11,459I’m David Pike,37500:25:11,459 –> 00:25:14,199and I hope you’ll be able to join us again next time.37600:25:18,000 –> 00:25:19,880Maybe for the first time in your life,37700:25:19,880 –> 00:25:23,099you have a real sense that sin is real,37800:25:23,099 –> 00:25:26,780and it’s in you, how do you get right with God?37900:25:26,780 –> 00:25:29,239Find out next time on Open The Bible.