100:00:00,900 –> 00:00:12,440Where there may be rebellion in your heart, I urge you to come to the cross of Jesus Christ200:00:12,440 –> 00:00:20,080and deal with it today. Because if you don’t, its power will grow and there is300:00:20,080 –> 00:00:24,799no saying where it will lead you. Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.400:00:24,799 –> 00:00:29,280I’m David Pick. Glad you could be with us today. And Colin, there may be someone listening today500:00:29,320 –> 00:00:33,180who is thinking, well maybe I do have rebellion in my heart.600:00:33,180 –> 00:00:36,959Maybe I don’t really want to deal with that because I don’t want to deal with700:00:36,959 –> 00:00:41,560the feelings and emotions that may come with it. If they don’t what is the800:00:41,560 –> 00:00:45,779ultimate outcome? This is why we want to speak about the urgency of this today900:00:45,779 –> 00:00:50,680because it doesn’t remain the same. You know why does God say today, if you hear1000:00:50,680 –> 00:00:55,000my voice do not harden your heart. Why is it so important today that there should1100:00:55,119 –> 00:01:00,619be a response? And it’s because sin isn’t static. The heart doesn’t stay as it is.1200:01:00,619 –> 00:01:05,959Hardness actually intensifies – it increases over time. That’s why you have1300:01:05,959 –> 00:01:10,480in James, for example, you know, sin is conceived and then when it becomes full1400:01:10,480 –> 00:01:15,279grown then it leads to death. So, there is never a better time to deal with1500:01:15,279 –> 00:01:21,300rebellion in your heart than right now and today as God speaks to you about it.1600:01:21,320 –> 00:01:26,260So, whenever there’s an awareness there’s a real urgency, you know, when God speaks1700:01:26,260 –> 00:01:31,279we turn away at our peril. So, I want to give an encouragement to be really1800:01:31,279 –> 00:01:35,680responsive to the Word of God that encourages us to come back to Him to get1900:01:35,680 –> 00:01:39,320our sins under the blood of Christ and to make a new start in the power of the2000:01:39,320 –> 00:01:40,260Holy Spirit today.2100:01:40,260 –> 00:01:43,339Well, that’s what today’s message is all about. It’s called2200:01:43,339 –> 00:01:47,779Restoration and it’s from Isaiah chapter one. So, I hope you’ll join us in your2300:01:47,779 –> 00:01:50,419Bible as we continue the message. Here’s Colin.2400:01:50,500 –> 00:01:59,760Too often, we have had to endure the pain of hearing about leaders of the church2500:01:59,760 –> 00:02:09,860who have fallen into gross sin. And you may wonder, how in the world is it2600:02:10,360 –> 00:02:21,380possible for someone in ministry to get to a place of doing things that are worse2700:02:21,380 –> 00:02:28,179than you would commonly find even among people who do not believe. Your mind2800:02:28,179 –> 00:02:35,460reels and you say how can this possibly be? And I’m saying to you today this is2900:02:35,619 –> 00:02:42,779you need to grasp this is what I need to settle in my mind that those who have3000:02:42,779 –> 00:02:51,020been most blessed by God often become the worst of all worse than unbelievers3100:02:51,020 –> 00:03:01,380if they rebel against him. Coming near to God will either make you better or it3200:03:01,440 –> 00:03:10,699will make you worse. Friend, if you sin against the light you have received and3300:03:10,699 –> 00:03:20,860go on doing that you dull your own conscience and over time darkness may3400:03:20,860 –> 00:03:29,220overtake you and lead you to unimaginable things and you may find3500:03:29,339 –> 00:03:35,080yourself in greater darkness than many who never walked with Christ. Jesus3600:03:35,080 –> 00:03:41,339speaks about this in John chapter 12 and verse 35 he says this, walk while you3700:03:41,339 –> 00:03:51,839have the light, he says, lest darkness overtake you.3800:03:51,919 –> 00:04:03,339Where there may be rebellion in your heart, I urge you to come to the cross of3900:04:03,339 –> 00:04:12,419Jesus Christ and deal with it today. Because if you don’t, its power will grow4000:04:12,419 –> 00:04:18,600and there is no saying where it will lead you. No saying where it will lead4100:04:18,739 –> 00:04:26,600you. Now the Scriptures give us serious warnings and by any account, these4200:04:26,600 –> 00:04:32,839verses in Isaiah come into that category. They give us serious warnings because we4300:04:32,839 –> 00:04:39,540need them. The church needs them. They speak to the realities of life. The Bible4400:04:39,540 –> 00:04:42,779always does. There’s nothing that’s hidden from God, nothing that takes him4500:04:43,019 –> 00:04:51,859surprised. But the Scriptures also give us wonderful hope and the very verses4600:04:51,859 –> 00:04:58,019here that are addressing these solemn matters of the way in which the once4700:04:58,019 –> 00:05:05,140faithful city can trade away that which is of such value and sink to such4800:05:05,140 –> 00:05:12,140horrible debts. The same passage that describes that are at the very verses in4900:05:12,220 –> 00:05:17,859which God speaks to us about the hope of restoration you. You look at the world5000:05:17,859 –> 00:05:22,299in which we live. You’re in maybe times where you’re looking at your own life and5100:05:22,299 –> 00:05:28,000you’re saying now where is there hope here? How can faithless people be made5200:05:28,000 –> 00:05:33,339faithful? How can self absorbed people learn to love? What is there for God’s5300:05:33,339 –> 00:05:37,959people when the silver has been traded for dross and the wine has been watered5400:05:38,399 –> 00:05:43,640down? What what hope is there for the wrecked life of the person who has given5500:05:43,640 –> 00:05:52,239him or herself to sin and now finds themself in great great great darkness?5600:05:52,239 –> 00:05:57,119I want you to notice how God restores His people which is the second of the5700:05:57,119 –> 00:06:03,239two things that we have here today. The profile of the unfaithful church was the5800:06:03,239 –> 00:06:09,299first and how God restores His people here in these verses of the second and5900:06:09,299 –> 00:06:14,720He restores them in these ways first by a gracious intervention. Do you notice6000:06:14,720 –> 00:06:24,880verse 25, I will turn my hand against you and will smelt away your dross as with6100:06:25,720 –> 00:06:38,660lye and remove all your alloy? Hope begins with an intervention from God and6200:06:38,660 –> 00:06:43,260this is how God restores. Isn’t it interesting that God says here I will6300:06:43,260 –> 00:06:49,959turn my hand against you. He’s acting in judgment in relation to His people and6400:06:49,959 –> 00:06:54,160yet His great purpose is their restoration. Always remember that if you6500:06:54,299 –> 00:06:59,000come to a place where it seems that God Himself is against you, in Jesus Christ6600:06:59,000 –> 00:07:04,000He is always, however difficult what He’s bringing you through, acting for your6700:07:04,000 –> 00:07:11,019ultimate good. In all things working for the good of those who love Him. And hope6800:07:11,019 –> 00:07:17,540of real and lasting change can only begin with an intervention of God. Only6900:07:18,459 –> 00:07:25,040himself can restore his people, but he can do it. And here in these very verses7000:07:25,040 –> 00:07:31,239he says that he will. Notice verse 25 he takes up the theme of dross again that7100:07:31,239 –> 00:07:41,440we noticed in verse 22. God says, I will purge your dross, smelt it away. Well, we7200:07:41,440 –> 00:07:48,380already saw God says your silver has become dross. So the promise7300:07:48,380 –> 00:07:56,239here involves a miraculous change of nature. I mean, only God can turn dross7400:07:56,239 –> 00:08:03,440into silver. You could do that, you’d be very rich. Can’t do it, but God can.7500:08:03,440 –> 00:08:09,480God turning dross into silver, that is what he says he will do here. God can7600:08:09,640 –> 00:08:19,239take a person who has traded away the most precious gift and he can make that7700:08:19,239 –> 00:08:24,820person anew. It’s the most beautiful promise. When David came to seek7800:08:24,820 –> 00:08:29,899restoration, you remember in Psalm 51, which is a wonderful Psalm to read on7900:08:29,899 –> 00:08:37,320this great subject, you remember he has God first to cleanse him. It feels so8000:08:37,440 –> 00:08:43,700unclean. Oh God purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean. Wash me and I shall be8100:08:43,700 –> 00:08:51,960whiter than snow. That’s Isaiah 118 isn’t it? Whiter than snow. But he didn’t stop8200:08:51,960 –> 00:08:56,960there, because he knew that the reason he got into the wretched sin that he’d8300:08:56,960 –> 00:09:01,640committed was that he had a heart that had drawn him there. And he said in effect8400:09:01,640 –> 00:09:06,840oh God if you only cleanse me but don’t change me I’m gonna end up going back8500:09:06,840 –> 00:09:10,979there again so I’m not only asking that you cleanse me and make me whiter than8600:09:10,979 –> 00:09:16,140snow, I’m asking something else. I’m asking that you create in me a clean8700:09:16,140 –> 00:09:22,940heart. That you do a renewal of my very nature by the power of your holy spirit.8800:09:22,940 –> 00:09:28,000That’s what’s being spoken of here. I will purge your dross. I’m gonna turn the8900:09:28,000 –> 00:09:34,039dross into silver. I’m gonna take that which is worthless, and I’m gonna create9000:09:34,299 –> 00:09:42,080something beautiful and of Supreme value at the very core of your being.9100:09:42,080 –> 00:09:46,239God can change your heart and that is what he promises here.9200:09:46,239 –> 00:09:50,099You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith9300:09:50,099 –> 00:09:55,960and a message called Restoration. It’s the third in our series called 180 How9400:09:55,960 –> 00:10:00,219God Changes His People and His Church and if you’ve missed any of the series9500:10:00,599 –> 00:10:04,200or you want to go back and listen again you can do that by coming online to our9600:10:04,200 –> 00:10:08,700website openthebible.org.uk or by finding us as a podcast9700:10:08,700 –> 00:10:11,340and those are on all the main podcast sites.9800:10:11,340 –> 00:10:13,419search for open the Bible UK.9900:10:14,440 –> 00:10:18,159Back to the message now we’re in Isaiah chapter one.10000:10:18,159 –> 00:10:19,979Here’s Colin.10100:10:19,979 –> 00:10:24,039God can change your heart and that is what he promises here.10200:10:24,559 –> 00:10:25,380Second,10300:10:26,820 –> 00:10:29,880God restores his people through the gift10400:10:29,880 –> 00:10:33,640of godly leadership,10500:10:33,640 –> 00:10:35,119notice verse 2610600:10:36,200 –> 00:10:41,039I will restore your judges as at first,10700:10:41,039 –> 00:10:43,320now remember the judges had all got taken up10800:10:43,320 –> 00:10:44,960with the bride, what’s in it for me?10900:10:44,960 –> 00:10:47,239And God says, now I’m going to change that.11000:10:47,239 –> 00:10:50,840I’m going to restore to your judges of integrity11100:10:50,840 –> 00:10:52,700as at first,11200:10:52,700 –> 00:10:55,400I’m going to restore to you counsellors,11300:10:55,400 –> 00:10:58,219verse 26 as at the beginning.11400:10:58,219 –> 00:11:01,419Now remember that these verses speak first11500:11:01,419 –> 00:11:04,719about how God restores the community of his people.11600:11:05,580 –> 00:11:07,260How he’s going to restore the great11700:11:07,260 –> 00:11:10,179and once faithful city that had become11800:11:10,179 –> 00:11:12,780so tragically faithless,11900:11:12,780 –> 00:11:13,960and how is he going to do it.12000:11:13,960 –> 00:11:18,159He says this, there will be wise and godly leaders,12100:11:19,179 –> 00:11:21,380let me just make this immediate application12200:11:21,400 –> 00:11:22,979just so that we don’t miss it.12300:11:23,979 –> 00:11:28,979Wise and godly leaders who are willing to serve12400:11:32,059 –> 00:11:36,320are a gift of Jesus Christ to his church.12500:11:36,320 –> 00:11:37,659That’s an amen moment, by the way,12600:11:37,659 –> 00:11:39,780in a solemn sermon, isn’t it?12700:11:39,780 –> 00:11:42,500A gift of Jesus Christ to his church,12800:11:43,619 –> 00:11:48,619and when you see a board member of this church today,12900:11:49,619 –> 00:11:54,320or a life group leader, or a Sunday School class teacher,13000:11:55,179 –> 00:11:57,739I want you to thank them for serving,13100:11:59,340 –> 00:12:02,640and remember to pray for them with thanksgiving13200:12:04,200 –> 00:12:07,960because as it is with the leaders,13300:12:07,960 –> 00:12:10,599so it is with the church,13400:12:12,679 –> 00:12:14,200and if you want to follow this through,13500:12:14,200 –> 00:12:17,340you can read a little more in Isaiah, in chapter three,13600:12:17,340 –> 00:12:20,219and you’ll find there that the evidence of God’s judgment13700:12:20,219 –> 00:12:22,780is that good people are no longer willing to lead.13800:12:23,880 –> 00:12:27,179In fact, there aren’t any good people left to lead.13900:12:27,179 –> 00:12:29,780It says boys become the rulers.14000:12:29,780 –> 00:12:32,020In other words, people who don’t have the maturity14100:12:32,020 –> 00:12:34,340or the ability to lead end up14200:12:34,340 –> 00:12:36,099being in charge of the whole thing,14300:12:37,239 –> 00:12:40,400and people are being pressed to take responsibility,14400:12:40,400 –> 00:12:41,539but everyone says, not me, not me,14500:12:41,539 –> 00:12:43,419this thing is a shambles.14600:12:44,219 –> 00:12:47,520So a decline of leadership is an evidence14700:12:47,520 –> 00:12:49,739of the judgment of God,14800:12:49,739 –> 00:12:52,179and healthy, godly, wise leadership14900:12:52,179 –> 00:12:54,440is a sign of the blessing of God.15000:12:54,440 –> 00:12:57,179And I will tell you there is never a week15100:12:57,179 –> 00:13:00,760that I do not thank God from the depth of my heart15200:13:01,580 –> 00:13:05,479for the leaders that have emerged15300:13:05,479 –> 00:13:08,440from the congregation of this church,15400:13:08,440 –> 00:13:12,200who willingly and with ability and with humility15500:13:12,200 –> 00:13:16,260serve and for such we should be daily15600:13:16,260 –> 00:13:19,419and profoundly thankful to God.15700:13:22,000 –> 00:13:24,059But the promise here reaches further.15800:13:25,719 –> 00:13:28,960Isaiah actually saw a restoration of leadership15900:13:28,960 –> 00:13:29,960in his own lifetime.16000:13:29,960 –> 00:13:32,099If you look back at chapter one in verse one,16100:13:32,099 –> 00:13:35,280you’ll see that Isaiah prophesied16200:13:35,280 –> 00:13:37,580through some very different periods16300:13:37,580 –> 00:13:39,320in the life of God’s people,16400:13:39,320 –> 00:13:41,280through the days of Uzziah,16500:13:41,280 –> 00:13:45,419through the days of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.16600:13:45,419 –> 00:13:47,960Now look at these two, Ahaz and Hezekiah.16700:13:47,960 –> 00:13:50,599Ahaz was about as bad as they came,16800:13:50,599 –> 00:13:53,400Ahaz and perhaps Manasseh, the two worst.16900:13:54,460 –> 00:13:57,719Hezekiah certainly counts as one17000:13:57,719 –> 00:13:59,219of the better kings of Israel,17100:13:59,219 –> 00:14:02,219and so there was a restoration in some degree17200:14:02,219 –> 00:14:05,760that Isaiah actually saw at a leadership level17300:14:05,760 –> 00:14:07,200within his own lifetime.17400:14:08,020 –> 00:14:11,919But what he prophesies here reaches further17500:14:11,919 –> 00:14:15,080than anything that Isaiah saw in the reign17600:14:15,080 –> 00:14:18,119of Hezekiah or anything that he saw in his own lifetime.17700:14:18,119 –> 00:14:20,159Because God says, verse 26,17800:14:20,159 –> 00:14:23,760he will restore judges as at first,17900:14:24,880 –> 00:14:26,940and counselors as at the beginning.18000:14:26,940 –> 00:14:27,780The beginning of what?18100:14:27,780 –> 00:14:28,940The beginning of the faithful city,18200:14:28,940 –> 00:14:30,099the beginning of Jerusalem.18300:14:30,099 –> 00:14:31,320When was that?18400:14:31,320 –> 00:14:32,799That was the time of David.18500:14:32,799 –> 00:14:35,260That was when Jerusalem became the capital18600:14:35,260 –> 00:14:37,119and the place where God put his name,18700:14:37,119 –> 00:14:39,099it was under David that Jerusalem18800:14:39,099 –> 00:14:41,580became that great city of God.18900:14:41,580 –> 00:14:44,080And Israel was never so blessed19000:14:44,080 –> 00:14:47,739as they had been under the rule of their greatest king,19100:14:47,739 –> 00:14:50,539and, God says, there’s gonna be a new David.19200:14:50,539 –> 00:14:53,039That’s what’s being said here.19300:14:53,039 –> 00:14:55,280And the blessing that came to God’s people19400:14:55,280 –> 00:14:59,260under the rule of David, that’s gonna be multiplied.19500:14:59,260 –> 00:15:00,780How’s it gonna be multiplied?19600:15:00,780 –> 00:15:03,599David’s going to have a greater son.19700:15:04,599 –> 00:15:08,159Alank Matir says God sovereignty plans19800:15:08,159 –> 00:15:13,080to bring David back to reign over a perfected city.19900:15:13,080 –> 00:15:14,960Do you see how that shines a light20000:15:14,960 –> 00:15:19,960on the coming of Jesus Christ, born of the line of David.20100:15:22,559 –> 00:15:24,760So God will restore his people how?20200:15:24,760 –> 00:15:27,239Through a great intervention.20300:15:27,239 –> 00:15:29,080How will he restore his people?20400:15:29,080 –> 00:15:32,419Through a new David, who will be set on the throne20500:15:32,419 –> 00:15:35,580to lead the people of God that takes you right through20600:15:35,580 –> 00:15:38,059to the vision at the end of the New Testament.20700:15:38,059 –> 00:15:40,559Where indeed the great city the New Jerusalem20800:15:40,559 –> 00:15:43,419comes down out of heaven.20900:15:43,419 –> 00:15:46,479The place where God has put his name21000:15:46,479 –> 00:15:49,299and now that there are the people gathered fully redeemed21100:15:49,299 –> 00:15:53,580under his Lordship and under his kingly rule21200:15:53,580 –> 00:15:56,099and the great city indeed becomes21300:15:56,099 –> 00:15:58,559the home of righteousness where the people of God21400:15:58,559 –> 00:16:01,780are blessed and his name is honored forever and forever.21500:16:01,859 –> 00:16:05,440That’s where God’s restoration of his people is going.21600:16:06,880 –> 00:16:08,140And how does that happen?21700:16:10,119 –> 00:16:13,599Know there’s the third piece, the work of the redeemer.21800:16:15,640 –> 00:16:20,640Verse 27, Zion shall be redeemed.21900:16:24,059 –> 00:16:25,239Now what’s a redeemer?22000:16:25,239 –> 00:16:28,520Redeemer is very simply a person who purchases something22100:16:28,520 –> 00:16:30,460by paying a price for it.22200:16:31,400 –> 00:16:36,080And when David’s greater son comes into the world,22300:16:36,080 –> 00:16:41,080he comes as the redeemer and God pays the great price22400:16:42,780 –> 00:16:47,539to purchase his own people, his own faithless people,22500:16:47,539 –> 00:16:50,960how he does it in Jesus Christ.22600:16:50,960 –> 00:16:54,440That’s why Jesus Christ is the hope of the Old Testament22700:16:54,440 –> 00:16:57,599as much as he is the hope in the news.22800:16:57,840 –> 00:16:59,340Zion will be redeemed?22900:16:59,340 –> 00:17:00,179How?23000:17:00,179 –> 00:17:03,820With justice, with justice.23100:17:05,439 –> 00:17:07,560How are God’s people to be restored?23200:17:07,560 –> 00:17:09,359It’s gonna come through the work of the redeemer23300:17:09,359 –> 00:17:12,239and that’s going to involve justice.23400:17:12,239 –> 00:17:15,239That is the purchase of the people of God23500:17:15,239 –> 00:17:18,500will be paid at the price of his own blood23600:17:19,800 –> 00:17:22,560and the stroke of divine justice23700:17:22,560 –> 00:17:24,880for the sins of all of God’s people23800:17:24,880 –> 00:17:26,839will fall upon his one and only son.23900:17:26,920 –> 00:17:29,319He will die, the just for the unjust24000:17:29,319 –> 00:17:32,959and he’ll do it in order to bring us to God.24100:17:34,079 –> 00:17:36,300How are God’s people gonna be restored?24200:17:36,300 –> 00:17:38,020A gracious intervention,24300:17:39,500 –> 00:17:41,900the gift of godly leadership,24400:17:41,900 –> 00:17:43,699the work of the redeemer24500:17:44,839 –> 00:17:48,420and lastly this, people who repent.24600:17:48,420 –> 00:17:49,520Verse 27.24700:17:50,719 –> 00:17:53,920Zion shall be redeemed by justice24800:17:54,859 –> 00:17:59,859and those in her who repent by righteousness.24900:18:03,319 –> 00:18:08,319Please notice that not all in Zion repent,25000:18:10,479 –> 00:18:14,199there are folks within the company of God’s people25100:18:14,199 –> 00:18:18,520in its widest sense who know nothing of real repentance.25200:18:18,540 –> 00:18:23,540Hophni and Phinehas never repented.25300:18:27,079 –> 00:18:28,060They were priests.25400:18:30,040 –> 00:18:32,180Even when they were confronted with their own sin,25500:18:32,180 –> 00:18:33,219they didn’t repent, why?25600:18:33,219 –> 00:18:36,119Because it goes to the heart.25700:18:37,939 –> 00:18:42,939Judas chose to take his own life rather than repent.25800:18:46,099 –> 00:18:48,459Not all repent, notice what it says,25900:18:48,459 –> 00:18:52,300those in her, that is those in Zion who repentance.26000:18:52,300 –> 00:18:55,660So there’s some in Zion who are repentant people.26100:18:57,739 –> 00:19:00,699Repentance is a miracle of grace.26200:19:02,579 –> 00:19:05,479Restoration is a miracle of grace.26300:19:07,099 –> 00:19:09,579For a heart that has taken a person26400:19:09,579 –> 00:19:12,099to the darkest place to be so turned26500:19:12,099 –> 00:19:14,180that there should be real repentance26600:19:14,180 –> 00:19:16,280is not a matter of course.26700:19:16,280 –> 00:19:18,219It’s amazing if it happens.26800:19:18,719 –> 00:19:19,819Amazing.26900:19:21,540 –> 00:19:24,199And here’s the only way in which it ever will happen,27000:19:25,239 –> 00:19:27,619the intervention of God in your life,27100:19:29,560 –> 00:19:32,660bringing you to repentance at the feet of Jesus,27200:19:34,439 –> 00:19:36,800humbling yourself before Him as your judge,27300:19:36,800 –> 00:19:40,119submitting yourself to Him as your counselor,27400:19:40,119 –> 00:19:42,479crowning Him as your sovereign king27500:19:42,479 –> 00:19:45,099and casting yourself upon the mercy27600:19:45,099 –> 00:19:47,640of this gracious Redeemer who loved you27700:19:47,739 –> 00:19:51,599and gave Himself for you, who is able to cleanse you27800:19:51,599 –> 00:19:55,319and to make you anew.27900:19:57,560 –> 00:20:02,439I’ve taken just three words from these verses28000:20:02,439 –> 00:20:05,599into my own life by way of application28100:20:05,599 –> 00:20:07,160and I’ll just get them to you very simply28200:20:07,160 –> 00:20:08,400and we’re through.28300:20:08,400 –> 00:20:12,079The first is this, be thankful.28400:20:13,219 –> 00:20:14,859Be thankful.28500:20:14,859 –> 00:20:16,660In a world where in many places28600:20:16,839 –> 00:20:18,520the church has become unfaithful,28700:20:18,520 –> 00:20:20,939we should be thankful every day28800:20:22,260 –> 00:20:25,199to belong to a congregation where the Word of God28900:20:25,199 –> 00:20:29,680and the hope of the gospel is prized like pure silver.29000:20:29,680 –> 00:20:32,260Never take that for granted29100:20:32,260 –> 00:20:35,079and if you have one complaint only make it29200:20:35,079 –> 00:20:38,459after you have thanked God 10 times29300:20:38,459 –> 00:20:40,439for the blessing that is all around you.29400:20:41,319 –> 00:20:42,959Number two, be watchful.29500:20:43,680 –> 00:20:47,880If Satan could turn the faithful city of God29600:20:47,880 –> 00:20:51,119in the Old Testament into the den of corruption29700:20:51,119 –> 00:20:53,199and self-interest that it became,29800:20:53,199 –> 00:20:55,180we should not be surprised if we see29900:20:55,180 –> 00:20:57,520the same thing happening in churches today.30000:20:59,260 –> 00:21:03,719Peter, Jesus said, Satan has desire to sift you like wheat.30100:21:05,219 –> 00:21:10,219So watch and pray that you do not enter into temptation.30200:21:11,099 –> 00:21:16,040Be thankful, be watchful, be faithful30300:21:16,979 –> 00:21:20,380because verse 26, afterward you shall,30400:21:20,380 –> 00:21:22,459the people of God, shall be called30500:21:22,459 –> 00:21:26,180the city of righteousness and the faithful city.30600:21:26,180 –> 00:21:31,180That is the glorious future for all of the people of God.30700:21:32,020 –> 00:21:34,260You shall be called righteous.30800:21:35,300 –> 00:21:37,979You shall be called faithful,30900:21:38,380 –> 00:21:41,000that’s what is said of the redeemed in Christ.31000:21:41,000 –> 00:21:43,540Therefore, if we wish to be called such,31100:21:44,520 –> 00:21:49,520let us seek to be such in all the days of our lives31200:21:49,939 –> 00:21:52,680as we seek to honour and serve Him.31300:21:53,859 –> 00:21:55,619You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith31400:21:55,619 –> 00:21:58,619on Open the Bible in a message called Restoration.31500:21:58,619 –> 00:22:01,020It’s the final message in our series31600:22:01,020 –> 00:22:05,400180 How God Changes His People and His Church.31700:22:05,400 –> 00:22:07,060And if you’ve missed any of the series31800:22:07,160 –> 00:22:08,920or if you want to go back and listen again,31900:22:08,920 –> 00:22:13,099they’re all on our website openthebible.org.uk.32000:22:13,979 –> 00:22:17,180Also on our website, you’ll find Open the Bible daily32100:22:17,180 –> 00:22:19,020and that’s a series of short,32200:22:19,020 –> 00:22:21,339two to three-minute daily reflections32300:22:21,339 –> 00:22:23,380based on Pastor Colin’s teaching32400:22:23,380 –> 00:22:25,900and read in the UK by Sue McLeish.32500:22:25,900 –> 00:22:28,640There’s a new one every day and many Christians find32600:22:28,640 –> 00:22:30,920it’s a brilliant way to start the day.32700:22:30,920 –> 00:22:32,839That’s Open the Bible daily.32800:22:32,900 –> 00:22:37,640You can find it at openthebible.org.uk.32900:22:37,640 –> 00:22:40,819Now I wonder what plans you may have for Easter.33000:22:40,819 –> 00:22:41,739At Open the Bible,33100:22:41,739 –> 00:22:43,640we have something that might be of interest33200:22:43,640 –> 00:22:45,540to you and your church.33300:22:45,540 –> 00:22:46,979We filmed a one actor,33400:22:46,979 –> 00:22:49,979one hour performance of Colin’s well-known book,33500:22:49,979 –> 00:22:51,540Heaven, How I Got Here,33600:22:51,540 –> 00:22:53,839the Story of the Thief on the Cross.33700:22:53,839 –> 00:22:55,939It’s a powerful gospel message33800:22:55,939 –> 00:22:59,439and we’re making the film available to you for free.33900:22:59,439 –> 00:23:02,199If your church wants to show the film this Easter,34000:23:02,219 –> 00:23:05,280we have created a free resource pack to help you.34100:23:05,280 –> 00:23:10,280To find out more, go to openthebible.org.uk.34200:23:10,579 –> 00:23:13,239Open the Bible depends on the generous support34300:23:13,239 –> 00:23:14,640of our listeners,34400:23:14,640 –> 00:23:17,560and if supporting Open the Bible financially34500:23:17,560 –> 00:23:19,459is something you’ve been thinking about,34600:23:19,459 –> 00:23:21,619we have an offer for you this month.34700:23:21,619 –> 00:23:23,900If you’re able to set up a new direct debit34800:23:23,900 –> 00:23:25,579to the work of Open the Bible34900:23:25,579 –> 00:23:28,540in the amount of five pounds per month or more,35000:23:28,540 –> 00:23:31,140or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more,35100:23:31,140 –> 00:23:34,319we’d love to say thank you by sending you three copies35200:23:34,319 –> 00:23:36,920of Pastor Colin Smith’s devotional,35300:23:36,920 –> 00:23:39,439Green Pastures, Still Waters.35400:23:39,439 –> 00:23:42,040Colin, why did you write this devotional?35500:23:42,040 –> 00:23:44,160This goes back to the pandemic,35600:23:44,160 –> 00:23:46,520and in these dark days,35700:23:46,520 –> 00:23:48,479I guess, along with every other pastor,35800:23:48,479 –> 00:23:50,280I was asking the question,35900:23:50,280 –> 00:23:52,839what will help and encourage God’s people36000:23:52,839 –> 00:23:54,760to get through these difficult days?36100:23:54,760 –> 00:23:57,560And I turned to Psalm 2336200:23:57,560 –> 00:23:59,619and just found such joy36300:23:59,619 –> 00:24:03,619and help in mining the wonderful treasures36400:24:03,619 –> 00:24:07,140that are in this marvelous chapter of the Bible.36500:24:07,140 –> 00:24:09,219And my colleague Tim Augustine36600:24:09,219 –> 00:24:11,680has now arranged that material36700:24:11,680 –> 00:24:14,280in the form of a 31-day devotional,36800:24:14,280 –> 00:24:17,560and I’m just delighted that we’re able to offer this,36900:24:17,560 –> 00:24:21,979looking at the Lord Jesus Christ through Psalm 2337000:24:21,979 –> 00:24:25,979will bring strength and encouragement and peace and joy.37100:24:25,979 –> 00:24:28,560And to do that for 31 days to meditate37200:24:28,560 –> 00:24:30,640on one of the best known and best loved chapters37300:24:30,640 –> 00:24:33,199in all of the Bible and to get our eyes fixed37400:24:33,199 –> 00:24:34,959on the Lord Jesus Christ.37500:24:34,959 –> 00:24:36,719So if you need some encouragement,37600:24:36,719 –> 00:24:38,760Green Pastures, Still Waters37700:24:38,760 –> 00:24:40,839is going to be a great help to you.37800:24:40,839 –> 00:24:42,959Well we’d love to send you three copies37900:24:42,959 –> 00:24:44,800of Pastor Colin Smith’s devotional,38000:24:44,800 –> 00:24:47,160Green Pastures, Still Waters,38100:24:47,160 –> 00:24:50,660along with a special Open the Bible pen and bookmark38200:24:50,660 –> 00:24:53,400to say thank you for setting up a new direct debit38300:24:53,660 –> 00:24:55,079to the work of Open the Bible38400:24:55,079 –> 00:24:57,479in the amount of five pounds per month or more38500:24:57,479 –> 00:25:00,439or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more.38600:25:00,439 –> 00:25:04,640Full details, terms and conditions are on our website38700:25:04,640 –> 00:25:07,800openthebible.org.uk,38800:25:07,800 –> 00:25:10,479for Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,38900:25:10,479 –> 00:25:13,719I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time.39000:25:18,540 –> 00:25:21,319Becoming a Christian in New Testament times39100:25:21,319 –> 00:25:24,239was always a life-changing experience.39200:25:24,239 –> 00:25:27,199Find out why next time on Open the Bible.