100:00:00,820 –> 00:00:09,600Now being a Christian means that you are roped to Jesus Christ and if you have200:00:09,600 –> 00:00:18,080fallen you need to know what kind of Savior you have. If you fall he is able300:00:18,080 –> 00:00:26,820to hold on to you. If you fall he will not cut the rope.400:00:26,840 –> 00:00:30,120This is Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. I’m glad you500:00:30,120 –> 00:00:33,900could join us today and, Colin, in the light of what you said, I think some600:00:33,900 –> 00:00:38,660people feel that being yoked to Christ is a burden. It’s a weight that we have700:00:38,660 –> 00:00:43,820to carry when we pick up his cross. But your words kind of flipped that on his800:00:43,820 –> 00:00:44,759head.900:00:44,759 –> 00:00:48,540Yeah, well Jesus says, take my yoke upon you. I suppose someone might say well I1000:00:48,540 –> 00:00:52,040don’t want to have a yoke put on me and of course the whole point there is if1100:00:52,040 –> 00:00:57,900two animals are yoked together, two are pulling the plow as opposed to one.1200:00:57,900 –> 00:01:02,860I would rather be yoked to someone strong in pulling the burdens of life1300:01:02,860 –> 00:01:04,779than be pulling them on my own.1400:01:04,779 –> 00:01:10,139What a huge blessing to be yoked to the Son of God and, of course, we’re using a1500:01:10,139 –> 00:01:13,099slightly different picture in the quote that’s at the top of the program here1600:01:13,099 –> 00:01:13,940today.1700:01:13,940 –> 00:01:19,059Imagine climbing and here’s me and the Lord Jesus Christ is ahead and1800:01:19,059 –> 00:01:24,000I’m on the rope and I fall. He’s able to keep me from falling is what Jude says1900:01:24,000 –> 00:01:25,559and when I do fall,2000:01:25,559 –> 00:01:28,660I have a savior who will not let me go.2100:01:28,660 –> 00:01:33,120I’m so glad I’m yoked to Jesus Christ. I mean to be living life alone and to be2200:01:33,120 –> 00:01:36,000standing ultimately in the presence of God alone,2300:01:36,000 –> 00:01:37,440who wants that?2400:01:37,440 –> 00:01:41,980Well, that would indeed be terrifying but today’s message is not terrifying, it’s a2500:01:41,980 –> 00:01:43,339message of hope.2600:01:43,339 –> 00:01:48,199So join us, if you can, in the book of Jude, last few verses, as we continue2700:01:48,279 –> 00:01:49,260the message,2800:01:49,260 –> 00:01:50,980Rest in God’s Triumph.2900:01:50,980 –> 00:01:52,360Here’s Colin.3000:01:52,360 –> 00:01:55,580Now what does it mean for God to save us?3100:01:55,580 –> 00:02:02,400Let me go through very simply three dimensions of God’s saving work in3200:02:02,400 –> 00:02:04,680a person’s life.3300:02:04,680 –> 00:02:07,599Number 1, God is our Savior3400:02:07,599 –> 00:02:10,119from sin’s penalty.3500:02:10,119 –> 00:02:15,100Now this is a completed reality for anyone who is in Jesus Christ.3600:02:15,160 –> 00:02:18,520The moment you came to faith in Jesus Christ,3700:02:18,520 –> 00:02:21,320God forgave your sins.3800:02:21,320 –> 00:02:23,240He freed you from guilt3900:02:23,240 –> 00:02:27,800and he freed you from the condemnation of hell.4000:02:27,800 –> 00:02:30,139That is the beginning of your salvation,4100:02:30,139 –> 00:02:33,240but it is certainly not the end.4200:02:33,240 –> 00:02:37,380For our savior God, not only frees us from sins penalty,4300:02:37,380 –> 00:02:42,779Secondly, the bible makes clear that he frees us from sins power.4400:02:42,779 –> 00:02:46,979This is an ongoing process and a lot of folks have become4500:02:46,979 –> 00:02:49,919confused at this point.4600:02:49,919 –> 00:02:52,539Sin is still our enemy.4700:02:52,539 –> 00:02:54,320But when you become a Christian,4800:02:54,320 –> 00:02:56,419when you put your faith in Jesus Christ,4900:02:56,419 –> 00:02:58,800the bible makes it very clear that you are5000:02:58,800 –> 00:03:03,020no longer under sins power.5100:03:04,020 –> 00:03:07,860Now, let me try and offer an illustration that at5200:03:07,860 –> 00:03:10,600least has helped me to grapple with this a little bit5300:03:10,600 –> 00:03:13,119because it’s not easy to get hold of.5400:03:13,119 –> 00:03:15,600How is it that we’re released from the power of sin5500:03:15,600 –> 00:03:18,460when we’re still engaged in a struggle?5600:03:18,460 –> 00:03:20,619Well try and think of it perhaps like this.5700:03:21,759 –> 00:03:25,619Before you came to Jesus Christ you were a prisoner.5800:03:26,679 –> 00:03:29,460Think of yourself as being like a prisoner of war5900:03:29,460 –> 00:03:34,460in a dreadful cell with a cruel master, even a torturer,6000:03:35,360 –> 00:03:39,399and your hands are tied and you are blindfolded,6100:03:41,119 –> 00:03:45,600and whatever this cruel guard wishes to do with you6200:03:45,600 –> 00:03:48,500he can do with you because you are helpless.6300:03:50,660 –> 00:03:53,880But now in Jesus Christ the Bible is saying6400:03:53,880 –> 00:03:56,759you are no longer sin’s prisoner.6500:03:58,039 –> 00:04:00,199God has come into the prison,6600:04:00,199 –> 00:04:02,279he has taken off the blindfold,6700:04:02,279 –> 00:04:04,080he has taken off the handcuffs,6800:04:04,080 –> 00:04:05,839he’s led you out of the prison.6900:04:06,679 –> 00:04:11,339You are no longer sin’s prisoner.7000:04:12,779 –> 00:04:15,820Now the question is when God takes you out of the cell7100:04:15,820 –> 00:04:18,339and takes off the blindfold and unties your hands7200:04:20,000 –> 00:04:21,100where does he take you?7300:04:22,279 –> 00:04:23,579He leads you out of the cell,7400:04:23,579 –> 00:04:24,660he takes the blindfold off,7500:04:24,660 –> 00:04:25,700he takes the handcuffs off7600:04:25,700 –> 00:04:28,820and he says here now is a gymnasium.7700:04:29,859 –> 00:04:34,200And in the gymnasium you see that there is a boxing ring.7800:04:34,579 –> 00:04:38,220And he gives you the gloves and he says there7900:04:38,220 –> 00:04:40,500your hands are free, you are now empowered8000:04:40,500 –> 00:04:42,980by my Holy Spirit I want you to get in the ring.8100:04:42,980 –> 00:04:43,880So you get in the ring,8200:04:43,880 –> 00:04:45,239you sit down on the little stool8300:04:45,239 –> 00:04:48,100and there to your absolute astonishment8400:04:48,100 –> 00:04:52,000in the opposite corner is the guard who beat you.8500:04:54,540 –> 00:04:55,359Let me at him.8600:04:57,420 –> 00:05:01,019Of course he’s still desperate to get at you.8700:05:01,700 –> 00:05:05,940He’s going to come out with all his fists flying8800:05:07,519 –> 00:05:10,739but you’re not defenseless now.8900:05:10,739 –> 00:05:15,119God put you in a position to fight.9000:05:15,119 –> 00:05:16,579That’s the Christian life.9100:05:17,660 –> 00:05:19,920You are now empowered by the Holy Spirit.9200:05:19,920 –> 00:05:21,619Does that mean you’re lying on a sun lounger9300:05:21,619 –> 00:05:22,679for the rest of your life?9400:05:22,679 –> 00:05:25,359No, you’re in a battle you can get hit.9500:05:25,359 –> 00:05:26,640You need to watch yourself.9600:05:26,640 –> 00:05:28,859You need to have your guard up.9700:05:28,859 –> 00:05:31,500But you are in an entirely different position now9800:05:31,500 –> 00:05:33,859in this lifelong battle.9900:05:33,859 –> 00:05:37,260God put you in a position to fight.10000:05:38,359 –> 00:05:39,959Aren’t you thankful for that?10100:05:42,040 –> 00:05:44,519And then certainly there is this dimension of salvation.10200:05:44,519 –> 00:05:46,299God is our savior.10300:05:47,239 –> 00:05:49,480And some of us are very clear10400:05:49,480 –> 00:05:51,380that he saves us from sin’s penalty.10500:05:51,380 –> 00:05:53,920He forgives us and will deliver us from hell.10600:05:53,920 –> 00:05:55,760Some of us are not quite so clear yet10700:05:55,760 –> 00:05:57,799that he delivers us from sin’s power10800:05:57,859 –> 00:06:00,220and pushes us into a position to fight,10900:06:00,220 –> 00:06:02,040puts us in a position to fight.11000:06:02,040 –> 00:06:04,500And here’s the third dimension that we have glimpsed11100:06:04,500 –> 00:06:06,700I think a little bit already in our worship today.11200:06:06,700 –> 00:06:11,339God is our savior from sin’s presence.11300:06:11,339 –> 00:06:14,440One day he’s going to bring us into his immediate presence.11400:06:14,440 –> 00:06:15,640This is still future.11500:06:16,579 –> 00:06:18,839And when he brings us into his immediate presence,11600:06:18,839 –> 00:06:23,859we will not have any knowledge of sin11700:06:23,859 –> 00:06:26,820or any of its effects at all.11800:06:28,440 –> 00:06:29,920I’m not really done boxing,11900:06:30,859 –> 00:06:33,260but I can’t but imagine12000:06:33,260 –> 00:06:36,100that once you get into the ninth and the 10th round12100:06:36,100 –> 00:06:38,679and your opponent has landed so many punches on you12200:06:38,679 –> 00:06:41,220and you’ve landed so many punches on him,12300:06:41,220 –> 00:06:43,179you must get to the point12400:06:44,380 –> 00:06:46,359where you long more than anything else12500:06:46,359 –> 00:06:48,420that he will finally go down.12600:06:49,380 –> 00:06:51,720Don’t you feel that in your battle against sin?12700:06:52,739 –> 00:06:54,739When is this beggar going to go down?12800:06:55,220 –> 00:06:58,920And the promise of God is that you have a lifelong battle,12900:06:58,920 –> 00:07:01,559but it will be a battle in which he will prevail13000:07:01,559 –> 00:07:03,640and one day, he will go down.13100:07:05,160 –> 00:07:07,279One day, you will no longer be in the battle.13200:07:07,279 –> 00:07:09,320One day, there will no longer be an opponent.13300:07:09,320 –> 00:07:11,820One day, you will no longer even be in the ring,13400:07:14,119 –> 00:07:16,480or there will be no enemy.13500:07:16,480 –> 00:07:17,899There will be no temptation.13600:07:19,320 –> 00:07:22,760You will be in the brightness and glory13700:07:23,200 –> 00:07:24,899of the presence of the Lord.13800:07:24,899 –> 00:07:26,179Your battle will be over13900:07:27,179 –> 00:07:29,720and you will receive the victor’s crown.14000:07:32,299 –> 00:07:35,040Now, Jude has two specific things to say to us14100:07:35,040 –> 00:07:38,179by way of encouragement as we come towards a close14200:07:38,179 –> 00:07:40,279about the savior, God,14300:07:42,239 –> 00:07:44,959and they relate to the second and third dimensions14400:07:44,959 –> 00:07:46,640of his saving work.14500:07:47,720 –> 00:07:50,600Number one, God is able,14600:07:50,959 –> 00:07:54,239God is able to keep you from falling.14700:07:55,320 –> 00:07:56,160When?14800:07:57,260 –> 00:07:59,799Number one, when you failed.14900:07:59,799 –> 00:08:01,359And I want very specifically,15000:08:01,359 –> 00:08:03,119to give this word of encouragement15100:08:03,119 –> 00:08:06,480to folks who are feeling their failure,15200:08:06,480 –> 00:08:09,920feeling that blows have been landed on them in the battle,15300:08:09,920 –> 00:08:12,760perhaps even that you’ve been knocked down in the fight.15400:08:14,440 –> 00:08:16,859Remember when Jesus was about to go to the cross,15500:08:16,859 –> 00:08:18,559he said to Peter,15600:08:18,839 –> 00:08:21,559Satan has desired to sift you as wheat,15700:08:21,559 –> 00:08:25,320but I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail.15800:08:26,839 –> 00:08:29,640That’s Luke chapter 22 and verse 31.15900:08:29,640 –> 00:08:33,119And you remember that Peter did fall.16000:08:34,119 –> 00:08:36,280You remember that he denied Jesus three times16100:08:36,280 –> 00:08:39,979that he called down horrible curses upon himself.16200:08:41,380 –> 00:08:43,979But the prayers of Jesus were answered16300:08:43,979 –> 00:08:46,919and Peter’s failure was not final.16400:08:47,539 –> 00:08:50,460And from that I want to draw this word of encouragement.16500:08:51,559 –> 00:08:55,960If you have fallen into serious sin, like Peter,16600:08:57,099 –> 00:09:02,099you need to know that this is not the end because of Jesus.16700:09:03,479 –> 00:09:05,159To change the analogy for a moment,16800:09:05,159 –> 00:09:08,479imagine two climbers scaling a cliff face.16900:09:09,559 –> 00:09:14,039They’re roped together, and as they are climbing17000:09:14,039 –> 00:09:16,520one of them slips and falls.17100:09:17,919 –> 00:09:20,200If he had been climbing alone17200:09:20,200 –> 00:09:22,979he would have fallen to his certain death.17300:09:25,080 –> 00:09:27,820But he is roped to his friend17400:09:28,840 –> 00:09:33,840and his friend is in a secure position on the rock.17500:09:35,719 –> 00:09:37,440Now being a Christian means that17600:09:37,440 –> 00:09:40,679you are roped to Jesus Christ.17700:09:40,679 –> 00:09:44,119And if you have fallen, you need to know17800:09:44,119 –> 00:09:46,239what kind of saviour you have.17900:09:47,500 –> 00:09:52,539If you fall, he is able to hold on to you.18000:09:54,679 –> 00:09:59,559If you fall, he will not cut the rope.18100:10:00,640 –> 00:10:02,559And it may be that there’s someone here this morning18200:10:02,559 –> 00:10:03,979and that’s precisely the word18300:10:03,979 –> 00:10:06,760that you need to hear from God right now.18400:10:06,760 –> 00:10:07,820You know you’ve failed.18500:10:07,820 –> 00:10:09,760You’ve done something you wish you hadn’t done.18600:10:09,760 –> 00:10:11,159You can’t turn the clock back18700:10:11,159 –> 00:10:13,239and you feel like you’re dangling there18800:10:13,239 –> 00:10:16,099and you say, does God have anything for me now?18900:10:16,099 –> 00:10:18,940Look, if you fail, God does not cut the rope.19000:10:18,940 –> 00:10:19,760Why?19100:10:19,760 –> 00:10:22,580Because he is the Savior God.19200:10:22,580 –> 00:10:23,559It’s who he is.19300:10:24,619 –> 00:10:25,859And if you fall,19400:10:25,859 –> 00:10:28,679the weight of your fall will not dislodge him either.19500:10:30,940 –> 00:10:31,940You need to know that.19600:10:31,940 –> 00:10:32,940This is the hope,19700:10:36,179 –> 00:10:38,619if a disaster comes into your life19800:10:40,900 –> 00:10:43,380And maybe there’s someone right here this morning19900:10:43,479 –> 00:10:46,179And you feel as it were that you are dangling20000:10:46,179 –> 00:10:49,640Oh, you would be lost if it was not for the mercy of God.20100:10:49,640 –> 00:10:52,179But listen Judas says,20200:10:52,179 –> 00:10:56,719I want you to remember that God is our savior.20300:10:58,099 –> 00:11:00,640Failure is never final20400:11:01,739 –> 00:11:03,099in the Christian life.20500:11:04,020 –> 00:11:05,859And if I can extend that picture,20600:11:05,859 –> 00:11:08,380I want you to imagine, as it were the Savior20700:11:08,380 –> 00:11:10,479looking down to you and saying,20800:11:10,479 –> 00:11:12,840Get back on the wall.20900:11:13,760 –> 00:11:16,099And start climbing in obedience21000:11:17,299 –> 00:11:18,799from where you are right now.21100:11:19,719 –> 00:11:21,000You’re listening to Open The Bible21200:11:21,000 –> 00:11:22,280with Pastor Colin Smith21300:11:22,280 –> 00:11:24,919and a message called Rest in God’s Triumph.21400:11:24,919 –> 00:11:26,719It’s the final message in the series,21500:11:26,719 –> 00:11:29,119Keeping Yourself in Spiritual Shape,21600:11:29,119 –> 00:11:31,3597 workouts for a healthy Christian life21700:11:31,359 –> 00:11:33,400taken from the Book of Jude.21800:11:33,400 –> 00:11:35,239And if you’ve missed any of the series,21900:11:35,239 –> 00:11:36,880don’t forget you can easily catch up22000:11:36,880 –> 00:11:38,719or go back and listen again online22100:11:38,719 –> 00:11:43,320at our website, openthebible.org.uk.22200:11:43,320 –> 00:11:45,359I know many of you listen to podcasts22300:11:45,359 –> 00:11:48,440and we’re excited to tell you about a new podcast22400:11:48,440 –> 00:11:49,840for Open The Bible.22500:11:49,840 –> 00:11:52,599It’s a companion to Pastor Colin’s book22600:11:52,599 –> 00:11:54,239Hike Through The Bible.22700:11:54,239 –> 00:11:57,159Yeah and each week I’ll read a chapter from the book22800:11:57,159 –> 00:11:59,799and then I get to discuss it with some friends.22900:11:59,799 –> 00:12:03,039So if you join us on the podcast in 50 weeks,23000:12:03,039 –> 00:12:05,880we’ll cover 50 chapters of the Bible together23100:12:05,880 –> 00:12:08,239and in a year you’ll have hiked23200:12:08,239 –> 00:12:10,619through the entire Bible story.23300:12:10,619 –> 00:12:13,239Now if you think hiking sounds like hard work,23400:12:13,739 –> 00:12:15,799don’t worry, I promise you this hike23500:12:15,799 –> 00:12:18,179will be an easy gentle piece.23600:12:18,179 –> 00:12:21,500There’s a link to the podcast and lots more information23700:12:21,500 –> 00:12:25,739on our website at openthebible.org.uk.23800:12:25,739 –> 00:12:28,700Back to The Message Now, here again is Colin.23900:12:28,700 –> 00:12:31,820No temptation has seized you except what is common to man24000:12:31,820 –> 00:12:33,380Paul says in one Corinthians.24100:12:33,380 –> 00:12:35,140And God will not let you be tempted24200:12:35,140 –> 00:12:36,500beyond what you can bear,24300:12:36,500 –> 00:12:38,919but He’ll provide a way out so that you can stand up24400:12:38,919 –> 00:12:40,419under it.24500:12:40,419 –> 00:12:43,059Now I want to ask you to search your heart honestly.24600:12:43,080 –> 00:12:45,640Do you believe that God is able to deliver you24700:12:45,640 –> 00:12:47,539from temptation or not?24800:12:47,539 –> 00:12:49,539This goes to the heart of whether we really believe24900:12:49,539 –> 00:12:50,380the gospel.25000:12:51,700 –> 00:12:53,320Some of us don’t believe the gospel.25100:12:53,320 –> 00:12:55,219We believe a part of the gospel,25200:12:55,219 –> 00:12:56,739we believe in forgiveness.25300:12:56,739 –> 00:12:58,880We don’t believe anything else.25400:12:58,880 –> 00:13:02,039Not really understood our savior, God.25500:13:04,020 –> 00:13:07,580What temptation that you might face this week25600:13:07,580 –> 00:13:10,380do you think Christ couldn’t deliver you from?25700:13:13,500 –> 00:13:16,460We used the analogy of boxing earlier.25800:13:16,460 –> 00:13:19,460Forgive me for pressing it just one more time.25900:13:19,460 –> 00:13:21,159But you know that as part of the whole scene26000:13:21,159 –> 00:13:24,200of a world title fight that there’s always26100:13:24,200 –> 00:13:26,260a great deal of talk.26200:13:26,260 –> 00:13:27,440I hope I’m not the only person26300:13:27,440 –> 00:13:29,179that finds some interest in these things.26400:13:29,179 –> 00:13:30,000Am I here?26500:13:31,799 –> 00:13:33,219There never was anyone better at it,26600:13:33,219 –> 00:13:35,400of course, than Muhammad Ali.26700:13:35,400 –> 00:13:36,880Remember that?26800:13:36,880 –> 00:13:38,659I am going to dance like a butterfly26900:13:38,659 –> 00:13:40,020and sting like a bee.27000:13:41,020 –> 00:13:44,419At the count of five, you’ll take a dive.27100:13:44,419 –> 00:13:45,559That wasn’t very good, was it?27200:13:45,559 –> 00:13:49,460Can you imagine someone coming into the27300:13:49,460 –> 00:13:51,539weigh-in before a heavy-weight championship27400:13:51,539 –> 00:13:53,700of the world and when the microphone27500:13:53,700 –> 00:13:56,099stuck in front of him saying well,27600:13:56,099 –> 00:13:57,539as he looks at his opponent,27700:13:58,580 –> 00:14:00,419he’s much bigger than me.27800:14:00,419 –> 00:14:03,119He’s much faster on his feet.27900:14:03,119 –> 00:14:07,380He punches harder.28000:14:07,380 –> 00:14:09,239He’s been a champion for a very long time28100:14:09,320 –> 00:14:12,359and I really don’t think that I have28200:14:12,359 –> 00:14:14,219much of a chance.28300:14:14,219 –> 00:14:17,640But you know, that is precisely the kind28400:14:17,640 –> 00:14:20,840of pre-fight talk that some of us are doing.28500:14:21,719 –> 00:14:23,719You do that pre-fight talk in front of28600:14:23,719 –> 00:14:25,320your computer screen, some of you.28700:14:25,960 –> 00:14:29,219Oh, I can’t do anything about this.28800:14:29,479 –> 00:14:32,419This temptation is much too strong for me.28900:14:32,419 –> 00:14:35,119I’ve been doing this for a very long time.29000:14:35,119 –> 00:14:39,140It’s pathetic!29100:14:39,320 –> 00:14:42,280It’s pathetic.29200:14:42,919 –> 00:14:43,820You know the problem?29300:14:43,820 –> 00:14:46,400You don’t believe the gospel.29400:14:48,440 –> 00:14:51,320You don’t believe in the Saviour God.29500:14:52,520 –> 00:14:54,479You have this idea that you just keep doing the same thing29600:14:54,479 –> 00:14:55,719and God will keep forgiving you.29700:14:55,719 –> 00:14:58,000You don’t believe God can deliver you.29800:14:58,840 –> 00:15:01,280You don’t believe he’s put you in a position to fight.29900:15:01,280 –> 00:15:02,820You don’t believe the Bible.30000:15:02,820 –> 00:15:04,299That’s why you fail.30100:15:04,559 –> 00:15:09,580There would be much more victory in our Christian lives30200:15:09,580 –> 00:15:12,059if we started to believe God.30300:15:13,359 –> 00:15:15,919If we got truth into our heads.30400:15:16,840 –> 00:15:21,820Instead of going through this pre-fight talk of defeat30500:15:21,820 –> 00:15:26,780that is language as if God had never given us the Holy Spirit30600:15:26,780 –> 00:15:27,979which he has.30700:15:29,979 –> 00:15:34,140You’re talking like you aren’t a Christian.30800:15:34,419 –> 00:15:35,780Make up your mind.30900:15:37,359 –> 00:15:40,299If you’re not a Christian come to Jesus Christ today.31000:15:40,299 –> 00:15:42,219Tell him you need the gift of his spirit31100:15:42,219 –> 00:15:44,239tell him that you need a Saviour.31200:15:45,659 –> 00:15:47,479And if you have a Saviour,31300:15:47,479 –> 00:15:49,580go live like you have a Saviour.31400:15:49,580 –> 00:15:52,020And if you have a Saviour go fight31500:15:52,020 –> 00:15:54,580like the Saviour has put you in a position to fight.31600:15:56,900 –> 00:16:00,739The devil has us bamboozled with confusion on this issue.31700:16:04,500 –> 00:16:05,580Of course once in a while,31800:16:05,580 –> 00:16:07,820if I can push it just one little bit further.31900:16:09,000 –> 00:16:09,840Once in a while,32000:16:09,840 –> 00:16:12,619you get a boxer who intentionally throws a fight.32100:16:12,619 –> 00:16:13,460Ever seen that happen?32200:16:13,460 –> 00:16:15,299And all the crowd boos.32300:16:15,299 –> 00:16:16,539Because they only saw one round32400:16:16,539 –> 00:16:18,500and he went down after the first punch?32500:16:19,859 –> 00:16:21,140Remember when I was a kid watching32600:16:21,140 –> 00:16:22,739some heavyweight championships,32700:16:22,739 –> 00:16:23,700and my father saying,32800:16:23,700 –> 00:16:25,539you know for that number of million of dollars32900:16:25,539 –> 00:16:26,559I think I’d get in there33000:16:26,559 –> 00:16:28,219and go down after one punch too.33100:16:30,619 –> 00:16:32,179But you know that is the surest way33200:16:32,179 –> 00:16:33,880of being disqualified, isn’t it?33300:16:36,260 –> 00:16:39,179That is to show that you are not a fighter.33400:16:41,380 –> 00:16:43,419I’m not suggesting that we are saved33500:16:43,419 –> 00:16:44,539by putting up a fight.33600:16:44,539 –> 00:16:45,380Of course we’re not,33700:16:45,380 –> 00:16:46,700we’re saved by the grace of God.33800:16:46,700 –> 00:16:48,559But the evidence that God’s grace33900:16:48,559 –> 00:16:50,080is at work in your life34000:16:50,080 –> 00:16:53,520is that you put up a fight.34100:16:53,520 –> 00:16:55,059And when you’re knocked down34200:16:55,059 –> 00:16:56,380in the strength that God gives you,34300:16:56,380 –> 00:16:58,380you get up and you start fighting again.34400:16:59,380 –> 00:17:02,940Your saviour will stand with you in temptation.34500:17:06,359 –> 00:17:08,599And he’s able to keep you from falling.34600:17:08,599 –> 00:17:10,739If you would believe that,34700:17:11,900 –> 00:17:14,420you would go into a battle this week34800:17:14,420 –> 00:17:18,839with an entirely different biblical mindset.34900:17:22,099 –> 00:17:23,239And he’ll keep you from falling35000:17:23,239 –> 00:17:24,099when you’re weighed down.35100:17:24,099 –> 00:17:26,040One of my very favourite verses in the Bible,35200:17:26,920 –> 00:17:29,800Psalm 118, verse 13 and 14.35300:17:29,800 –> 00:17:31,300I was pushed hard.35400:17:31,300 –> 00:17:34,619I was about to fall, but the Lord helped me.35500:17:34,619 –> 00:17:37,640The Lord is my strength, the Lord is my song,35600:17:37,640 –> 00:17:39,520and he’s become my salvation.35700:17:39,520 –> 00:17:41,219You believe in the saviour, God?35800:17:43,780 –> 00:17:45,520He’s able to keep you from falling.35900:17:46,819 –> 00:17:48,619And lastly, he’s able to present you36000:17:48,619 –> 00:17:50,339in his presence in glory.36100:17:50,339 –> 00:17:53,540He’s able to bring you to glory.36200:17:53,900 –> 00:17:56,500Not only is he able to keep you from falling,36300:17:56,500 –> 00:17:59,500but the saviour, God, is able to present you36400:17:59,500 –> 00:18:01,219in his glorious presence,36500:18:01,219 –> 00:18:03,760without fault and with great joy.36600:18:03,760 –> 00:18:05,699Can you imagine what this is going to be like36700:18:05,699 –> 00:18:10,699for you to be presented by God to God?36800:18:12,619 –> 00:18:14,800A wonderful mystery in that itself.36900:18:14,800 –> 00:18:16,760God presents you, and God is the one37000:18:16,760 –> 00:18:18,079to whom you’re presented.37100:18:18,979 –> 00:18:23,040And in the radiant majesty of his presence,37200:18:23,680 –> 00:18:28,040you will be without fault.37300:18:30,459 –> 00:18:32,819Can you even imagine yourself faultless?37400:18:35,140 –> 00:18:36,500We saw earlier in our series37500:18:36,500 –> 00:18:39,119that every Christian now is like a burned stick.37600:18:40,619 –> 00:18:43,380But the damage that sin has done to us all37700:18:43,380 –> 00:18:46,619will be fully undone, the scars will be healed,37800:18:46,619 –> 00:18:50,760the charring will be as if it had never happened.37900:18:51,760 –> 00:18:54,119You will be faultless in your mind38000:18:54,119 –> 00:18:57,719as you know all things that are mysteries to you now.38100:18:57,719 –> 00:18:59,640You will be faultless in your soul.38200:18:59,640 –> 00:19:01,000There will be no fears,38300:19:01,000 –> 00:19:04,839there will be no sudden moods that sweep upon you38400:19:04,839 –> 00:19:06,819and become struggles for you.38500:19:06,819 –> 00:19:11,020You will be faultless in your body, in your body.38600:19:12,680 –> 00:19:14,219No arthritis.38700:19:17,160 –> 00:19:19,599I see my son training so vigorously,38800:19:19,599 –> 00:19:21,800I support him, I mean it’s a wonderful thing,38900:19:21,800 –> 00:19:24,680but I tease him, I say, it’s a losing battle.39000:19:27,180 –> 00:19:31,560Over 50 years, 60 years, 70 years, it’s a losing battle.39100:19:33,140 –> 00:19:36,939But your body will be made perfect.39200:19:36,939 –> 00:19:41,939You will live eternity in the vigor of redeemed strength.39300:19:46,400 –> 00:19:48,479And you will be able to give yourself39400:19:48,520 –> 00:19:51,760more fully to God than ever before.39500:19:51,760 –> 00:19:54,520Give yourself to him as you always wanted,39600:19:54,520 –> 00:19:57,359and the reason I say that is that this word without fault39700:19:57,359 –> 00:19:59,839goes back to the old sacrifices in the Old Testament.39800:19:59,839 –> 00:20:02,500Remember the animal had to be sacrificed,39900:20:02,500 –> 00:20:03,839had to be without blemish,40000:20:03,839 –> 00:20:05,640and that’s the word that’s used here.40100:20:05,640 –> 00:20:08,459So you’ll be in the position where you are able40200:20:08,459 –> 00:20:09,959to offer everything to God,40300:20:09,959 –> 00:20:12,839and God will embrace everything that you are.40400:20:14,719 –> 00:20:16,500You will be his for all eternity.40500:20:17,459 –> 00:20:20,640You will reflect the perfection of the Lamb of God,40600:20:22,459 –> 00:20:24,219and he will embrace and welcome you.40700:20:25,380 –> 00:20:28,160And says Jude as he begins to think about it more40800:20:28,160 –> 00:20:30,199and more it will not only be without fault,40900:20:30,199 –> 00:20:31,979but it will be with great joy.41000:20:31,979 –> 00:20:35,420Can you imagine the joy that God would have41100:20:35,420 –> 00:20:36,520in receiving you?41200:20:37,420 –> 00:20:40,640Can you imagine God himself rejoicing?41300:20:41,979 –> 00:20:44,760We’re told that Jesus endured the cross41400:20:44,760 –> 00:20:47,000for the joy that was set before Him.41500:20:48,219 –> 00:20:51,680In other words, He looked at the joy in anticipation.41600:20:53,160 –> 00:20:56,619And he looked at the horrors of the cross,41700:20:56,619 –> 00:21:00,260and Jesus said in his mind, according to Hebrews,41800:21:01,239 –> 00:21:06,239that joy is so great that it’s well worth this suffering.41900:21:09,420 –> 00:21:12,300And if you can picture and imagine the weight42000:21:12,300 –> 00:21:15,119of the horrors of the suffering of Jesus,42100:21:15,119 –> 00:21:19,160that will give you some scale of the joy of God42200:21:20,520 –> 00:21:24,020in welcoming you on the last day.42300:21:25,479 –> 00:21:30,420So no wonder Jude says to this savior God,42400:21:31,719 –> 00:21:33,400who can keep you from falling42500:21:33,400 –> 00:21:35,800and who will present you in his own presence42600:21:35,800 –> 00:21:37,939without fault and with great joy,42700:21:38,939 –> 00:21:43,239to him be glory and majesty and power and authority42800:21:44,699 –> 00:21:49,380through Jesus Christ before all ages,42900:21:50,280 –> 00:21:54,180now give him the glory for it now43000:21:56,040 –> 00:22:00,380and forevermore, Amen.43100:22:01,719 –> 00:22:04,119That’s a great way to end this series.43200:22:04,119 –> 00:22:07,640Jesus can not only save us from the consequences of sin,43300:22:08,000 –> 00:22:11,000but in this life he can save us from the power of sin.43400:22:11,900 –> 00:22:13,319You’ve been listening to Open the Bible43500:22:13,739 –> 00:22:15,020with Pastor Colin Smyth43600:22:15,380 –> 00:22:17,739and a message called Rest in God’s Triumph,43700:22:18,319 –> 00:22:19,459part of our series43800:22:19,459 –> 00:22:21,800and keeping yourself in spiritual shape,43900:22:22,300 –> 00:22:24,760and it’s based on the book of Jude.44000:22:24,760 –> 00:22:26,280If you’ve missed any of the series44100:22:26,280 –> 00:22:28,199or if you want to go back and listen again,44200:22:28,199 –> 00:22:31,060you can do that either by coming online to our website44300:22:31,060 –> 00:22:33,479at openthebible.org.uk44400:22:34,000 –> 00:22:36,780or by looking in your favorite podcast site44500:22:36,839 –> 00:22:38,579for Open the Bible UK.44600:22:38,859 –> 00:22:41,459There you’ll find all Pastor Colin’s messages44700:22:41,459 –> 00:22:43,520which have already been broadcast.44800:22:44,079 –> 00:22:46,660Open the Bible is able to stay on this station44900:22:46,660 –> 00:22:47,579and the internet45000:22:47,880 –> 00:22:49,380and available as a podcast45100:22:49,660 –> 00:22:52,500because of the generous financial support of our listeners45200:22:52,719 –> 00:22:54,219that’s people like you,45300:22:54,520 –> 00:22:56,780and if you already give to support the work45400:22:57,060 –> 00:22:58,160thank you so much.45500:22:58,859 –> 00:23:01,959If supporting Open the Bible is something you’d like to start doing45600:23:02,319 –> 00:23:04,819this month we’re delighted to offer a free gift.45700:23:04,839 –> 00:23:07,099Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham45800:23:07,099 –> 00:23:07,939To tell us about it.45900:23:08,380 –> 00:23:09,260Thanks, David.46000:23:09,260 –> 00:23:13,020Yes, this month we are really excited to be giving away46100:23:13,020 –> 00:23:14,780Colin Smith’s newest book46200:23:15,099 –> 00:23:17,459and the final book in the fly46300:23:17,459 –> 00:23:19,660and drive through the Bible series46400:23:19,959 –> 00:23:21,880hike through the Bible.46500:23:22,319 –> 00:23:25,800This book takes you on a guided 50 session journey46600:23:25,819 –> 00:23:28,199through the whole storyline of Scripture.46700:23:28,599 –> 00:23:31,239It’s a little bit like taking a steady hike46800:23:31,280 –> 00:23:33,660with a trusted pastor by your side.46900:23:34,560 –> 00:23:38,760Colin helps you navigate the rugged terrain of the Old Testament47000:23:38,760 –> 00:23:41,599pause at places of grace and promise47100:23:46,839 –> 00:23:49,160Each chapter is short and accessible47200:23:49,160 –> 00:23:51,160with simple reflection questions to help you47300:23:51,160 –> 00:23:53,160apply what you are learning47400:23:53,420 –> 00:23:55,880whether you read it on your own or with a small group.47500:23:56,199 –> 00:23:58,199I also particularly like the fact that47600:23:58,540 –> 00:24:00,540at the end of each chapter47700:24:00,540 –> 00:24:02,540there is a short verse to memorize.47800:24:03,280 –> 00:24:05,280If you’ve enjoyed Fly through the Bible47900:24:05,280 –> 00:24:07,280or Drive through the Bible48000:24:07,280 –> 00:24:09,280this final installment completes the journey48100:24:09,280 –> 00:24:11,280helping you see how all48200:24:11,280 –> 00:24:13,280of scripture fits together48300:24:13,280 –> 00:24:15,280as one great story48400:24:15,280 –> 00:24:17,280and we would love to send you48500:24:17,280 –> 00:24:19,280a copy FOR FREE this month48600:24:19,739 –> 00:24:22,040when you set up a new direct debit48700:24:22,040 –> 00:24:23,359of at least £548800:24:23,579 –> 00:24:25,239or give a one off gift48900:24:25,239 –> 00:24:27,239of at least £5049000:24:27,239 –> 00:24:30,020to support the ministry of Open The Bible UK49100:24:30,500 –> 00:24:33,339and with Christmas just around the corner49200:24:33,339 –> 00:24:35,500I think it would be a lovely treat49300:24:35,500 –> 00:24:37,500and a really encouraging way49400:24:37,500 –> 00:24:39,500to begin the new year in God’s Word49500:24:40,260 –> 00:24:42,739just don’t forget to leave your address49600:24:42,739 –> 00:24:44,739when you donate so we can make sure49700:24:44,739 –> 00:24:46,739we can post your gift49800:24:46,739 –> 00:24:48,739we’d love to send you Colin’s new book49900:24:48,739 –> 00:24:50,739when you set up a new direct debit50000:24:50,739 –> 00:24:52,739of £5 per month or more50100:24:52,739 –> 00:24:55,079or one off gift of £50 or more50200:24:55,079 –> 00:24:57,079this month50300:24:57,160 –> 00:24:59,400full terms & conditions on line at our website50400:24:59,619 –> 00:25:02,619openthebible.org.uk50500:25:02,619 –> 00:25:04,619and you can give on line50600:25:04,619 –> 00:25:06,619don’t forget to leave your name and address50700:25:06,619 –> 00:25:08,619so we can send you your gift50800:25:09,339 –> 00:25:11,819for Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith50900:25:11,819 –> 00:25:13,819I’m David Pick51000:25:13,819 –> 00:25:16,280and I look forward to being with you again next time51100:25:21,000 –> 00:25:23,520Consider your sphere of influence51200:25:23,520 –> 00:25:25,520where you are in your spiritual journey51300:25:25,520 –> 00:25:27,520and who you are following51400:25:27,520 –> 00:25:29,640That’s next time on Open The Bible