100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:05,240What the vine did was it masked his anger.200:00:05,240 –> 00:00:08,040See, that’s what money, good friends,300:00:08,280 –> 00:00:12,040being in fellowship, relationships,400:00:12,340 –> 00:00:16,139blessings in this world, success,500:00:16,139 –> 00:00:18,120the esteem of others it can mask, for a time,600:00:18,120 –> 00:00:25,120the hidden anger of your own heart.700:00:25,120 –> 00:00:26,959Welcome to Open the Bible with,800:00:26,959 –> 00:00:28,760Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick.900:00:28,780 –> 00:00:30,799I’m glad you could join us today, and Colin,1000:00:31,120 –> 00:00:33,259that’s a difficult idea for us, isn’t it?1100:00:33,500 –> 00:00:35,060The hidden anger of your heart.1200:00:35,060 –> 00:00:37,400And I think that’s what the book of Jonah1300:00:37,400 –> 00:00:39,720that we’re in at the moment is all about.1400:00:39,799 –> 00:00:42,160He has this marvellous ministry that he loves.1500:00:42,500 –> 00:00:43,860And then God says, No,1600:00:43,860 –> 00:00:45,840I’m going to take you away from that.1700:00:45,840 –> 00:00:47,740I’m going to send you to the city of Nineveh.1800:00:47,740 –> 00:00:50,099And, of course, Jonah says, No way.1900:00:50,099 –> 00:00:51,540I’m going in the opposite direction.2000:00:51,540 –> 00:00:54,139And his resentment towards God is revealed.2100:00:54,380 –> 00:00:55,720And then right at the end of the book,2200:00:55,720 –> 00:00:57,720we find the same thing happens to David.2300:00:57,939 –> 00:00:58,840We find the same thing2400:00:58,840 –> 00:01:00,380happening again, he’s got this plant2500:01:00,380 –> 00:01:02,779that just grows up and then God takes it away2600:01:02,779 –> 00:01:04,680and suddenly he’s back to being angry.2700:01:04,919 –> 00:01:06,980There’s a hidden resentment2800:01:06,980 –> 00:01:09,660that comes out towards God2900:01:09,860 –> 00:01:11,419when God takes away3000:01:11,419 –> 00:01:14,320the thing that he really values in life.3100:01:14,720 –> 00:01:17,599And the wonderful part of this story3200:01:17,599 –> 00:01:19,959is that God doesn’t leave him there.3300:01:20,160 –> 00:01:20,860And unfortunately,3400:01:20,860 –> 00:01:23,059we do tend to rejoice in God’s gifts3500:01:23,239 –> 00:01:25,940and almost assume that they’re are righteous.3600:01:26,139 –> 00:01:26,839Right, yeah.3700:01:26,860 –> 00:01:29,300And the contrast between Jonah and Job3800:01:29,300 –> 00:01:30,599is very striking to me3900:01:30,599 –> 00:01:32,459because Job’s the one who says,4000:01:32,480 –> 00:01:35,400the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.4100:01:35,400 –> 00:01:37,739Blessed be the name of the Lord.4200:01:38,019 –> 00:01:39,419Well, Jonah wasn’t there4300:01:39,940 –> 00:01:41,080at the point in this story4400:01:41,080 –> 00:01:42,139where we joined him today.4500:01:42,139 –> 00:01:43,440Just like some of us will be saying,4600:01:43,440 –> 00:01:44,839well, I’m not where Job was,4700:01:44,839 –> 00:01:46,320I can’t say what he said.4800:01:46,519 –> 00:01:48,480Well, you can identify with Jonah4900:01:48,480 –> 00:01:50,220and by God’s grace,5000:01:50,220 –> 00:01:52,360Jonah’s story may be a means5100:01:52,660 –> 00:01:54,120of God laying hold5200:01:54,120 –> 00:01:55,720of your life in a fresh way.5300:01:55,919 –> 00:01:56,940So, that’s what we’re going5400:01:56,940 –> 00:01:57,940to be looking at today.5500:01:57,940 –> 00:01:59,220So, join us if you can5600:01:59,220 –> 00:02:02,339in Jonah 4 and verses 5 to 95700:02:02,339 –> 00:02:04,040as we continue the message,5800:02:04,040 –> 00:02:05,480Rejoicing God’s Gifts5900:02:05,480 –> 00:02:06,959as Though They Were Rites.6000:02:06,959 –> 00:02:08,160Here is Colin…6100:02:08,160 –> 00:02:10,220A person who lives a vine-centered life6200:02:10,220 –> 00:02:10,860is a person who6300:02:10,860 –> 00:02:12,919ends up loving God’s gifts6400:02:13,800 –> 00:02:14,740more than we love6500:02:14,759 –> 00:02:17,460the one who gives the gifts.6600:02:19,300 –> 00:02:20,440Now, the worm and the wind6700:02:20,440 –> 00:02:22,639are exposing6800:02:22,639 –> 00:02:23,339where Jonah’s6900:02:23,339 –> 00:02:25,800heart is centered.7000:02:25,800 –> 00:02:27,940And, God is doing this7100:02:27,940 –> 00:02:29,699in Jonah’s sanctification7200:02:29,699 –> 00:02:31,399because God will not7300:02:31,399 –> 00:02:32,979leave this man there.7400:02:33,740 –> 00:02:35,899My friend, it is a disaster7500:02:35,899 –> 00:02:38,820to live a vine-centered life.7600:02:40,940 –> 00:02:42,539Now, let’s step back7700:02:42,539 –> 00:02:43,419just one more time.7800:02:43,419 –> 00:02:44,479I want you to see7900:02:44,479 –> 00:02:46,559a fascinating contrast.8000:02:48,119 –> 00:02:49,860Jonah was not the only one8100:02:49,860 –> 00:02:51,520to experience the vine,8200:02:51,520 –> 00:02:53,259the worm, and the wind.8300:02:54,240 –> 00:02:56,240Let’s think of another person8400:02:56,240 –> 00:02:57,080who went through8500:02:57,080 –> 00:02:59,039the same pattern of experience8600:02:59,039 –> 00:02:59,919actually, in a much more8700:02:59,919 –> 00:03:01,639devastating way.8800:03:01,639 –> 00:03:04,039That, of course, is Job8900:03:04,039 –> 00:03:06,020in the Old Testament.9000:03:06,020 –> 00:03:08,300Think about Job’s vine.9100:03:09,240 –> 00:03:10,160We read in chapter one9200:03:10,160 –> 00:03:11,039of his story,9300:03:11,039 –> 00:03:12,500this man had one wife.9400:03:12,500 –> 00:03:13,619He had seven sons.9500:03:13,619 –> 00:03:14,759three daughters.9600:03:14,759 –> 00:03:16,399He has 7,000 sheep,9700:03:16,399 –> 00:03:17,2203,000 camels,9800:03:17,220 –> 00:03:18,500500 yoke of oxen,9900:03:18,500 –> 00:03:19,320500 donkeys,10000:03:19,320 –> 00:03:20,619large number of servants.10100:03:20,619 –> 00:03:21,279In other words,10200:03:21,279 –> 00:03:22,059in our terms today10300:03:22,119 –> 00:03:24,199because wealth was measured10400:03:24,199 –> 00:03:25,500in terms of animals10500:03:25,500 –> 00:03:27,800and possessions of that sort.10600:03:27,800 –> 00:03:28,820But in our terms today,10700:03:28,820 –> 00:03:29,960this is a massive,10800:03:29,960 –> 00:03:32,600massive, massive portfolio.10900:03:33,699 –> 00:03:35,619This man is superbly wealthy.11000:03:35,619 –> 00:03:36,479In fact, the Bible says11100:03:36,479 –> 00:03:37,440he was the greatest man11200:03:37,440 –> 00:03:38,539among all the people11300:03:38,539 –> 00:03:39,600of the East.11400:03:39,600 –> 00:03:41,820That is some vine.11500:03:42,820 –> 00:03:44,399Job’s life.11600:03:45,740 –> 00:03:46,660But then do you remember11700:03:46,660 –> 00:03:48,960Job’s worm?11800:03:49,759 –> 00:03:50,759One day,11900:03:50,759 –> 00:03:51,919it all happened in one day,12000:03:52,100 –> 00:03:54,460there was this terrible loss.12100:03:54,460 –> 00:03:56,699His financial security,12200:03:56,699 –> 00:03:59,199represented in these animals,12300:03:59,639 –> 00:04:01,699torn to shreds in a single day12400:04:01,699 –> 00:04:02,740when raiders come12500:04:02,740 –> 00:04:03,940and destroy the animals,12600:04:03,940 –> 00:04:05,520leaving them for dead meat12700:04:05,520 –> 00:04:07,639out in the countryside.12800:04:08,500 –> 00:04:09,979And then a much worse tragedy12900:04:09,979 –> 00:04:12,240happens on the same day,13000:04:12,240 –> 00:04:13,539all of his children,13100:04:13,539 –> 00:04:15,699the seven sons and three daughters13200:04:15,699 –> 00:04:16,540have gathered together,13300:04:16,540 –> 00:04:17,899they’re having a party in a house13400:04:17,899 –> 00:04:19,140and a wind comes in13500:04:19,140 –> 00:04:20,399and hits the four corners13600:04:20,399 –> 00:04:21,640of the house.13700:04:21,679 –> 00:04:22,739The Bible says,13800:04:22,739 –> 00:04:23,799and the house collapsed13900:04:23,799 –> 00:04:26,640and not one of them survived.14000:04:27,140 –> 00:04:30,220Folks, that is some worm.14100:04:32,160 –> 00:04:33,880And just every blessing14200:04:33,880 –> 00:04:34,920in this man’s life14300:04:34,920 –> 00:04:37,320is blasted away14400:04:37,799 –> 00:04:39,239in a day,14500:04:40,859 –> 00:04:43,260Then what about Job’s East Wind?14600:04:45,220 –> 00:04:46,760Well, as he tries to move forward14700:04:46,760 –> 00:04:47,179from here,14800:04:47,179 –> 00:04:48,679what does his wife say to him?14900:04:49,399 –> 00:04:51,100Why don’t you curse God and die?15000:04:51,179 –> 00:04:52,540The person you love most in the world15100:04:52,540 –> 00:04:54,279says, give up on God.15200:04:55,260 –> 00:04:57,880Boy, that rubs salt into the wound.15300:04:59,619 –> 00:05:00,679And then at that point,15400:05:00,679 –> 00:05:03,600Job’s health breaks down.15500:05:03,600 –> 00:05:04,880Chapter 2 tells us that his whole15600:05:04,880 –> 00:05:07,820body is covered in sores.15700:05:09,700 –> 00:05:11,579And then just to increase the affliction15800:05:12,260 –> 00:05:14,260his three friends arrive15900:05:15,179 –> 00:05:16,980and their trite religion16000:05:17,660 –> 00:05:20,000aggravates the pain,16100:05:20,019 –> 00:05:22,959the sorrow and the loss16200:05:22,959 –> 00:05:24,799that is already the grief and burden16300:05:24,799 –> 00:05:26,920of this man’s life.16400:05:28,519 –> 00:05:29,859Now I want you to notice16500:05:30,739 –> 00:05:33,700the contrast between the way Jonah responds16600:05:33,700 –> 00:05:36,519to the vine, worm, wind experience16700:05:36,739 –> 00:05:38,820and the way that Job responded16800:05:38,820 –> 00:05:41,279to the vine, worm, wind experience.16900:05:42,160 –> 00:05:43,779Jonah responds with anger.17000:05:44,820 –> 00:05:47,540He says, I am angry enough to die,17100:05:48,260 –> 00:05:50,720take away my vine, you take away17200:05:50,720 –> 00:05:52,339this blessing in this life,17300:05:52,339 –> 00:05:53,760I no longer have a reason to live,17400:05:53,760 –> 00:05:54,600I’m angry.17500:05:55,500 –> 00:05:57,079I see no point in life.17600:05:58,600 –> 00:06:01,700Job, in contrast responds with worship.17700:06:01,739 –> 00:06:04,540Chapter one in verse 21,17800:06:05,519 –> 00:06:07,480he falls to the ground in worship17900:06:07,519 –> 00:06:10,940and he said, the Lord gave18000:06:11,799 –> 00:06:13,959and the Lord has taken away.18100:06:14,700 –> 00:06:18,959Blessed be the name of the Lord.18200:06:21,540 –> 00:06:24,480You see, both men go through the same pattern of experience18300:06:24,480 –> 00:06:27,980and it takes one man into anger18400:06:27,980 –> 00:06:31,739and it takes another man into worship.18500:06:33,179 –> 00:06:35,179Last time we were saying that God’s grace18600:06:35,179 –> 00:06:39,019will move people either to anger or worship, remember?18700:06:39,019 –> 00:06:41,179And now we’re seeing that God’s gifts18800:06:41,179 –> 00:06:43,480tend to move people also either18900:06:43,500 –> 00:06:47,140towards anger or towards worship.19000:06:49,040 –> 00:06:51,239By the way, wouldn’t that be some text19100:06:51,239 –> 00:06:53,579to write over any investment19200:06:53,579 –> 00:06:55,760in this strange time in the economy?19300:06:56,799 –> 00:06:59,320The Lord gave.19400:06:59,320 –> 00:07:01,619The Lord has taken away.19500:07:03,359 –> 00:07:06,160Blessed be the name of the Lord.19600:07:06,160 –> 00:07:07,660You see, all of us are facing19700:07:07,660 –> 00:07:10,559in all kinds of circumstances of life19800:07:10,559 –> 00:07:13,239the question as to whether the worm and the wind19900:07:13,359 –> 00:07:18,000will lead us to anger or whether it will lead us to worship.20000:07:19,279 –> 00:07:21,619And what the wind and the worm are doing20100:07:21,619 –> 00:07:24,540is exposing whether we really are folks who love God20200:07:24,540 –> 00:07:27,260or whether we’re really folks who love the plant.20300:07:28,160 –> 00:07:29,000The vine.20400:07:31,720 –> 00:07:33,179It’s interesting to think of it this way,20500:07:33,179 –> 00:07:36,559right now every person is moving in one of two directions.20600:07:36,559 –> 00:07:38,720Either we are growing to love God more20700:07:38,720 –> 00:07:41,059or we are coming to resent God more.20800:07:41,059 –> 00:07:42,799And none of us are standing still.20900:07:44,140 –> 00:07:47,059The Bible makes it very plain that21000:07:47,059 –> 00:07:48,899at the end of human history when the Lord21100:07:48,899 –> 00:07:51,880Jesus Christ winds up human history as we know it,21200:07:51,880 –> 00:07:53,339there will be two groups of people.21300:07:53,339 –> 00:07:57,380One who love God forever and the other who hate God forever21400:07:57,380 –> 00:08:01,019and every person is moving along one of two lines,21500:08:01,019 –> 00:08:05,299either we are moving towards perpetual joy in God21600:08:05,299 –> 00:08:08,179or we are moving towards perpetual resentment21700:08:08,179 –> 00:08:09,260towards God.21800:08:10,079 –> 00:08:15,079We are everyday moving nearer either to heaven or to hell.21900:08:16,640 –> 00:08:18,359It’s the reality of our lives.22000:08:20,660 –> 00:08:22,359Now you say you put it like that,22100:08:23,440 –> 00:08:25,040that gives me a big question.22200:08:26,559 –> 00:08:29,100I think many of us would be saying today,22300:08:29,100 –> 00:08:33,799I am more like Jonah than I’m like Job, feel that?22400:08:35,760 –> 00:08:38,840You will want to ask as I’ve been asking this question,22500:08:38,840 –> 00:08:41,919how can I love God more than I love his gifts?22600:08:43,400 –> 00:08:45,679How can I overcome the idolatry22700:08:45,679 –> 00:08:47,859that hides within my own heart?22800:08:49,299 –> 00:08:52,820How can I become a person who finds my reason to live22900:08:52,820 –> 00:08:55,559in God more than I find my reason to live23000:08:55,559 –> 00:08:57,919in His wonderful, good gifts in this life?23100:08:59,760 –> 00:09:02,099How can I overcome hidden resentment23200:09:02,099 –> 00:09:04,739that may lurk within my own heart towards God?23300:09:05,099 –> 00:09:09,179You ask the question, how can you come to love God more?23400:09:10,780 –> 00:09:13,340The New Testament answers that very plainly.23500:09:15,020 –> 00:09:17,7801 John, Chapter 4, in verse 19.23600:09:17,780 –> 00:09:22,780We love Him because, because of what?23700:09:23,479 –> 00:09:25,460He first loved us.23800:09:25,460 –> 00:09:27,080Thank you.23900:09:27,080 –> 00:09:32,080And therefore, the more I come to grasp his love for me,24000:09:32,200 –> 00:09:37,200his love for me, the more I will grow in my love for him.24100:09:39,880 –> 00:09:43,080The way to love Christ more is to grow24200:09:43,080 –> 00:09:45,919in the knowledge of Christ’s love for us.24300:09:45,919 –> 00:09:48,760That’s why in all of our worship24400:09:48,760 –> 00:09:50,039and in all of our preaching24500:09:50,039 –> 00:09:51,280and in all of the life of the church,24600:09:51,280 –> 00:09:54,960we want to keep circling back to the center of gravity,24700:09:54,960 –> 00:09:58,059which is in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ,24800:09:58,059 –> 00:10:00,900where his love for us is displayed,24900:10:00,900 –> 00:10:04,299proved, demonstrated, boy-carded, poured out,25000:10:04,299 –> 00:10:07,099so that it may be experienced in your heart.25100:10:10,099 –> 00:10:12,719Have you ever thought about the vine,25200:10:14,299 –> 00:10:19,299worm, wind experience of Jesus?25300:10:22,780 –> 00:10:24,099What was his vine?25400:10:24,940 –> 00:10:27,539What brought him comfort and joy and blessing in this world?25500:10:27,539 –> 00:10:29,359Mark tells us in chapter 4.25600:10:29,440 –> 00:10:32,239He calls 12 men to be with him,25700:10:32,239 –> 00:10:36,539friends, comfort, companionship, conversation.25800:10:38,539 –> 00:10:41,840And he trains them, and then he sends them out on a mission,25900:10:41,840 –> 00:10:45,640and the Spirit of God works powerfully through these men,26000:10:45,640 –> 00:10:47,659and it brings Jesus great joy to see26100:10:47,659 –> 00:10:49,900the blessing of God coming through their ministry.26200:10:49,900 –> 00:10:51,580He says in Luke chapter 10,26300:10:51,580 –> 00:10:55,580I saw Satan fall like lightning.26400:10:56,419 –> 00:10:59,059And he’s seeing the advance of ministry26500:10:59,059 –> 00:11:01,500through the friends he has chosen,26600:11:01,500 –> 00:11:03,440and he finds joy in it.26700:11:05,179 –> 00:11:06,219That’s some vine.26800:11:09,039 –> 00:11:10,340And then the worm comes.26900:11:12,340 –> 00:11:14,859The disciples who had brought him comfort, joy and blessing27000:11:14,859 –> 00:11:16,460all forsook him and fled,27100:11:16,460 –> 00:11:18,580you remember, in the garden of Gethsemane?27200:11:19,619 –> 00:11:21,719Judas comes and betrays him with a kiss.27300:11:21,719 –> 00:11:24,380Peter later denies him with a curse,27400:11:24,380 –> 00:11:29,059and Jesus is plunged into sorrow and loss,27500:11:31,400 –> 00:11:34,320and that was when the east wind blew.27600:11:36,719 –> 00:11:38,880That was when he was scourged and mocked27700:11:38,880 –> 00:11:40,200and crowned with thorns,27800:11:40,200 –> 00:11:41,440and nailed to a cross,27900:11:41,440 –> 00:11:43,440and plunged into total darkness,28000:11:43,440 –> 00:11:46,979and there in an agony of body, soul and spirit,28100:11:46,979 –> 00:11:51,900cried out, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?28200:11:55,119 –> 00:11:57,159And why was this?28300:11:59,659 –> 00:12:04,659He bore our sins, your sins, my sins,28400:12:04,760 –> 00:12:07,520in his body on the tree!28500:12:10,299 –> 00:12:12,599The son of God loved you,28600:12:13,760 –> 00:12:16,460and gave himself for you!28700:12:19,440 –> 00:12:20,919I think of it this way.28800:12:21,140 –> 00:12:25,419He endured the worm that never dies,28900:12:27,500 –> 00:12:31,940and entered the heat of the fire that is never quenched,29000:12:34,500 –> 00:12:38,340so that you, by his redeeming love,29100:12:38,340 –> 00:12:43,340might spend your eternity under God’s vein of blessing.29200:12:44,020 –> 00:12:46,739Forever and forever!29300:12:46,760 –> 00:12:52,460Now, I needed to take that love of Christ29400:12:52,799 –> 00:12:55,820into my life and into the core of my being29500:12:55,820 –> 00:12:57,000every single day.29600:12:57,000 –> 00:13:00,280It’s why we say, preach the gospel to yourself,29700:13:00,280 –> 00:13:02,539tell yourself the love of Christ,29800:13:02,539 –> 00:13:04,140placard it in the cross,29900:13:04,140 –> 00:13:05,619because there’s the vine, the worm,30000:13:05,619 –> 00:13:07,500and the east wind going in your life30100:13:07,500 –> 00:13:08,940as there are in mine.30200:13:12,760 –> 00:13:15,820But when you see the love of Jesus Christ30300:13:15,820 –> 00:13:18,979in which the Redeemer embraces you,30400:13:18,979 –> 00:13:22,340in which he holds you in all the mixed experience30500:13:22,340 –> 00:13:23,320of this world,30600:13:25,200 –> 00:13:27,460you will find that you move away from anger30700:13:28,840 –> 00:13:30,460and you discover more of worship.30800:13:30,460 –> 00:13:34,659Oh, Job’s worship, his worm and wind experience,30900:13:34,659 –> 00:13:36,739it was his finest hour.31000:13:36,739 –> 00:13:40,960He worshiped through tears.31100:13:42,020 –> 00:13:44,419This was not a shallow or an easy thing,31200:13:46,520 –> 00:13:49,479but in his tears, the worm and the wind31300:13:49,479 –> 00:13:53,440became for him the finest moment of his entire life31400:13:53,440 –> 00:13:57,119and his testimony redounds to the praise and glory of God31500:13:57,119 –> 00:13:59,380in heaven, in Hell, and on earth, even still.31600:14:01,119 –> 00:14:03,679He worshiped in his pain and in his loss.31700:14:05,559 –> 00:14:06,760You’re listening to Open the Bible31800:14:06,760 –> 00:14:08,200with Pastor Colin Smith31900:14:08,200 –> 00:14:11,119and a message called Rejoicing God’s Gifts32000:14:11,119 –> 00:14:13,159as Though They Were Rites.32100:14:13,239 –> 00:14:14,979That message is part of our series32200:14:14,979 –> 00:14:17,340How to Avoid a God-Centered Life32300:14:17,340 –> 00:14:19,500and it’s based on the Book of Jonah.32400:14:19,500 –> 00:14:22,000If you ever miss one of the messages in the series,32500:14:22,000 –> 00:14:24,479you can catch up or go back and listen again32600:14:24,479 –> 00:14:29,479by coming online to our website openthebible.org.uk.32700:14:29,719 –> 00:14:33,119Open The Bible is supported financially by our listeners.32800:14:33,119 –> 00:14:35,539It’s donations from people just like you32900:14:35,539 –> 00:14:39,659which keeps Open the Bible on the air and on the internet.33000:14:39,659 –> 00:14:41,919So if you already give to support the work,33100:14:41,919 –> 00:14:43,580thank you so much.33200:14:43,580 –> 00:14:45,820If that’s something you’ve been thinking of doing,33300:14:45,820 –> 00:14:49,719either with a one-off gift or as a regular donation,33400:14:49,719 –> 00:14:53,320we’d love to say thank you by offering you a free gift.33500:14:53,320 –> 00:14:55,260Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham33600:14:55,260 –> 00:14:56,559to tell us about it.33700:14:56,559 –> 00:14:58,260I don’t know about you, David,33800:14:58,260 –> 00:15:00,619but I can’t walk into a shop at the moment33900:15:00,619 –> 00:15:04,460without being reminded that it is Valentine’s season.34000:15:04,460 –> 00:15:08,979Cards, chocolates and the word love everywhere you look.34100:15:09,039 –> 00:15:13,440But this month I’ve been struck by a deeper, better love,34200:15:13,440 –> 00:15:16,000the kind we see in the Gospels.34300:15:16,000 –> 00:15:17,580At Open the Bible UK,34400:15:17,580 –> 00:15:21,000we are reading Gospel Stories by Andrew Wilson34500:15:21,000 –> 00:15:23,880and I have found it’s such a helpful book.34600:15:23,880 –> 00:15:26,679It explores real encounters with Jesus,34700:15:26,679 –> 00:15:30,500conversations and moments that reveal who he is,34800:15:30,500 –> 00:15:34,280why he came, and the kind of love that he offers,34900:15:34,280 –> 00:15:38,619a love that pursues, forgives, restores, and never lets go.35000:15:39,619 –> 00:15:42,280Gospel Stories is our free thank you gift35100:15:42,280 –> 00:15:46,340when you give a one off donation of £50 or more35200:15:46,340 –> 00:15:50,619or set up a new direct debit of just £5 a month.35300:15:50,619 –> 00:15:54,700But please do remember to include your name and address35400:15:54,700 –> 00:15:56,780so that we can send your copy to you.35500:15:56,780 –> 00:15:59,599So that offer is available all this month35600:15:59,599 –> 00:16:02,539and you can find full terms and conditions35700:16:02,599 –> 00:16:05,219and you can give online at our website35800:16:05,219 –> 00:16:08,299openthebible.org.uk,35900:16:08,299 –> 00:16:10,640and again, if you give through the website,36000:16:10,640 –> 00:16:13,099please remember to give your full name and address36100:16:13,099 –> 00:16:14,919so we can send you your gift.36200:16:14,919 –> 00:16:17,780Back to the message now, here again is Colin.36300:16:17,780 –> 00:16:20,419Are you seeing God’s love for you in Jesus?36400:16:22,059 –> 00:16:24,260King David who lived before the time of Jesus,36500:16:24,260 –> 00:16:26,099he saw it and he knew it in his own soul36600:16:26,099 –> 00:16:27,760so clearly that he said,36700:16:28,359 –> 00:16:32,140your love is better than life.36800:16:33,299 –> 00:16:34,359You see what he’s saying?36900:16:34,359 –> 00:16:38,400Lord, your love in Jesus Christ to me,37000:16:38,400 –> 00:16:41,659it’s better than the vine.37100:16:41,659 –> 00:16:43,440It’s better than any blessing in this life.37200:16:43,440 –> 00:16:46,059It’s better than any gift that you have given to me.37300:16:47,239 –> 00:16:50,440Your love is better than life.37400:16:50,440 –> 00:16:52,479God’s gifts to him were amazing,37500:16:52,479 –> 00:16:55,179but he said your love is better than any gift37600:16:55,200 –> 00:16:57,619in this life that’s given or taken away.37700:16:59,460 –> 00:17:01,080And Job saw that too.37800:17:02,359 –> 00:17:05,000And the good news is that Jonah got there eventually.37900:17:06,199 –> 00:17:07,920The whole point of the book surely is38000:17:07,920 –> 00:17:10,160that God did not abandon Jonah38100:17:10,160 –> 00:17:12,420in his anger and in his frustration.38200:17:12,420 –> 00:17:14,359In fact, we’re going to continue with this week,38300:17:14,359 –> 00:17:15,560God willing, next week,38400:17:15,560 –> 00:17:18,199seeing how God moved him from the position38500:17:18,199 –> 00:17:19,880he was even in verse nine38600:17:19,880 –> 00:17:21,599and moved him forward, how?38700:17:21,599 –> 00:17:24,079By the knowledge of his love,38800:17:24,079 –> 00:17:25,880that’s why we’re ending there today.38900:17:27,520 –> 00:17:29,680And God will not abandon you in your anger,39000:17:29,680 –> 00:17:31,319your frustration, your resentment.39100:17:31,319 –> 00:17:34,079You draw near to the Lord Jesus Christ39200:17:34,079 –> 00:17:36,280who loved you and gave himself for you.39300:17:37,140 –> 00:17:40,199And ask him to warm your heart and to change your heart.39400:17:40,199 –> 00:17:41,920He will not abandon you39500:17:43,119 –> 00:17:47,319in your experience of the worm or the wind.39600:17:49,020 –> 00:17:51,859I want to suggest just in these last moments39700:17:51,920 –> 00:17:55,319three very simple prayers for all of us39800:17:55,319 –> 00:17:59,140who feel that we want to be less like Jonah39900:17:59,140 –> 00:18:00,380and more like Jesus.40000:18:00,380 –> 00:18:03,420They’re very simple and they’re very obvious.40100:18:03,420 –> 00:18:06,079Lord, I want to be less like Jonah.40200:18:06,079 –> 00:18:07,579I want to be more like Jesus.40300:18:07,579 –> 00:18:08,959I don’t wanna be an idolater.40400:18:08,959 –> 00:18:11,339I don’t wanna live a vine centered life.40500:18:11,339 –> 00:18:12,699I want to prize you, the giver,40600:18:12,699 –> 00:18:15,880more than any one of your gifts to me.40700:18:15,880 –> 00:18:17,239Here’s three simple prayers.40800:18:17,959 –> 00:18:21,880Lord, help me to receive your gifts gratefully.40900:18:24,359 –> 00:18:26,719One of the things the vine teaches us is just this.41000:18:26,719 –> 00:18:30,479Whatever blessing God has poured into your life,41100:18:30,479 –> 00:18:31,800receive it with gratitude.41200:18:31,800 –> 00:18:33,880Count your blessings, name them one by one.41300:18:33,880 –> 00:18:36,520It’ll surprise you what the Lord has done.41400:18:36,520 –> 00:18:39,900Whatever gift brings you joy and comfort and blessing,41500:18:39,900 –> 00:18:42,920let it be a source of thanksgiving and praise.41600:18:42,920 –> 00:18:47,079Lord, help me receive your gifts thankfully.41700:18:47,359 –> 00:18:48,939Cultivate gratitude.41800:18:50,400 –> 00:18:51,680And then, here’s the second prayer,41900:18:51,680 –> 00:18:54,160Lord, help me to hold your gifts lightly.42000:18:55,900 –> 00:18:58,859Help me not to make idols of any gifts that you give.42100:18:58,859 –> 00:19:01,400Help you to remember that your gifts are gifts,42200:19:01,400 –> 00:19:02,920they’re not rights.42300:19:04,439 –> 00:19:07,520Because as soon as you start confusing gifts with rights42400:19:07,520 –> 00:19:12,060you move into anger, and you lose a God-centered life.42500:19:13,180 –> 00:19:15,359The Lord gives, the Lord takes away42600:19:15,359 –> 00:19:19,040nothing in my life lasts forever!42700:19:19,040 –> 00:19:20,160In this world,42800:19:21,599 –> 00:19:25,979save the Christ who holds me and keeps me.42900:19:27,420 –> 00:19:29,880Then here’s the third prayer, Lord,43000:19:29,880 –> 00:19:34,420help me to love you more than I love your gifts.43100:19:35,560 –> 00:19:36,900Help me to love you more.43200:19:38,420 –> 00:19:41,439Help me to grasp more of your amazing love for me43300:19:41,439 –> 00:19:43,280so that I will not be the kind of person43400:19:43,280 –> 00:19:45,099who lives a vine-centered life43500:19:45,099 –> 00:19:47,640with all the anger and frustration and futility43600:19:47,640 –> 00:19:49,099that lies down that road,43700:19:50,560 –> 00:19:53,619but one who lives a life that is centered43800:19:53,619 –> 00:19:56,160in my love for the giver,43900:19:56,160 –> 00:20:01,099which is supreme even above my gratitude for the gifts.44000:20:02,839 –> 00:20:04,359I think I’ve told you this story before,44100:20:04,359 –> 00:20:06,839but just in this last moment, to wind it up,44200:20:06,839 –> 00:20:08,560this has been so powerful for me,44300:20:09,560 –> 00:20:11,880especially because I love the privileges44400:20:11,959 –> 00:20:14,280that I have in serving the Lord as a pastor.44500:20:14,280 –> 00:20:15,119I just love it.44600:20:15,119 –> 00:20:15,939It’s such a gift.44700:20:15,939 –> 00:20:16,780It’s a vine.44800:20:18,280 –> 00:20:20,540Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones,44900:20:20,540 –> 00:20:25,160perhaps one of the two best-known Christian leaders45000:20:25,160 –> 00:20:27,599in Britain in the last century,45100:20:27,599 –> 00:20:30,119along with John Stott, I guess.45200:20:30,119 –> 00:20:32,560A marvelous life, traveled all the world,45300:20:32,560 –> 00:20:34,319preached all over the place,45400:20:34,319 –> 00:20:36,760was given great blessing on his ministry.45500:20:36,760 –> 00:20:39,079Was there ever someone, certainly in Britain,45600:20:39,079 –> 00:20:42,719whose ministry was so singularly blessed45700:20:42,719 –> 00:20:46,939and life so privileged and saw so many things happen45800:20:46,939 –> 00:20:48,439that were so dear to his own heart.45900:20:48,439 –> 00:20:51,859And at the end of his life, he is ill46000:20:51,859 –> 00:20:54,420and he was confined to his bedroom,46100:20:54,420 –> 00:20:57,680couldn’t get out of his bedroom and that was it.46200:20:58,640 –> 00:21:02,040And one of his friends came to see him46300:21:02,040 –> 00:21:03,500and asked him this question,46400:21:04,599 –> 00:21:08,319said, Doctor, how is it with you now?46500:21:09,660 –> 00:21:13,579You’ve had the joy of being in platforms all over the world,46600:21:13,579 –> 00:21:15,979speaking to thousands and thousands of people,46700:21:15,979 –> 00:21:17,680you’ve had all this joy of ministry46800:21:17,680 –> 00:21:19,160in every way in which God’s blessed you46900:21:19,160 –> 00:21:22,260and here you are, you can’t get outside of your own bedroom.47000:21:24,339 –> 00:21:26,859How is it with you now, Doctor?47100:21:28,439 –> 00:21:29,660And you know what Lloyd-Jones said?47200:21:29,660 –> 00:21:31,260He quoted some words of Jesus.47300:21:31,260 –> 00:21:36,260He said, do no rejoice that the spirits are subject to you.47400:21:39,280 –> 00:21:41,880But rejoice that your names are written47500:21:41,880 –> 00:21:43,540in the book of life.47600:21:45,119 –> 00:21:47,880It’s right through me every time I think of it.47700:21:47,880 –> 00:21:51,719Don’t find your joy in your ministry47800:21:52,599 –> 00:21:54,280because that too will pass away.47900:21:55,699 –> 00:21:59,900Don’t find your primary joy in anything that God gives you.48000:21:59,900 –> 00:22:02,280Any good thing that God gives you in this life.48100:22:02,280 –> 00:22:05,160You find your primary joy here48200:22:05,160 –> 00:22:06,959that you belong to Jesus Christ48300:22:06,959 –> 00:22:08,199and he will never let you go48400:22:08,260 –> 00:22:11,359and that your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life.48500:22:11,359 –> 00:22:13,339And then if you should find yourself48600:22:13,339 –> 00:22:16,280confined to one bedroom awaiting transportation48700:22:16,280 –> 00:22:21,280into eternity, you will know that while the vine passes away48800:22:25,199 –> 00:22:29,800God’s love never passes away.48900:22:32,280 –> 00:22:34,859What a great way to end this message49000:22:34,859 –> 00:22:36,400with these three prayers,49100:22:36,420 –> 00:22:40,300Lord help me to receive your gifts gratefully,49200:22:40,300 –> 00:22:43,400help me to hold your gifts lightly49300:22:43,400 –> 00:22:47,339and help me to love you more than your gifts.49400:22:47,339 –> 00:22:48,920You’ve been listening to Open the Bible49500:22:48,920 –> 00:22:50,599with Pastor Colin Smith49600:22:50,599 –> 00:22:53,300and a message called Rejoicing God’s Gifts49700:22:53,300 –> 00:22:55,560as though they were rights.49800:22:55,560 –> 00:22:58,599Colin those are three penetrating prayers49900:22:58,599 –> 00:23:00,619that we can pray for self-examination.50000:23:00,619 –> 00:23:03,839So maybe we can end today’s programme50100:23:03,839 –> 00:23:06,280with you leading us in prayer.50200:23:06,280 –> 00:23:08,599Prayers that all of us need, that I need.50300:23:08,599 –> 00:23:13,540Let’s come before the Lord together right now you and me.50400:23:13,540 –> 00:23:15,680Father in Heaven,50500:23:15,680 –> 00:23:19,839I see so many ways in which idolatry50600:23:19,839 –> 00:23:22,920gains a lace within my heart50700:23:22,920 –> 00:23:26,380and I come to love the things that you’ve given to me50800:23:26,380 –> 00:23:28,979more than I love you the giver.50900:23:28,979 –> 00:23:30,819Forgive me and deliver me51000:23:30,819 –> 00:23:33,819from the power of this idolatry.51100:23:33,819 –> 00:23:35,859Help me to receive every gift51200:23:35,859 –> 00:23:37,880that you give gratefully.51300:23:37,880 –> 00:23:41,680Help me to hold every gift that you give lightly51400:23:41,680 –> 00:23:44,540and help me to love you the giver51500:23:44,540 –> 00:23:48,020above all other gifts, I pray.51600:23:48,020 –> 00:23:51,300To that end, show me more today51700:23:51,300 –> 00:23:53,560of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ51800:23:53,560 –> 00:23:58,020that I may truly see the grace and the love51900:23:58,020 –> 00:24:00,439that is poured out in him52000:24:00,439 –> 00:24:04,579who endured the fire and the worm,52100:24:04,739 –> 00:24:08,979the scorching heat and all the dimensions52200:24:08,979 –> 00:24:11,280of hell itself so that I should52300:24:11,280 –> 00:24:14,680be delivered from this forever and forever.52400:24:14,680 –> 00:24:16,900Your grace is amazing.52500:24:16,900 –> 00:24:19,280Help me to know your love52600:24:19,280 –> 00:24:23,540and may my anger and all the disappointments52700:24:23,540 –> 00:24:27,180of my life be wrung out at the cross52800:24:27,180 –> 00:24:29,939of Jesus Christ in the light52900:24:29,939 –> 00:24:31,739of his redeeming love for me.53000:24:31,739 –> 00:24:34,060Lord, hear this prayer.53100:24:34,060 –> 00:24:36,300In Jesus name, amen.53200:24:36,300 –> 00:24:38,540Amen! Thank you, Colin.53300:24:38,540 –> 00:24:41,439You may want to go back and listen to this message again53400:24:41,439 –> 00:24:43,500and it’s easy to do that by coming53500:24:43,500 –> 00:24:47,739to our website at openthebible.org.uk.53600:24:47,739 –> 00:24:50,540For Open the Bible and pastor Colin Smith,53700:24:50,540 –> 00:24:52,239I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll53800:24:52,239 –> 00:24:54,140join us again for our next broadcast.53900:24:54,140 –> 00:25:07,140Every atheist is sustained every54000:25:07,140 –> 00:25:09,560moment by the mercy of God,54100:25:09,560 –> 00:25:11,959isn’t that an amazing thought?54200:25:11,959 –> 00:25:13,699Discover how to cultivate54300:25:13,699 –> 00:25:16,439a compassion that reflects the heart of God.54400:25:16,439 –> 00:25:18,739That’s next time on Open the Bible.