100:00:00,760 –> 00:00:07,560You need to know that there will be times of special testing in your life200:00:07,560 –> 00:00:12,240and that your future usefulness to Christ300:00:12,240 –> 00:00:17,040will depend in large measure on how you handle these times when they come.400:00:17,040 –> 00:00:22,459It was the apostle Paul who said that we are to put on the full armor of God,500:00:22,459 –> 00:00:27,360so that when the day of evil comes we may be able to stand.600:00:27,719 –> 00:00:30,020Not all days are the same in the Christian life.700:00:30,020 –> 00:00:33,259There are some days where Satan makes a special attack.800:00:33,259 –> 00:00:37,099Paul says it’s the day of evil and when it comes we need the armor of God900:00:37,099 –> 00:00:39,880so that you will be able to stand.1000:00:39,880 –> 00:00:42,700Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.1100:00:42,700 –> 00:00:43,980I am David Pick.1200:00:43,980 –> 00:00:45,619Thanks so much for being with us today1300:00:45,619 –> 00:00:49,160and Colin I think many of us can identify with this psalm.1400:00:49,160 –> 00:00:52,099Many of us go through low times in our spiritual lives1500:00:52,340 –> 00:00:57,279when we feel discouraged and wonder if God actually still cares about us.1600:00:57,279 –> 00:00:58,279Yep.1700:00:58,279 –> 00:01:00,500I called this series, I Almost Gave Up.1800:01:00,500 –> 00:01:02,660There will be folks listening right now who say1900:01:02,660 –> 00:01:04,220that’s exactly where I’m at.2000:01:04,220 –> 00:01:06,459What is the point of believing?2100:01:06,459 –> 00:01:09,220What is God doing to answer my prayers?2200:01:09,220 –> 00:01:10,900I just feel so discouraged.2300:01:10,900 –> 00:01:15,059Where is the evidence of God being in control?2400:01:15,059 –> 00:01:18,879And it’s so important to know other believers have been there before you2500:01:19,680 –> 00:01:21,739and God will not abandon you there.2600:01:21,739 –> 00:01:26,879He will bring you through and we’ve actually got a real life story in Psalm 732700:01:26,879 –> 00:01:31,540that tells us about this man Asaph, how he got to a point of despair2800:01:31,540 –> 00:01:36,860and how God laid hold of him and brought him through into a whole new understanding2900:01:36,860 –> 00:01:41,580of the goodness and grace of God, even in the difficulties that he was facing.3000:01:41,580 –> 00:01:46,940That God would do that in the lives of people who are listening right now.3100:01:46,940 –> 00:01:49,940That’s what we’re praying for in this program today.3200:01:49,940 –> 00:01:51,599Well, join us if you can.3300:01:51,620 –> 00:01:55,879in Psalm 73 as we continue the message simply entitled,3400:01:55,879 –> 00:01:56,879Stop.3500:01:56,879 –> 00:01:57,879Here’s Colin.3600:01:57,879 –> 00:02:01,900Now in the first half of the Psalm, which we’re going to cover this morning,3700:02:01,900 –> 00:02:08,979Asaph tells us why it was that he became so troubled.3800:02:08,979 –> 00:02:14,460He tells us what brought him to the point where he almost gave up.3900:02:14,460 –> 00:02:17,720It really comes in three parts.4000:02:17,720 –> 00:02:24,759The first is that he could make no sense of what God was doing in the world.4100:02:24,759 –> 00:02:29,419Now, there’s real distress in these words.4200:02:29,419 –> 00:02:35,839I saw the prosperity of the wicked.4300:02:35,839 –> 00:02:41,100I see those who have no integrity in the world of business and they’re doing very well.4400:02:41,100 –> 00:02:43,600I can make no sense of that.4500:02:43,600 –> 00:02:46,179Why does God allow it?4600:02:46,199 –> 00:02:51,740Asaph couldn’t make any sense of what God was doing in the world but actually, the real4700:02:51,740 –> 00:02:55,419problem was deeper.4800:02:55,419 –> 00:03:00,720It was that he could make no sense of what God was doing in His own life.4900:03:00,720 –> 00:03:05,539Look at verse 14, we’ll come to 13 in a moment.5000:03:05,539 –> 00:03:10,679All day long, I have been plagued.5100:03:10,679 –> 00:03:13,220I have been punished every morning.5200:03:13,220 –> 00:03:15,740You see, it’s personal now.5300:03:16,539 –> 00:03:20,660He’s poured out all his frustration about how God rules the world.5400:03:20,660 –> 00:03:25,179But actually, the real problem is that things are going wrong in his own life and it just5500:03:25,179 –> 00:03:28,839makes no sense to him.5600:03:28,839 –> 00:03:33,880Now, remember that this is the confession of a godly man.5700:03:34,880 –> 00:03:38,720Asaph is in full time ministry.5800:03:38,720 –> 00:03:42,080He is a spiritual leader.5900:03:42,100 –> 00:03:46,440Other people are looking to him for leadership.6000:03:46,440 –> 00:03:50,919This is a man who’s reading his Bible, this is a man who is saying his prayers, this is6100:03:50,919 –> 00:03:55,720a man who tithes his money, this is a man who has poured great energy into pursuing6200:03:55,720 –> 00:04:02,479a holy life, who has sought to live with integrity, he’s made sacrifices for the advance of God’s6300:04:02,479 –> 00:04:08,220kingdom, but now it seems that everything’s going wrong in his life.6400:04:08,220 –> 00:04:12,520And just why would God allow that to happen?6500:04:12,520 –> 00:04:16,500It just makes no sense.6600:04:16,500 –> 00:04:19,899This man could make no sense of what God is doing in the world, he couldn’t make no sense6700:04:19,899 –> 00:04:23,100of what God’s doing in his life.6800:04:23,100 –> 00:04:30,619And therefore, thirdly, he could no longer see the point of pursuing a godly life.6900:04:30,619 –> 00:04:33,160That’s where he came to, and that’s verse 13.7000:04:33,980 –> 00:04:38,720Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure.7100:04:38,720 –> 00:04:43,100In vain I have washed my hands in innocence.7200:04:43,100 –> 00:04:44,380Do you see what he’s saying?7300:04:44,380 –> 00:04:49,000If you go back to verse 1, I’ve always believed, I’ve been brought up to believe that God is7400:04:49,000 –> 00:04:52,220good to Israel to those who are pure in heart.7500:04:52,220 –> 00:04:58,059Well what I’m seeing as I look out at the world is the prosperity of the wicked, then7600:04:58,059 –> 00:05:02,459I look at the problems of my own life and I’ve tried to be pure in heart and the whole7700:05:02,540 –> 00:05:05,959thing just doesn’t make sense to me anymore.7800:05:05,959 –> 00:05:12,220Now, this was Asaph’s problem and he had lived with it too long.7900:05:12,220 –> 00:05:17,299And he says honestly my feet had almost slipped.8000:05:17,299 –> 00:05:25,579I was nearly gone, I almost gave up.8100:05:25,579 –> 00:05:34,700Now, if a godly man like Asaph could be tempted like that, would you be surprised that that8200:05:34,700 –> 00:05:38,660may happen to you?8300:05:38,660 –> 00:05:45,820You need to know that there will be times of special testing in your life.8400:05:45,820 –> 00:05:53,119And that your future usefulness to Christ will depend in large measure on how you handle8500:05:53,220 –> 00:05:55,839these times when they come.8600:05:55,839 –> 00:06:01,760It was the Apostle Paul who said that we have to put on the full armor Of God so that when8700:06:01,760 –> 00:06:05,359the day of evil comes we may be able to stand.8800:06:05,359 –> 00:06:08,079See, not all days are the same in the Christian life.8900:06:08,079 –> 00:06:11,000There are some days where Satan makes a special attack.9000:06:11,000 –> 00:06:15,200Paul says, it’s the day of evil, and when it comes, you need the armor of God so that9100:06:15,200 –> 00:06:16,820you will be able to stand.9200:06:17,820 –> 00:06:23,700That’s what Asaph did.9300:06:23,700 –> 00:06:27,579God brought him through.9400:06:27,579 –> 00:06:35,480His story, really, is a model for us as to how we must act when we come to these points9500:06:35,480 –> 00:06:41,459where we feel like giving up.9600:06:41,459 –> 00:06:44,260The rest of the Psalm tells us Asaph’s story.9700:06:44,839 –> 00:06:50,380And we’re going to walk with Asaph on his steps to recovery from this crisis, and there9800:06:50,380 –> 00:06:54,239are really five steps and we’re going to follow them over these next weeks.9900:06:54,260 –> 00:06:58,739We’re really just going to take the first one only today, and that’s the step that we10000:06:58,739 –> 00:07:01,459find in verse 15.10100:07:01,459 –> 00:07:05,000Look at what he says there, and this will be the focus for the remainder of our time.10200:07:05,779 –> 00:07:16,899If I had said, I will speak thus, I would have betrayed your children.10300:07:16,899 –> 00:07:25,200Now, he’s poured out in the psalm, you see, reflecting back on this experience, what he10400:07:25,200 –> 00:07:29,619was thinking at this dark time in his life.10500:07:29,619 –> 00:07:34,660And what he’s saying here is very simply, look, if I had gone public with what I was10600:07:34,660 –> 00:07:40,200really thinking at that time, I would have let everybody down.10700:07:40,200 –> 00:07:47,540If I had spoken thus, I would have betrayed your children.10800:07:47,540 –> 00:07:57,079If I had followed the thoughts, the inclinations of my heart at that time, if I had gone where10900:07:57,200 –> 00:08:05,720these thoughts were taking me, I would have betrayed your children.11000:08:05,720 –> 00:08:10,880If I had gone where my confused mind was going, I would have become the Judas of the Old Testament.11100:08:10,880 –> 00:08:14,320That’s what he’s saying.11200:08:14,320 –> 00:08:18,799But Asaph does not want to go there.11300:08:18,799 –> 00:08:26,920So he takes himself in hand and he puts on the brakes.11400:08:27,920 –> 00:08:35,599Last week our family had the joy of a few days away in Doerr County where we’ve enjoyed11500:08:35,599 –> 00:08:40,340a break after Christmas on a number of years.11600:08:40,340 –> 00:08:45,700And the place where we were staying in Sister Bay, some of you know that area well was,11700:08:45,700 –> 00:08:50,419if you get the picture, off a road that was off a road.11800:08:50,419 –> 00:08:52,880You get the idea.11900:08:53,179 –> 00:08:57,280She arrived in the evening, pitch dark and you know how it is.12000:08:57,840 –> 00:09:01,359It’s somewhere up here on the right.12100:09:01,359 –> 00:09:04,580My wife said, I think it’s this turning here.12200:09:04,580 –> 00:09:08,200Oh no, I said, I think it’s further on.12300:09:08,200 –> 00:09:14,140Well, a mile down the road it became very clear that there were no more turnings on12400:09:14,140 –> 00:09:19,219the right further on and that we were right out in the sticks.12500:09:19,559 –> 00:09:21,239Anticipation, she said.12600:09:21,239 –> 00:09:23,859I’m sure it was back there.12700:09:23,859 –> 00:09:27,000Yes, I know, I said.12800:09:27,000 –> 00:09:30,559I’m just looking for a place to turn.12900:09:30,559 –> 00:09:35,460The problem, of course, in the dead of night out of the sticks on a very narrow country13000:09:35,460 –> 00:09:37,820road is there just wasn’t a place to do that.13100:09:37,820 –> 00:09:39,659We were on one long, straight, narrow road.13200:09:39,659 –> 00:09:48,979No crossroads, no houses with nice drives, and the only thing to do was to pull up and13300:09:48,979 –> 00:09:55,520make a three-point, or in this case, a five-point turn.13400:09:55,520 –> 00:10:04,099There are some places in life where turning around isn’t easy.13500:10:04,099 –> 00:10:11,599And you may have been looking for some nice, easy opening where you can swing your life13600:10:11,599 –> 00:10:18,039lazily around with style, and you’re not finding one.13700:10:19,039 –> 00:10:21,719That’s how it was for Asa.13800:10:21,719 –> 00:10:24,239My feet had almost slipped, he said.13900:10:24,239 –> 00:10:25,679I almost lost the road altogether.14000:10:25,700 –> 00:10:32,880And what he tells us in Psalm 73 is how he had to make a five-point turn.14100:10:32,880 –> 00:10:36,299It wasn’t easy.14200:10:36,299 –> 00:10:42,919But if you are going to make a turn like that, you can’t do it at fifty miles an hour, right?14300:10:42,919 –> 00:10:44,900What’s the first thing you have to do?14400:10:44,900 –> 00:10:47,580You have to stop.14500:10:48,280 –> 00:10:50,919It’s not even enough to slow down.14600:10:52,299 –> 00:10:53,739You have got to stop.14700:10:54,099 –> 00:10:56,340You have got to stop.14800:10:56,340 –> 00:11:00,919You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called Stop, all14900:11:00,919 –> 00:11:06,119about Asaph and how he turned his life around, and the steps he had to take to do that.15000:11:06,119 –> 00:11:10,380Don’t forget if you ever miss one of our messages, you can always catch up or go back15100:11:10,380 –> 00:11:16,179and listen again online at our website Openthebible.org.uk.15200:11:16,460 –> 00:11:20,080Open the Bible is supported by our listeners, and later in this program, I will be talking15300:11:20,080 –> 00:11:25,059to Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham about this month’s offer for anyone who wants to15400:11:25,059 –> 00:11:27,599begin to support Open the Bible in that way.15500:11:27,599 –> 00:11:29,659So I hope you will stay with us.15600:11:29,659 –> 00:11:31,640Back to the message now, here’s Colin.15700:11:31,640 –> 00:11:39,080You may have been looking for some nice, easy opening when you can swing your life lazily15800:11:39,080 –> 00:11:42,700around with style.15900:11:42,700 –> 00:11:43,919You’re not finding one.16000:11:43,919 –> 00:11:48,200That’s how it was for Asaph.16100:11:48,200 –> 00:11:54,479And what he tells us in Psalm 73 is how he had to make a five-point turn.16200:11:54,479 –> 00:12:01,780But if you are going to make a turn like that, you can’t do it at 50 miles per hour, right?16300:12:01,780 –> 00:12:04,400What’s the first thing you have to do?16400:12:04,400 –> 00:12:09,760Stop and make a decision.16500:12:09,780 –> 00:12:12,820That’s what Asaph does right here in verse 15.16600:12:12,820 –> 00:12:17,580Let me try and unpack that a little bit for us.16700:12:17,580 –> 00:12:26,419See, Asaph’s turn did not begin with an answer, but with a decision.16800:12:26,419 –> 00:12:28,380That’s very, very important.16900:12:28,380 –> 00:12:31,880Remember, his problem was, I can’t make sense of what God’s doing in the world.17000:12:31,880 –> 00:12:34,219I can’t make sense of what God’s doing in my life.17100:12:34,219 –> 00:12:38,719Therefore, I’ve concluded in my mind, there’s no point in continuing to pursue a godly life.17200:12:38,719 –> 00:12:42,599Now, if that’s the problem, you would think that the turning point would begin when he17300:12:42,599 –> 00:12:48,479gets an answer, but that is not Asaph’s story.17400:12:48,479 –> 00:12:53,960Asaph wants us to know that the first step to turning your life around is not finding17500:12:53,960 –> 00:12:57,979an answer, but it is making a decision.17600:12:57,979 –> 00:13:06,299His mind was driving down the road to despair, but he makes a decision.17700:13:06,299 –> 00:13:11,380I am not going any further down this dark road.17800:13:11,380 –> 00:13:13,979That’s verse 15.17900:13:13,979 –> 00:13:24,539I will not go where these thoughts of the first 14 verses are leading me.18000:13:24,619 –> 00:13:26,880That’s where the turn begins.18100:13:26,880 –> 00:13:34,140See, something within us cries out to God, give me an answer and God says to us give18200:13:34,140 –> 00:13:37,400me a commitment.18300:13:37,400 –> 00:13:43,039We say to God, I need to understand and God says to us, you need to follow.18400:13:43,039 –> 00:13:47,539Let me talk real straight this morning.18500:13:48,380 –> 00:13:55,880Maybe you’re facing a crisis in your life right now.18600:13:55,880 –> 00:13:59,960Things have been going wrong.18700:13:59,960 –> 00:14:02,479Your mind is confused.18800:14:02,479 –> 00:14:08,479You don’t have the answers.18900:14:08,479 –> 00:14:13,299You need to make a decision.19000:14:13,359 –> 00:14:18,400If you follow the dark impulses of your mind right now,19100:14:18,400 –> 00:14:23,000you will spoil your testimony.19200:14:23,000 –> 00:14:25,380If you follow the thoughts that are running in your mind19300:14:25,380 –> 00:14:30,659in these dark days, you may blow your marriage.19400:14:30,659 –> 00:14:32,940If you follow the inclinations of your heart,19500:14:32,940 –> 00:14:39,419you may no longer be useful in ministry.19600:14:39,419 –> 00:14:43,219Don’t go there.19700:14:43,380 –> 00:14:47,320Proceed with making a decision.19800:14:47,320 –> 00:14:51,400Stop that way of thinking.19900:14:51,400 –> 00:14:52,619Stop that way of acting.20000:14:52,619 –> 00:14:55,640Climbing out of a black hole does not begin with20100:14:55,640 –> 00:14:59,440an answer, but with making a decision.20200:14:59,440 –> 00:15:03,380Very important.20300:15:03,380 –> 00:15:06,479Then, here’s the last thing this morning.20400:15:06,479 –> 00:15:08,820Choose loyalty to God and His people.20500:15:08,820 –> 00:15:12,340You see, that’s the decision you have to make.20600:15:12,940 –> 00:15:14,400If this is what Ishav did,20700:15:14,400 –> 00:15:16,380look at what he says in verse 15.20800:15:16,380 –> 00:15:18,159There are two key words, really.20900:15:18,159 –> 00:15:20,500Your children.21000:15:20,500 –> 00:15:24,340He says to God, your children, God’s children.21100:15:24,340 –> 00:15:26,820If I had said, I will speak thus.21200:15:26,820 –> 00:15:28,619If I’d gone where my mind was going.21300:15:28,619 –> 00:15:33,000I would have betrayed your children.21400:15:33,000 –> 00:15:35,380Now, he’s talking, of course, about God’s people.21500:15:35,380 –> 00:15:37,179He’s talking about the community of believers.21600:15:37,179 –> 00:15:38,840He’s talking about the people of faith.21700:15:38,840 –> 00:15:40,840And he says, if I had followed the thoughts21800:15:41,179 –> 00:15:44,380I would’ve let everybody down.21900:15:44,380 –> 00:15:47,739I would’ve betrayed my family.22000:15:47,739 –> 00:15:50,979I would’ve spoiled my testimony.22100:15:50,979 –> 00:15:52,219I would’ve lost my ministry,22200:15:52,219 –> 00:15:54,340I would’ve become a Judas.22300:15:54,340 –> 00:15:59,640I would’ve had betrayed your children.22400:15:59,640 –> 00:16:01,380Now, this teaches us a second thing22500:16:01,380 –> 00:16:03,859that I think is very, very important22600:16:03,859 –> 00:16:08,739at the critical points in our lives.22700:16:08,760 –> 00:16:12,159You see, help comes when a man or a woman22800:16:12,159 –> 00:16:16,460gets their eyes off himself or herself22900:16:16,460 –> 00:16:18,640and begins to focus on loyalties23000:16:18,640 –> 00:16:22,559and responsibilities to others.23100:16:22,559 –> 00:16:28,200Get your eyes off yourself and your own pain.23200:16:28,200 –> 00:16:32,880Focus on others who look to you23300:16:32,880 –> 00:16:36,520and depend on you.23400:16:36,520 –> 00:16:39,640After all, there are children23500:16:39,640 –> 00:16:46,760who look to you as their model of faith.23600:16:46,760 –> 00:16:49,479They see you as their example in life.23700:16:49,479 –> 00:16:50,440They may be grown children,23800:16:50,440 –> 00:16:51,460they may be married children,23900:16:51,460 –> 00:16:54,840but it’s still true.24000:16:54,840 –> 00:16:56,500There are neighbors.24100:16:56,500 –> 00:16:57,739There are colleagues.24200:16:57,739 –> 00:16:58,880There are customers.24300:16:58,880 –> 00:17:00,119There are business partners24400:17:00,119 –> 00:17:01,820who know that you are a Christian24500:17:01,820 –> 00:17:04,420and their whole perception of Christianity24600:17:04,420 –> 00:17:09,540may be shaped by what you do or do not do now.24700:17:09,540 –> 00:17:12,280You can’t give up.24800:17:12,280 –> 00:17:17,160You can’t give up.24900:17:17,160 –> 00:17:19,099See your crisis, whatever it is,25000:17:19,099 –> 00:17:21,380is something, part of something25100:17:21,380 –> 00:17:24,959far, far bigger than yourself.25200:17:24,959 –> 00:17:28,219You belong to the body of Christ.25300:17:28,219 –> 00:17:30,560You belong to the body in heaven25400:17:30,560 –> 00:17:33,319as well as on earth.25500:17:33,339 –> 00:17:34,780You are surrounded, the Bible says,25600:17:34,780 –> 00:17:36,579by a great cloud of witnesses,25700:17:36,579 –> 00:17:40,780men, women, children, angels.25800:17:40,780 –> 00:17:42,699And God has set a track25900:17:42,699 –> 00:17:44,680for you to run on.26000:17:44,680 –> 00:17:45,859And you are to run that race26100:17:45,859 –> 00:17:48,800that has been marked out for you,26200:17:48,800 –> 00:17:52,199however difficult.26300:17:52,199 –> 00:17:54,339Esau knows that if he were to give up,26400:17:54,339 –> 00:17:56,540he would have betrayed God’s children26500:17:56,540 –> 00:17:59,439and that stops him in his tracks.26600:17:59,439 –> 00:18:00,920Thank God for it.26700:18:00,920 –> 00:18:02,439Thank God for the word almost.26800:18:02,439 –> 00:18:07,800I almost gave up, but he didn’t.26900:18:07,800 –> 00:18:09,260Now, there’s a lot more27000:18:09,260 –> 00:18:12,020to climbing out of a black hole than this27100:18:12,020 –> 00:18:14,520and we will follow what more there is27200:18:14,520 –> 00:18:17,760over these coming weeks.27300:18:17,760 –> 00:18:20,819But this is where it begins.27400:18:20,819 –> 00:18:25,160With a decision and with a commitment.27500:18:25,160 –> 00:18:26,719You stop and you refuse to go27600:18:26,719 –> 00:18:30,739where the dark thoughts would take you.27700:18:31,040 –> 00:18:32,560You make a commitment27800:18:32,560 –> 00:18:35,160to God and to his people.27900:18:37,699 –> 00:18:38,859Now you know there never was28000:18:38,859 –> 00:18:43,459a more awesome example of this28100:18:43,459 –> 00:18:46,239than the example of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ28200:18:46,239 –> 00:18:47,760that we’re coming to in just a moment28300:18:47,760 –> 00:18:51,859around the communion table.28400:18:51,859 –> 00:18:56,599On the night that Jesus was betrayed28500:18:56,599 –> 00:18:58,260and can you begin to imagine28600:18:58,699 –> 00:19:00,300the pressure of that night.28700:19:01,859 –> 00:19:04,300On the night when he was betrayed28800:19:04,300 –> 00:19:06,920John tells us that Jesus prayed.28900:19:08,719 –> 00:19:11,000He was about to endure29000:19:11,000 –> 00:19:13,000the agony of the cross29100:19:14,160 –> 00:19:15,719but the focus of his prayer29200:19:15,719 –> 00:19:17,520recorded in John chapter 1729300:19:17,520 –> 00:19:20,339was entirely on his disciples.29400:19:20,339 –> 00:19:21,699It is a staggering thought.29500:19:23,819 –> 00:19:25,280You see he’s doing in fullness29600:19:25,280 –> 00:19:27,739what Esau had begun to pursue.29700:19:29,060 –> 00:19:30,439That when you face great pain29800:19:30,439 –> 00:19:33,040you’ve got to get your eyes on to others.29900:19:33,040 –> 00:19:34,160He’s facing the cross30000:19:34,160 –> 00:19:35,800he’s praying for his disciples30100:19:38,839 –> 00:19:40,699and there is an awesome statement30200:19:40,699 –> 00:19:41,939in the prayer of Jesus30300:19:41,939 –> 00:19:44,400in John chapter 17 in verse 1930400:19:44,400 –> 00:19:48,319that you could meditate on for 100 years30500:19:48,319 –> 00:19:50,599and not get to the depth of it.30600:19:50,599 –> 00:19:52,760This is what Jesus says in his prayer of the father30700:19:52,780 –> 00:19:57,780he says for them, for them, I sanctify myself.30800:20:02,900 –> 00:20:05,099To sanctify yourself means to give yourself30900:20:05,099 –> 00:20:06,420to a special purpose31000:20:06,420 –> 00:20:08,699and in this case the special purpose31100:20:08,699 –> 00:20:11,239was of course to go to the cross.31200:20:11,239 –> 00:20:13,280This is what Jesus is grappling with31300:20:14,699 –> 00:20:19,439and he says to the father I’ll do it for them.31400:20:20,119 –> 00:20:23,479For them, I’ll do it for them.31500:20:25,599 –> 00:20:29,719Father, I’ll do it for these who are your disciples31600:20:29,719 –> 00:20:31,800now and I’ll do it, father, for those31700:20:31,800 –> 00:20:33,459who will become your disciples31800:20:33,459 –> 00:20:35,780in all the ages that are to come.31900:20:36,920 –> 00:20:38,959In Hebrews tells us that this is how Jesus32000:20:38,959 –> 00:20:41,319endured the cross, he endured the cross32100:20:41,319 –> 00:20:44,020for the joy that was set before him.32200:20:44,020 –> 00:20:45,079What is that joy?32300:20:45,079 –> 00:20:48,619It is the joy of seeing God’s work fulfilled in you.32400:20:50,439 –> 00:20:53,680Now, if you are a Christian you bear his name.32500:20:55,579 –> 00:20:56,839And he says to you today,32600:20:56,839 –> 00:21:00,579you take up your cross and follow me.32700:21:02,719 –> 00:21:04,520Daasov of course lived a long time32800:21:04,520 –> 00:21:05,680before Jesus but frankly,32900:21:05,680 –> 00:21:07,380that’s exactly what he did.33000:21:09,079 –> 00:21:11,239And in his older years33100:21:12,319 –> 00:21:15,079where he shares this testimony,33200:21:15,079 –> 00:21:17,040a story now complete,33300:21:18,000 –> 00:21:21,000he writes under the inspiration of the spirit33400:21:21,000 –> 00:21:23,479and he recollects the depth of the struggle33500:21:23,479 –> 00:21:25,000that he went through.33600:21:25,000 –> 00:21:27,020He says, I want you to know this.33700:21:28,660 –> 00:21:30,339There was a time in my life33800:21:31,339 –> 00:21:32,900when I almost gave up.33900:21:35,280 –> 00:21:36,640I couldn’t make any sense34000:21:36,640 –> 00:21:38,239of what God was doing in the world.34100:21:38,239 –> 00:21:39,459I couldn’t make any sense34200:21:39,459 –> 00:21:41,380of what God was doing in my life.34300:21:43,199 –> 00:21:44,459My feet had almost slipped.34400:21:45,459 –> 00:21:47,900If I had followed the thoughts34500:21:47,900 –> 00:21:49,339and inclinations of my heart,34600:21:49,339 –> 00:21:51,859I would have let everybody down.34700:21:53,760 –> 00:21:57,140But I’m so glad I didn’t.34800:21:59,579 –> 00:22:01,219And I’m here to tell you today34900:22:01,219 –> 00:22:02,660that God brought me through,35000:22:05,140 –> 00:22:07,319that God turned me around.35100:22:09,319 –> 00:22:10,260And you need to know it started35200:22:10,260 –> 00:22:11,640when I made a decision35300:22:12,079 –> 00:22:14,380that I would not betray the Lord35400:22:15,560 –> 00:22:17,099and I would not betray His people.35500:22:18,239 –> 00:22:19,880You’ve been listening to Open The Bible35600:22:19,880 –> 00:22:20,979with Pastor Colin Smith35700:22:20,979 –> 00:22:22,939and a message called Stop.35800:22:22,939 –> 00:22:25,319Part of our series, I Almost Gave Up,35900:22:25,319 –> 00:22:27,380based on Psalm 72.36000:22:27,380 –> 00:22:29,099If you ever miss one of these series,36100:22:29,099 –> 00:22:30,140you can always catch up36200:22:30,140 –> 00:22:31,599or go back and listen again36300:22:31,599 –> 00:22:33,380online at our website,36400:22:33,380 –> 00:22:36,959openthebible.org.uk.36500:22:36,959 –> 00:22:38,859Open The Bible is broadcast36600:22:38,859 –> 00:22:40,500and available online36700:22:41,420 –> 00:22:43,640as a result of the generous donations36800:22:43,640 –> 00:22:45,599made by our listeners.36900:22:45,599 –> 00:22:46,400So if you already give37000:22:46,400 –> 00:22:48,780to support the work of Open The Bible,37100:22:48,780 –> 00:22:50,959we want to thank you so much.37200:22:50,959 –> 00:22:52,260If you’re considering giving37300:22:52,260 –> 00:22:54,979to support Open The Bible in that way,37400:22:54,979 –> 00:22:56,780this month, if you’re able to set up37500:22:56,780 –> 00:22:58,420a new direct debit37600:22:58,420 –> 00:23:01,339in the amount of £5 per month or more,37700:23:01,339 –> 00:23:04,239or a one-off gift of £50 or more,37800:23:04,239 –> 00:23:05,880we’d love to say thank you.37900:23:05,880 –> 00:23:07,979Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham38000:23:07,979 –> 00:23:10,300to tell you about our offer this month.38100:23:10,300 –> 00:23:11,640Thanks, David.38200:23:11,640 –> 00:23:14,119I really love this book.38300:23:14,119 –> 00:23:16,040I know that might be a strange thing38400:23:16,040 –> 00:23:18,339to say about a book on grief,38500:23:18,339 –> 00:23:20,160but I have recommended this book38600:23:20,160 –> 00:23:22,359to so many people.38700:23:22,359 –> 00:23:23,719The first time I read it,38800:23:23,719 –> 00:23:26,560I was blessed to not be struggling with grief.38900:23:26,560 –> 00:23:28,760But I found it so helpful39000:23:28,760 –> 00:23:31,280because it is unique in that it was written39100:23:31,280 –> 00:23:33,359off the back of Colin counselling39200:23:33,359 –> 00:23:35,439grieving couples in church.39300:23:35,439 –> 00:23:37,880And so it is full of biblical wisdom39400:23:37,880 –> 00:23:40,880and encouragement from the book of Lamentations,39500:23:40,880 –> 00:23:43,839but it’s also full of practical suggestions39600:23:43,839 –> 00:23:46,040from those couples he counseled.39700:23:46,040 –> 00:23:48,839What is a helpful, unhelpful thing to say39800:23:48,839 –> 00:23:50,900to someone going through grief?39900:23:50,900 –> 00:23:52,880How do we encourage people in their grief40000:23:52,880 –> 00:23:56,719from the Bible, but without dismissing their pain?40100:23:56,719 –> 00:23:58,520And if you are grieving,40200:23:58,520 –> 00:24:01,339then I hope you will be able to see from this book40300:24:01,339 –> 00:24:03,800that you are not alone in your pain40400:24:03,800 –> 00:24:05,839and that there is hope.40500:24:05,859 –> 00:24:08,180So, whether you’d like to read this book40600:24:08,180 –> 00:24:11,439because you’re struggling with grief or like me,40700:24:11,439 –> 00:24:12,979because you would like to think through40800:24:12,979 –> 00:24:15,819how to better support someone in their grief,40900:24:15,819 –> 00:24:19,020I can’t recommend this book highly enough.41000:24:19,020 –> 00:24:21,459We would love to send you a free copy41100:24:21,459 –> 00:24:23,780when you set up a new direct debit41200:24:23,780 –> 00:24:26,060of at least five pounds per month,41300:24:26,060 –> 00:24:29,439or give a one-off gift of at least 50 pounds.41400:24:29,439 –> 00:24:33,079We’ll also be including five specially designed postcards41500:24:33,079 –> 00:24:35,520with a verse from Psalm, 23,41600:24:35,520 –> 00:24:39,119ideal for sending to a friend for encouragement.41700:24:39,119 –> 00:24:40,719And if you would like to know41800:24:40,719 –> 00:24:43,199what other resources we have on grief,41900:24:43,199 –> 00:24:48,199do visit our website at openthebible.org.uk42000:24:48,520 –> 00:24:52,800and scroll down until you see our section on grief.42100:24:52,800 –> 00:24:53,800Thanks, Amanda.42200:24:53,800 –> 00:24:56,040And you can find full terms and conditions42300:24:56,040 –> 00:24:57,739and you can give online42400:24:57,739 –> 00:25:02,439at our website openthebile.org.uk.42500:25:02,479 –> 00:25:04,880For open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith.42600:25:04,880 –> 00:25:06,119I’m David Pick.42700:25:06,119 –> 00:25:09,260I hope you’ll join us again soon for Open the Bible.42800:25:15,040 –> 00:25:17,780Are you so confused by your struggles42900:25:17,780 –> 00:25:20,260that your prayer life is suffering?43000:25:20,260 –> 00:25:22,199Find out what you can do about it43100:25:22,199 –> 00:25:24,119next time on open the Bible.