Sumbit to Authority, Part 2

Numbers 16

In today’s episode, Pastor Colin explores the concept of authority and submission, delving into the story of Korah, as depicted in Numbers 16, to uncover a powerful lesson on the dangers of prideful rebellion. Through the dramatic tale of Korah’s defiance and ultimate downfall, we’re reminded of the importance of acknowledging authority, both divine and earthly, to avoid becoming ‘unguided missiles’ in our lives.

Pastor Colin draws connections to modern-day challenges, stressing the significance of recognising authority in families, marriages, churches, and communities. He underscores the overarching theme that submission is not a sign of weakness but a reflection of Christ-like character. As we journey through this message, listeners are invited to reflect on who holds authority in their lives and the transformative power of aligning under God’s supreme authority, through Jesus Christ.

100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:08,540If we do not learn to submit as we grow up through our childhood and our200:00:08,540 –> 00:00:14,200youth we may very well end up like unguided missiles throughout adult life300:00:14,200 –> 00:00:18,780in which we operate by our own independent authority accountable to no400:00:18,780 –> 00:00:21,799one causing damage just about everywhere we go.500:00:21,799 –> 00:00:26,820Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I am David Pick. I’m glad you600:00:26,820 –> 00:00:29,680could be with us today. Colin I imagine that some are listening to this700:00:29,680 –> 00:00:34,200and thinking about how it fits other people but some might be thinking my800:00:34,200 –> 00:00:38,500goodness that describes me. You know I think it’s important to recognize that900:00:38,500 –> 00:00:43,840we have very very different experiences from early life in relation to authority1000:00:43,840 –> 00:00:49,660and it does have a shaping influence. I mean my father was a policeman so that1100:00:49,660 –> 00:00:54,320tells you something and I was raised in a home where authority was well1200:00:54,320 –> 00:00:58,700exercised and lovingly exercised. Well, you grew up in that kind of1300:00:58,820 –> 00:01:03,980environment you tend to think this is a good thing this is part of order. If you1400:01:03,980 –> 00:01:08,699grow up in a very different environment you can feel very very differently about1500:01:08,699 –> 00:01:15,260authority and it can become a real real struggle. So we’re going to look today at1600:01:15,260 –> 00:01:20,300how that can be addressed because there’s always hope and the hope comes1700:01:20,300 –> 00:01:26,059in Jesus Christ. What a marvelous thing. Whatever your experience of authority in1800:01:26,139 –> 00:01:31,400the past good or bad to be able to bring your life under the authority of Christ1900:01:31,400 –> 00:01:35,400so that you’re not an unguided missile you’re not going around kind of full of2000:01:35,400 –> 00:01:39,779this anger and frustration and causing damage wherever you go but there’s an2100:01:39,779 –> 00:01:43,300order that’s brought to your life because of the King of Kings and the2200:01:43,300 –> 00:01:49,260Lord of Lords who exercises supreme authority in his amazing love. With that2300:01:49,260 –> 00:01:54,019introduction we’ll continue the message we began yesterday from Numbers 16 so I2400:01:54,019 –> 00:01:57,919hope you’ll join us if you can in your Bible as we continue the message2500:01:57,919 –> 00:02:04,059here’s Colin. Now as we come to numbers in chapter 16, then, try and imagine2600:02:04,059 –> 00:02:10,039three men sitting round a fire outside their tents in the desert. Their names2700:02:10,039 –> 00:02:18,220are Korah, Dathan and Abiram. They’re talking about Moses. Moses couldn’t2800:02:18,220 –> 00:02:23,740do anything right in their eyes. They didn’t like him and of course the fact2900:02:23,740 –> 00:02:30,539that he had so much authority really stuck in their throats. Well this3000:02:30,539 –> 00:02:37,759conflict continued to rise until the following day the issue came to a head.3100:02:37,759 –> 00:02:45,160Korah and his 250 followers were quite convinced that they could come directly3200:02:45,460 –> 00:02:50,179before the Lord. Remember God had said you only come through the priests3300:02:50,179 –> 00:02:53,759offering a sacrifice. You only come through the priest’s3400:02:53,759 –> 00:02:58,380ministry in the Tabernacle but Korah wasn’t going to accept that3500:02:58,380 –> 00:03:02,720No, we’re all holy. God’s with all of us. We can all come directly to the Lord. We3600:03:02,720 –> 00:03:10,360don’t need the priests. So Korah was invited along with his 250 supporters3700:03:10,399 –> 00:03:19,300Then to do what God had said only priests should do. That was to bring a3800:03:19,300 –> 00:03:24,500censer. That was a bowl and to fill it with fire and with incense and to3900:03:24,500 –> 00:03:28,699present it before the Lord. That was a task given uniquely to the priests in4000:03:28,699 –> 00:03:33,500the Old Testament. Korah says well we can do that. So Moses says, okay you do it4100:03:33,500 –> 00:03:39,740then. So the next day 250 supporters of Korah along with Nathan and Abiram they4200:03:40,139 –> 00:03:45,699and they bring these censers and they present them before the Lord and then4300:03:45,699 –> 00:03:50,199we’re told verse 19 that the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire4400:03:50,199 –> 00:03:56,339assembly and at that moment the whole assembly was faced with a choice. Moses4500:03:56,339 –> 00:04:05,259said to them, verse 24, move away from the tents of Korah, Nathan and Abiram.4600:04:05,979 –> 00:04:10,919And then God gave to Moses these words. He spoke as a prophet. Verse 28,4700:04:10,919 –> 00:04:15,100this is how you will know that the Lord has sent me and that it was not my idea4800:04:15,100 –> 00:04:19,299in other words Moses is saying I’m not in this position because I put myself4900:04:19,299 –> 00:04:24,179here it is God who has put me here and this is how you’ll know, if the earth5000:04:24,179 –> 00:04:30,299opens its mouth and swallows them, then you will know that these men have5100:04:30,299 –> 00:04:38,540treated the Lord with contempt and as soon as he said it the ground of the5200:04:38,540 –> 00:04:44,239desert split apart a crevice, a crack, rather like an earthquake, opened up in5300:04:44,239 –> 00:04:50,420the floor of the desert directly beneath Korah, Dathan, Abiram and the 250 who had5400:04:50,420 –> 00:04:56,079brought these unauthorized censers before the Lord and they took a plunge5500:04:57,040 –> 00:05:05,799disaster. Now that’s the story and there is one very simple lesson that we are to5600:05:05,799 –> 00:05:16,459take from it today, if you want to avoid Korah’s plunge to disaster learn to5700:05:16,459 –> 00:05:28,299submit to authority. Now that means first to learn to submit yourself to others5800:05:28,299 –> 00:05:33,299the fundamental principle of the Christian life for of course a5900:05:33,299 –> 00:05:41,100Christian is first of all a person who has learned to submit to God and one of6000:05:41,700 –> 00:05:46,459the expressions of our submission to God is our ability to submit to others and6100:05:46,459 –> 00:05:52,059it is of course the very purpose of God that we learn that from the earliest6200:05:52,059 –> 00:05:57,779stages in our lives that is one of the good reasons of course why God places us6300:05:57,779 –> 00:06:04,100in families God places children in families not just so that we may be6400:06:04,100 –> 00:06:07,859surrounded by love and protection and care that’s a very important thing but6500:06:08,040 –> 00:06:13,739there’s also something else so that we will learn from early in life what6600:06:13,739 –> 00:06:21,980it is to submit God has organized as it were a structure of authority within the6700:06:21,980 –> 00:06:27,660world it operates within the family as well as within others fears and where a6800:06:27,660 –> 00:06:32,179child or a young person living at home is rebellious against the authority of6900:06:32,339 –> 00:06:39,019parents that may very well be a resistance to the authority of God from7000:06:39,019 –> 00:06:45,619whom their authority is derived if we do not learn to submit as we grow up7100:06:45,619 –> 00:06:50,079through our childhood and our youth we may very end will end up like unguided7200:06:50,079 –> 00:06:55,179missiles throughout adult life in which we operate by our own independent7300:06:55,179 –> 00:07:01,820authority accountable to no one causing damage just about everywhere we go if7400:07:01,820 –> 00:07:10,679you do not learn to submit you become a law to yourself you become your own God7500:07:10,679 –> 00:07:18,980and you cannot if you become your own God be a Christian now this principle of7600:07:18,980 –> 00:07:22,779submission is brought before us in the scriptures not only in relation to7700:07:22,779 –> 00:07:30,359childhood and youth but also for example in relation to marriage wives submit to7800:07:30,600 –> 00:07:36,079husbands as is fitting in the Lord and then alongside that the scripture says7900:07:36,079 –> 00:07:42,239husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and then get this and gave8000:07:42,239 –> 00:07:51,320himself up for her what did Christ do in relation to the church he submitted his8100:07:51,320 –> 00:07:58,920own interests and walked a costly path for the sake of the flourishing of his8200:07:58,980 –> 00:08:07,200bride the church he went through that which was incredibly costly so that his8300:08:07,200 –> 00:08:12,119bride should flourish so here within marriage there are these different8400:08:12,119 –> 00:08:17,119expressions of submission that are wonderful reflections of the very8500:08:17,119 –> 00:08:23,739character of our Lord Jesus Christ it’s the same in the church Ephesians 5.218600:08:24,119 –> 00:08:29,899submit to one another out of reverence for Christ the way in which we regard8700:08:29,899 –> 00:08:35,760one another as brothers is with a kind of respect and mutual submission that8800:08:35,760 –> 00:08:40,419enables the body of Christ to function as we’ve read from Hebrews in chapter8900:08:40,419 –> 00:08:45,73913 the word says obey your leaders and submit to there authority because they9000:08:45,739 –> 00:08:51,780keep watch over you as men who must give an account the same principle of9100:08:51,780 –> 00:08:55,280submitting to authority runs for every Christian believer in the wider9200:08:55,280 –> 00:09:01,479community as we live as citizens one Peter in chapter two submit yourselves9300:09:01,479 –> 00:09:09,219for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted amongst men whether it be to9400:09:09,219 –> 00:09:15,559the King as the supreme authority or to governors who are sent by him to punish9500:09:15,559 –> 00:09:20,940those who do wrong and to commend those who do right live as free men but don’t9600:09:21,179 –> 00:09:26,679use your freedom as a cover-up for evil show proper respect to everyone9700:09:26,679 –> 00:09:33,940fear God honor the king or as Paul puts it again in Romans and chapter 13 we9800:09:33,940 –> 00:09:40,340are to submit to the authorities because there is no authority except that which9900:09:40,340 –> 00:09:49,739is established by God that includes a teacher at school even a bad one that10000:09:49,739 –> 00:09:54,820includes the authority of courts in our land that should make us think as10100:09:54,820 –> 00:09:59,500parents about how we talk about the President or the government we may have10200:09:59,500 –> 00:10:03,780criticisms on different issues but we want to raise children to have respect10300:10:03,780 –> 00:10:10,559for all those who have been placed in authority now this was the pattern of10400:10:10,559 –> 00:10:17,140course of our Lord Jesus Christ during his days on earth we’re told in10500:10:17,140 –> 00:10:27,260the book of Hebrews his prayers were heard why because of his reverent10600:10:27,260 –> 00:10:34,000submission I take I think it’s a very legitimate application for that that if10700:10:34,000 –> 00:10:40,099I do not show reverent submission as God calls me to do I can’t expect my prayers10800:10:40,099 –> 00:10:49,559to be heard he was heard because of his reverent submission although he was a10900:10:49,559 –> 00:10:54,460son I mean you can’t get higher authority than that to be the Son of God11000:10:54,460 –> 00:10:59,479although he was in that exalted position more exalted than any other person who11100:11:00,179 –> 00:11:06,979He learned obedience he learned obedience11200:11:06,979 –> 00:11:16,239think about that he who was in the very nature of God subjected himself to the11300:11:16,239 –> 00:11:21,140authority of the Father for us and for our salvation he is born into the world11400:11:21,140 –> 00:11:26,659as a baby through his childhood we’re told in Luke’s gospel he was subject to11500:11:26,760 –> 00:11:33,119his parents and he became obedient to his own father even when it was11600:11:33,119 –> 00:11:38,500incredibly costly even to the point of death on a cross11700:11:38,500 –> 00:11:49,179now it is this Jesus who said follow me when he said follow me he didn’t mean do11800:11:49,179 –> 00:11:52,419your own thing you’re listening to open the Bible with11900:11:53,140 –> 00:11:57,460with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called submit to authority looking today at how12000:11:57,460 –> 00:12:02,919Cora and his followers did not submit to authority and plunged a disaster as a12100:12:02,919 –> 00:12:06,979result don’t forget if you ever miss one of our broadcasts you can always catch12200:12:06,979 –> 00:12:12,599up or go back and listen again online at our website open the Bible dot org dot12300:12:12,599 –> 00:12:18,140UK or as a podcast on all the main podcast sites search for open the Bible12400:12:18,179 –> 00:12:21,820UK we’re in number 16 so join us if you12500:12:21,820 –> 00:12:24,919can as we continue the message submit to authority12600:12:24,919 –> 00:12:30,380here’s Colin he became obedient to his own father even when it was incredibly12700:12:30,380 –> 00:12:39,900costly even to the point of death on a cross now it is this Jesus who said12800:12:39,900 –> 00:12:49,000follow me when he said follow me he didn’t mean do your own thing now I12900:12:49,000 –> 00:12:52,859find that this is raised very penetrating questions for me this week13000:12:52,859 –> 00:12:58,299I’m sat with a piece of paper and tried to write down answers to these questions13100:12:58,299 –> 00:13:08,039that I now want to ask you who do you recognize as being an authority in your13200:13:08,119 –> 00:13:19,260life who do you submit to who do you listen to now the older you get and the13300:13:19,260 –> 00:13:25,380more powerful you become the more difficult this issue will be who is13400:13:25,380 –> 00:13:31,679there in your life who is a higher authority than yourself13500:13:31,679 –> 00:13:36,520for if there is no higher authority in your life than what you think what you13600:13:36,520 –> 00:13:44,500want and what you believe you are set for a plunge to disaster a human soul13700:13:44,500 –> 00:13:51,760that has never learned to submit is a soul in desperate trouble it is a soul13800:13:51,760 –> 00:14:00,119ravaged by pride and by self-will it will be a soul in constant turmoil it is13900:14:00,200 –> 00:14:08,640the soul of a tyrant it is the soul of Korah and it is a soul that is destined14000:14:08,640 –> 00:14:15,960for hell now that is the lesson of Korea’s rebellion and I want to suggest14100:14:15,960 –> 00:14:21,479that it is one of the most difficult lessons for us to learn in our culture14200:14:21,479 –> 00:14:28,320of rampant individualism those who will not submit themselves to others end up14300:14:28,559 –> 00:14:34,460like unguided missiles doing untold damage wherever they go be it at work in14400:14:34,460 –> 00:14:44,619the family in the body of Christ the spirit of Korah is within them. I know a14500:14:44,619 –> 00:14:53,599pastor who last year not in this country stood before his congregation in a14600:14:53,599 –> 00:15:01,200meeting and said I listen to nobody14700:15:01,440 –> 00:15:08,059he thought of course that he was listening to God but his words were the14800:15:08,059 –> 00:15:14,900surest indication that he was not I shudder to think where that man will end14900:15:15,239 –> 00:15:24,340up beware the person who thinks that they are listening to God and listens to15000:15:24,340 –> 00:15:36,520nobody else it’s a delusion it’s the verge of a plunge to disaster it’s very15100:15:36,520 –> 00:15:41,359interesting to me that at the end of the New Testament Jude identified some very15200:15:41,359 –> 00:15:46,599destructive people who got their way into the early church. And he15300:15:46,599 –> 00:15:50,760characterize them in three ways and if you look in Jude in verse 11 there’s15400:15:50,760 –> 00:15:54,539just one chapter of Jude you’ll see where at least I had the idea for three15500:15:54,539 –> 00:15:59,219of the characters in this series. Because Jude talks about people in the early15600:15:59,219 –> 00:16:06,559church who had taken the way of Cain who had rushed for profit into Balaam’s15700:16:06,659 –> 00:16:16,400error and would be those destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.15800:16:17,159 –> 00:16:24,140If you want to avoid a plunge to disaster learn to submit to others. And here’s the15900:16:24,140 –> 00:16:29,760very last thing if you want to avoid an ultimate plunge to disaster an eternal16000:16:30,260 –> 00:16:37,739disaster then learn to submit yourself to Jesus Christ. Now think about this for16100:16:37,739 –> 00:16:42,419just a moment as we close the special position that was given to Moses in the16200:16:42,419 –> 00:16:49,080Old Testament really points forward to the unique position that was given to16300:16:49,080 –> 00:16:53,820our Lord Jesus Christ in the new. Remember what God said about Moses. He16400:16:53,820 –> 00:17:04,939sees the form of God. I speak with him face to face. Now Koro of course could16500:17:04,939 –> 00:17:09,640never accept that. He was fundamentally opposed to the idea that God could place16600:17:09,640 –> 00:17:14,479anybody in such a position of privilege. No, no, no Koro thought that anybody16700:17:14,479 –> 00:17:18,599could come to God in their own way. He couldn’t see why people should be16800:17:18,599 –> 00:17:21,540restricted to hearing the word of God through Moses, why they should be16900:17:21,540 –> 00:17:26,540restricted to the offering that was made by Aaron, why should there only be17000:17:26,540 –> 00:17:32,439one high priest? Answer Koro, because God says so. The issue boils down to17100:17:32,439 –> 00:17:36,680one of authority, who says how you can come to God, is it you who says how you17200:17:36,680 –> 00:17:41,199come to God, or is it God who says how you come to God. It is God who says how17300:17:41,199 –> 00:17:46,199you may come to God, and the fundamental issue here is the authority of God and17400:17:46,359 –> 00:17:51,560that takes us right to the heart of the gospel because in the New Testament we17500:17:51,560 –> 00:17:58,380have the one to whom Moses could only point, of whom Moses was only a shadow.17600:17:58,380 –> 00:18:04,400When Jesus Christ comes into the world we discover he not only saw the form of17700:18:04,420 –> 00:18:10,060God as Moses did, he is the form of God.17800:18:10,060 –> 00:18:20,979He not only heard the Word of God he is the Word of God, and when he came into17900:18:20,979 –> 00:18:24,900the world of course he faced another version of Korah’s rebellion. This time18000:18:24,900 –> 00:18:28,979it was Pharisees and Herodians, who had precious little in common, who found18100:18:28,979 –> 00:18:33,900common ground in a little small group that began the attitude towards Jesus18200:18:34,500 –> 00:18:39,660up with a great crowd crying crucify him. His own family at one point said that18300:18:39,660 –> 00:18:44,780he was out of his mind. The leaders rose up and said we will not have this man to18400:18:44,780 –> 00:18:52,780reign over us, and so Christ gave a sign as to who he is. It wasn’t that the18500:18:52,780 –> 00:18:58,760ground swallowed him up. It was that the ground couldn’t hold him, and on the18600:18:58,760 –> 00:19:03,260third day he rose from the dead. And in this way Paul says was declared with18700:19:03,260 –> 00:19:10,760power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead and there18800:19:10,760 –> 00:19:17,880are many people today who still take Kora’s position. You’ll hear them in18900:19:17,880 –> 00:19:23,400your office, you’ll hear them in conversations with friends who do not19000:19:23,400 –> 00:19:28,859yet believe, and they’ll say as Kora would have said how can you say that19100:19:28,939 –> 00:19:35,859people can only come to God through Jesus Christ? Aren’t all the people holy?19200:19:35,859 –> 00:19:39,640Isn’t God amongst all the hope, all the people? Aren’t we all God’s19300:19:39,640 –> 00:19:50,819children anyway? No we’re not, no we’re not Kora. God has made a way in which we19400:19:50,819 –> 00:19:57,819may come to him. That’s why in the Gospels there’s that great moment where19500:19:57,979 –> 00:20:02,859Jesus’ glory is revealed. And God says on the mountain of19600:20:02,859 –> 00:20:12,160Transfiguration, this is my son, listen to him. Don’t listen to the voice of19700:20:12,160 –> 00:20:15,359every religious movement that the various cultures of the world have19800:20:15,359 –> 00:20:22,199thrown up through history. This is my son, listen to him. If you want to avoid19900:20:22,239 –> 00:20:31,000an eternal plunge to disaster submit to the authority of Jesus Christ.20000:20:31,000 –> 00:20:37,380He has died the righteous for the unrighteous to bring you to God and no20100:20:37,380 –> 00:20:43,800one else can do that. And on the last day there will be people who will stand20200:20:43,800 –> 00:20:47,739before God like Korah with their own little censors. They’ll love their own20300:20:47,880 –> 00:20:52,000sincerity, their own good works and they will come before God and they’ll say20400:20:52,000 –> 00:20:58,680here I am and here’s the good life that I’ve lived. And if that’s how you come20500:20:58,680 –> 00:21:07,880you take a plunge to disaster. How must you come? You must come through the High20600:21:07,959 –> 00:21:16,579Priest who has offered the sacrifice acceptable to God, Jesus Christ our20700:21:16,579 –> 00:21:25,760Saviour the Son of God, who has come to reconcile you to God and through faith20800:21:25,760 –> 00:21:37,060in his blood you may stand before him and on the last day find acceptance with20900:21:37,060 –> 00:21:41,920God. You’ve been listening to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a21000:21:41,920 –> 00:21:47,040message called submit to authority. A powerful message today of warning looking21100:21:47,040 –> 00:21:52,239at the story of Korah as he plunged to disaster. It contains lessons for our own21200:21:52,239 –> 00:21:57,199lives and how we can avoid following in his footsteps. He was just one of the21300:21:57,199 –> 00:22:01,420eight characters in the Bible who we’ve been studying in our series deck chairs21400:22:01,420 –> 00:22:06,459on the Titanic how to avoid plunging to disaster, and if you’ve missed any of the21500:22:06,459 –> 00:22:09,979series or if you want to go back and listen again you can do that by coming21600:22:09,979 –> 00:22:15,900online to our website openthebible.org.uk or you can find us as a21700:22:15,900 –> 00:22:20,660podcast and those are available on all the main podcast sites. Search for Open21800:22:20,660 –> 00:22:25,660the Bible UK or follow the link from our website. Also on our website and as a21900:22:25,660 –> 00:22:30,979podcast is open the Bible daily and that’s a series of short two to three22000:22:30,979 –> 00:22:35,819minute daily reflections based on Pastor Colin’s teaching and read in the UK by22100:22:36,819 –> 00:22:40,319Sue MacLeish. There’s a fresh one every day and many Christians start their day22200:22:40,319 –> 00:22:44,739with it. Just a reminder that we love hearing from our listeners so if you’d22300:22:44,739 –> 00:22:48,920like to get in touch this is how you can do it. You can write to us at22400:22:56,920 –> 00:22:58,479Again that address is22500:23:02,420 –> 00:23:03,459children22600:23:06,479 –> 00:23:11,339Open the Bible is supported by our listeners, that’s people just like you.22700:23:11,339 –> 00:23:15,420And if that’s something you’ve been considering doing this month we have a22800:23:15,420 –> 00:23:20,119great new offer for you. If you’re able to begin a new direct debit to the work22900:23:20,119 –> 00:23:24,660of Open the Bible in the amount of £5 per month or more or a one-off23000:23:24,660 –> 00:23:30,380gift of £50 or more. We’d love to say thank you by sending you a copy of23100:23:30,380 –> 00:23:35,979Pastor Colin’s book Heaven How I Got Here the story of the thief on the cross.23200:23:35,979 –> 00:23:39,939And we’ll also send you a copy of the booklet How Can I Be Sure of Heaven23300:23:39,939 –> 00:23:44,699along with a special Open the Bible pen and bookmark.23400:23:44,699 –> 00:23:50,459Full details terms and conditions are on our website openthebible.org.uk23500:23:50,459 –> 00:23:53,939Colin what’s the theme of Heaven How I Got Here.23600:23:53,939 –> 00:23:59,140A little booklet again based on the wonderful story of the thief on the cross23700:23:59,359 –> 00:24:03,099and just capturing what it was that this man did.23800:24:03,099 –> 00:24:07,900He turned to Jesus he asked Jesus to save him23900:24:07,900 –> 00:24:11,500and he trusted the promise that Jesus gave him.24000:24:11,500 –> 00:24:15,780So these three simple words turn and ask and trust24100:24:15,780 –> 00:24:19,060at the heart of this booklet that’s all about Jesus24200:24:19,060 –> 00:24:23,819and how he saves us illustrated through the story of the thief on the cross.24300:24:23,819 –> 00:24:28,939It’s a booklet that you could give away to someone very easily just a few pages24400:24:28,939 –> 00:24:33,040but it will give them the heart of the gospel and a simple presentation24500:24:33,040 –> 00:24:36,479of how to respond to the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ24600:24:36,479 –> 00:24:42,339Well this book, Heaven How I Got Here, along with the booklet, How Can I Be Sure of Heaven,24700:24:42,339 –> 00:24:46,680as well as a special open the Bible pen and bookmark24800:24:46,680 –> 00:24:49,560are our way of saying thank you if you’re able to set up24900:24:49,560 –> 00:24:53,400a new direct debit of five pounds per month or more25000:24:53,400 –> 00:24:58,160to the work of Open the Bible or a one-off gift of fifty pounds or more.25100:24:58,359 –> 00:25:04,479Full details, terms and conditions on our website openthebible.org.uk25200:25:04,540 –> 00:25:08,719For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith I’m David Pick25300:25:08,719 –> 00:25:12,459I hope you’ll join us again next time25400:25:15,699 –> 00:25:20,439It’s quite possible to have God’s spirit, to be called to a ministry25500:25:20,439 –> 00:25:24,560and used by God and yet still plunge to disaster25600:25:24,560 –> 00:25:27,819Find out why next time on Open the Bible

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Discover how to navigate through the hazardous waters of your life—from the stories of eight men who took a plunge to disaster. Cain, Esau, Balaam, Korah, Samson, Absalom, Jehoiakim, and Judas all believed in God and came to worship. Like passengers on the Titanic, their lives were sailing along and everything seemed fine. But their

Colin Smith

A Fresh Look at the Christmas Story

Immerse yourself in Christmas Stories by Pastor Colin Smith. This new book retells the nativity from the viewpoints of five memorable biblical characters.

For new advent ideas this Christmas, sign up now to receive our Advent Resources Pack— a sermon series outline, Bible study guide, a nativity drama script and customisable artwork. 

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