100:00:30,299 –> 00:00:32,340Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.200:00:32,340 –> 00:00:33,660I’m David Pick.300:00:33,660 –> 00:00:38,060Glad you could join us today and, Collins, when things are going well in our lives, faith400:00:38,259 –> 00:00:42,299seems easy, but sometimes it feels like a real struggle to believe.500:00:42,299 –> 00:00:43,299Yes.600:00:43,299 –> 00:00:49,060And I think that’s where the distinction between faith as believing and faith as trusting is700:00:49,060 –> 00:00:50,060really important.800:00:50,060 –> 00:00:51,840And of course, both of these belong together.900:00:51,840 –> 00:00:55,720They’re both part of what faith really is.1000:00:56,040 –> 00:00:59,840So faith involves believing God in what he has revealed.1100:00:59,840 –> 00:01:02,820So he’s revealed that Jesus is his Son.1200:01:02,820 –> 00:01:04,400We’re to believe that.1300:01:04,400 –> 00:01:06,339That Jesus rose from the dead.1400:01:06,339 –> 00:01:07,339That’s been revealed.1500:01:07,339 –> 00:01:09,220We’re to believe that.1600:01:09,220 –> 00:01:12,139So faith involves believing God in what he’s revealed.1700:01:12,139 –> 00:01:17,260But it also involves trusting God in what he’s kept secret.1800:01:17,260 –> 00:01:18,419What has he kept secret?1900:01:18,419 –> 00:01:20,820Well, why am I suffering as I am?2000:01:20,820 –> 00:01:24,379Why am I enduring this particular difficulty?2100:01:24,379 –> 00:01:28,440Why did God not intervene in a different way in that circumstance?2200:01:28,440 –> 00:01:33,699These are things that God has kept secret, and because they’ve not been revealed, as2300:01:33,699 –> 00:01:37,839perhaps they will be one day when we’re in his presence in heaven, until then, we’ve2400:01:37,839 –> 00:01:39,500got to trust him.2500:01:39,500 –> 00:01:41,720We have to walk by faith and not by sight.2600:01:41,720 –> 00:01:47,300So both of these dimensions are really important, and they’re especially important when our2700:01:47,300 –> 00:01:48,940faith is tested.2800:01:48,940 –> 00:01:53,739Let’s look at that today in the first book of Peter, chapter 1, verses 3 to 9.2900:01:53,779 –> 00:01:57,220In the first part of our message, Tested Faith, here is Pastor Colin.3000:01:58,120 –> 00:02:03,320Now I wanted to begin today with a very simple definition of faith.3100:02:03,320 –> 00:02:05,540Faith involves two elements.3200:02:05,540 –> 00:02:09,820The first is belief, and the second is trust.3300:02:09,820 –> 00:02:13,380They’re really two sides of the same coin.3400:02:13,380 –> 00:02:19,619Someone asked me just last week if believing is the same as faith, and that’s a very good3500:02:20,399 –> 00:02:23,440And the answer to it is, well, sometimes.3600:02:23,440 –> 00:02:31,460You see, sometimes the word belief is used in the Bible simply of knowing that something3700:02:31,460 –> 00:02:33,360is true.3800:02:33,360 –> 00:02:39,460For example, James tells us that even the demons believe, and they shudder.3900:02:39,460 –> 00:02:45,399In other words, the demons know that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.4000:02:45,559 –> 00:02:47,259They have no doubt about it whatsoever.4100:02:47,259 –> 00:02:52,479They believe it, and because they know it to be true, they even tremble in the light4200:02:52,479 –> 00:02:53,479of it.4300:02:53,479 –> 00:02:59,179Now, the demons believe, but they do not trust.4400:02:59,179 –> 00:03:06,720Despite what they know to be true, they remain in rebellion against God.4500:03:06,720 –> 00:03:12,360So, faith is more than believing that certain things are true.4600:03:13,080 –> 00:03:17,639Faith involves trusting the One we have come to believe.4700:03:17,639 –> 00:03:24,240And sometimes, the Bible uses the word, believe, in a way that includes trust.4800:03:24,240 –> 00:03:28,520For example, when Paul said to the Philippian jailer,4900:03:28,520 –> 00:03:32,919believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.5000:03:32,919 –> 00:03:38,320He’s saying more there than simply that the jailer should believe that Jesus died and5100:03:38,320 –> 00:03:39,320rose.5200:03:39,320 –> 00:03:45,880Yes he must believe this, but more than that, he must trust the Lord Jesus Christ to save5300:03:45,880 –> 00:03:46,880him.5400:03:46,880 –> 00:03:48,820That’s what the Apostle Paul is saying.5500:03:48,820 –> 00:03:50,960Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.5600:03:50,960 –> 00:03:52,419Trust him to save you.5700:03:52,419 –> 00:03:57,000And the reason that you trust him to save you is because you have come to believe that5800:03:57,000 –> 00:04:02,300he is the Son of God and that he died and that he rose again.5900:04:02,300 –> 00:04:05,919So, faith involves these two dimensions.6000:04:06,059 –> 00:04:14,139It involves believing and it involves trusting and these are two sides of the same coin.6100:04:14,139 –> 00:04:23,079Now, I found it helpful to put these two dimensions of faith alongside a distinction that God6200:04:23,079 –> 00:04:28,040makes in Deuteronomy, chapter 29, and verse 29.6300:04:28,040 –> 00:04:29,579The Scripture says,6400:04:36,519 –> 00:04:43,160are revealed belong to us and to our children forever.6500:04:43,160 –> 00:04:49,839So there are some things that God has revealed and there are other things that God has kept6600:04:49,839 –> 00:04:52,059hidden.6700:04:52,059 –> 00:05:00,100And very simply, faith then, is believing God in what he has revealed and trusting God6800:05:00,100 –> 00:05:03,320in what he has kept secret.6900:05:03,320 –> 00:05:05,679God has revealed his Son.7000:05:05,679 –> 00:05:12,959God has revealed his promises, and faith believes what God has revealed.7100:05:12,959 –> 00:05:15,739But there are many things that God has kept secret.7200:05:15,739 –> 00:05:20,160I mean, for example, none of us knows what tomorrow holds.7300:05:20,160 –> 00:05:22,279God has not revealed it.7400:05:22,279 –> 00:05:25,339So we have to trust him.7500:05:25,339 –> 00:05:31,959And faith trusts God in what he has kept hidden and we trust him in what he has kept hidden7600:05:32,140 –> 00:05:37,000because we believe him in what he has revealed.7700:05:37,000 –> 00:05:44,000God has said, I will never leave you, and I will never forsake you.7800:05:44,000 –> 00:05:50,200And so faith says, well now I can trust God for tomorrow because I believe the promise7900:05:50,200 –> 00:05:54,519that God has given to me today.8000:05:54,519 –> 00:06:02,420So faith involves believing God in what he has revealed, and trusting God in regards8100:06:02,420 –> 00:06:04,640to what he has kept hidden.8200:06:04,640 –> 00:06:10,220So when we pray, as we were looking at the disciples’ prayer last week, lord increase8300:06:10,220 –> 00:06:18,880my faith, well then what we’re asking is, lord help me to believe you in what you have8400:06:18,899 –> 00:06:27,260promised and help me to trust you in what I do not understand.8500:06:27,260 –> 00:06:28,260That’s faith.8600:06:28,260 –> 00:06:34,480Now today we’re going to look together at how faith is tested.8700:06:34,480 –> 00:06:39,399And every believer knows what it is for our faith to be tested.8800:06:39,399 –> 00:06:43,579If we were to have a sign-up sheet and pass it all the way around the congregation, for8900:06:43,579 –> 00:06:48,940folks to sign-up for faith to be tested, well I don’t suppose we would have many folks who9000:06:48,940 –> 00:06:51,339were immediately volunteering.9100:06:51,339 –> 00:06:58,600But the reality is that all of us experience what it is for our faith to be tested.9200:06:58,600 –> 00:07:06,140We’re going to see today that tested faith is more precious than gold.9300:07:06,140 –> 00:07:12,899And we’re going to see that the same trials that cause you grief and sorrow right now9400:07:12,899 –> 00:07:21,980will one day bring praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.9500:07:21,980 –> 00:07:30,100Right now you are grieved by the trials of your life but a day is coming when you will9600:07:30,100 –> 00:07:36,540rejoice in what God has accomplished through them.9700:07:36,540 –> 00:07:42,880Now I hope you have the Bible open at 1 Peter and chapter 1 and you will see in verse 39800:07:43,720 –> 00:07:50,000that Peter begins by reminding us of the blessing that is ours in the Lord Jesus Christ.9900:07:50,000 –> 00:07:56,320Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ according to his great10000:07:56,320 –> 00:08:02,540mercy he has given us new birth to living hope through the resurrection of10100:08:02,540 –> 00:08:10,459Jesus Christ from the dead. We have new birth we have living hope these gifts10200:08:10,459 –> 00:08:16,579are ours through the mercy of God and they have come to us because of the10300:08:16,579 –> 00:08:22,320resurrection of Jesus Christ. And then Peter goes on to say we have an10400:08:22,320 –> 00:08:28,420inheritance that is kept in heaven can’t ever spoil or fade and God keeps10500:08:28,420 –> 00:08:35,140the inheritance for you and then on the other hand Peter says God keeps you for10600:08:35,140 –> 00:08:38,979the inheritance so that you will actually arrive in heaven and receive10700:08:38,979 –> 00:08:44,219what he has prepared for you. So it is as it were God keeps the inheritance for10800:08:44,219 –> 00:08:49,760you in one hand he keeps you for the inheritance in the other and one day he10900:08:49,760 –> 00:08:55,760will bring these two marvelously together and Peter says in this you11000:08:55,760 –> 00:09:05,619rejoice. Look at what is yours in Christ, new birth, living hope, an inheritance11100:09:05,640 –> 00:09:10,359kept for you you kept for the inheritance a God who one day will bring11200:09:10,359 –> 00:09:16,179the two together when his salvation is revealed at the last time and in this11300:09:16,179 –> 00:09:31,979you rejoice. Then Peter says in this you rejoice though now for a little while if11400:09:31,979 –> 00:09:41,679necessary you have been grieved by various trials. Why would God who has11500:09:41,679 –> 00:09:48,219blessed his children so richly in the Lord Jesus Christ allow his own dearly11600:09:48,219 –> 00:09:54,979loved children to be grieved? Why would God do that? This is the great enigma of11700:09:55,500 –> 00:10:04,440the Christian life. If God really loves me so much why is my life so hard? How11800:10:04,440 –> 00:10:10,380can it be that if you are truly a child of God and an heir of heaven that you11900:10:10,380 –> 00:10:19,039would be grieved by various trials? That’s what Peter is about to address.12000:10:19,400 –> 00:10:31,140You have been grieved, he says. Now, grief is what we feel when we experience loss.12100:10:31,140 –> 00:10:38,799Dr. Jim Packer says very helpfully that grief is the inward desolation that12200:10:38,799 –> 00:10:47,400follows the losing of something or someone we loved. A child, a relative,12300:10:47,840 –> 00:10:59,219an actual or anticipated life partner, a pet, a job, one’s house, one’s hopes,12400:10:59,219 –> 00:11:07,799one’s health, or whatever. Now, notice that Peter says here you have12500:11:08,020 –> 00:11:18,020been grieved by various trials. There’s a broad range of what this looks like in Christian12600:11:18,020 –> 00:11:29,979experience. Some are tried with physical pain, others are tried with mental anguish. Some12700:11:29,979 –> 00:11:38,299live with the stress of responsibility that they carry. Others grieve the loss of responsibilities12800:11:38,299 –> 00:11:46,780that they once enjoyed. Some would wish that they could have and enjoy the gift of marriage,12900:11:46,780 –> 00:11:53,640and others endure a marriage from which they would gladly be free. Some live with great13000:11:53,679 –> 00:12:01,440anxiety over a loved one, and others grieve with great pain because a loved one has been13100:12:01,440 –> 00:12:08,880taken away from them. Everyone has something in their life that they wish was different.13200:12:08,880 –> 00:12:18,340And Peter says, covering the whole range, you have been grieved with various trials.13300:12:19,299 –> 00:12:25,020And you can fill in the detail of what that means for you.13400:12:25,020 –> 00:12:31,320Now here’s the question, why?13500:12:31,320 –> 00:12:37,719What purpose could God have in these trials?13600:12:37,719 –> 00:12:43,599What good might we hope would come out of them?13700:12:43,700 –> 00:12:50,559And Peter says, you have been grieved by various trials, so that…?13800:12:50,559 –> 00:12:58,200Now you see, he’s going tell us something good will come out of the trials that cause you to grieve.13900:12:58,200 –> 00:13:02,299Peter’s going to tell us what that is.14000:13:02,299 –> 00:13:06,099And we’ll find out what that is in just a moment, so stay with us.14100:13:06,099 –> 00:13:10,799You’re listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called14200:13:10,799 –> 00:13:14,299Tested Faith, part of our series Grow in Faith.14300:13:14,299 –> 00:13:18,299And if you ever miss one of the messages in the series, you can easily catch up14400:13:18,299 –> 00:13:25,000or go back and listen again by coming online to our website, openthebible.org.uk.14500:13:25,000 –> 00:13:28,599Back to the message now. Here again is Pastor Colin.14600:13:28,599 –> 00:13:31,299We’re going to see three things today.14700:13:31,299 –> 00:13:35,599First, the tested faith is genuine faith.14800:13:35,599 –> 00:13:40,400Second, the tested faith is more precious than gold.14900:13:40,700 –> 00:13:50,099And third, the tested faith will result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.15000:13:50,099 –> 00:13:54,099First then, tested faith is genuine faith.15100:13:54,099 –> 00:13:55,400Look at what he says.15200:13:55,400 –> 00:14:07,099You have been grieved by various trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith15300:14:07,099 –> 00:14:13,820may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.15400:14:13,820 –> 00:14:25,299I love these words, tested genuineness, faith that has been proved genuine by testing.15500:14:26,099 –> 00:14:29,299That’s what he’s talking about here.15600:14:29,299 –> 00:14:31,599So the question then that’s before us is,15700:14:31,599 –> 00:14:35,099how do you know that your faith is genuine?15800:14:35,099 –> 00:14:38,799And that is a real question because15900:14:38,799 –> 00:14:42,799there are many people who at one time professed some kind of faith16000:14:42,799 –> 00:14:44,799and then turned back.16100:14:44,799 –> 00:14:49,400Jesus speaks about this very clearly in the parable of the sower.16200:14:49,400 –> 00:14:53,599Remember he says now some people they’re just like rocky soil16300:14:53,599 –> 00:14:56,599and when the seed of the word is sewn in them,16400:14:56,599 –> 00:14:59,700they receive it immediately and they receive it with great joy.16500:14:59,700 –> 00:15:04,000But Jesus says they have no root in themselves16600:15:04,599 –> 00:15:09,000but endure for a while, just for a while.16700:15:09,000 –> 00:15:13,599And then, when tribulation or persecution arises16800:15:13,599 –> 00:15:16,299on account of the Word immediately,16900:15:16,299 –> 00:15:19,599they fall away. They’re gone.17000:15:19,599 –> 00:15:25,000They turn their back on what they once professed.17100:15:25,000 –> 00:15:26,500And then Jesus says17200:15:26,500 –> 00:15:31,500there are others who are like ones sown among thorns.17300:15:32,059 –> 00:15:35,559They are those, says Jesus, who hear the Word,17400:15:35,559 –> 00:15:39,419but the cares of the world,17500:15:39,419 –> 00:15:43,080the deceitfulness of riches,17600:15:43,080 –> 00:15:46,859and the desire for other things17700:15:46,859 –> 00:15:50,340enter in and choke the Word17800:15:50,340 –> 00:15:52,799and it proves unfruitful.17900:15:55,039 –> 00:15:57,979Now we all know someone18000:15:57,979 –> 00:16:01,020who had one time professed faith and then has turned back.18100:16:01,960 –> 00:16:06,380So how do you know that your faith is genuine?18200:16:07,500 –> 00:16:09,359Well, Peter has the answer.18300:16:10,239 –> 00:16:15,239He tells us that when you are grieved by various trials18400:16:15,619 –> 00:16:20,619and despite them, you continue to love, and to trust,18500:16:20,780 –> 00:16:23,460and to obey the Lord Jesus Christ,18600:16:23,460 –> 00:16:28,460then you have decisive proof that your faith is genuine.18700:16:28,940 –> 00:16:30,020And here’s why.18800:16:30,859 –> 00:16:34,020If your faith was simply a human decision,18900:16:34,020 –> 00:16:37,539if it was simply a sort of religious interest,19000:16:37,539 –> 00:16:40,520if it was simply a passing phase,19100:16:40,520 –> 00:16:42,859then you would renounce your faith19200:16:42,859 –> 00:16:44,940as soon as it became too costly.19300:16:45,780 –> 00:16:48,280If God did not do what you wanted,19400:16:48,280 –> 00:16:50,780if He did not give you what you asked,19500:16:50,780 –> 00:16:54,099well, if your faith was simply a human decision,19600:16:54,099 –> 00:16:55,700you would turn away from worship.19700:16:55,700 –> 00:16:58,419You would turn away from the worship you were issued.19800:16:59,260 –> 00:17:01,140You would give up on prayer.19900:17:01,140 –> 00:17:02,679You would no longer believe20000:17:02,679 –> 00:17:05,900and you would no longer obey the Lord Jesus Christ.20100:17:07,599 –> 00:17:10,520The natural response,20200:17:10,520 –> 00:17:12,280the natural response,20300:17:12,280 –> 00:17:16,339when Jesus Christ leads a person into hard places20400:17:16,339 –> 00:17:21,099would be to turn back and no longer follow Him.20500:17:22,660 –> 00:17:24,079But you see,20600:17:24,079 –> 00:17:27,199Peter is writing here to people20700:17:27,199 –> 00:17:29,579who have endured great trials20800:17:29,579 –> 00:17:31,880and they did not turn back.20900:17:33,479 –> 00:17:35,500And he’s saying to them,21000:17:35,500 –> 00:17:37,780well, there can only be one explanation.21100:17:39,939 –> 00:17:41,699You have been born of God.21200:17:42,660 –> 00:17:44,140You have a living hope21300:17:44,140 –> 00:17:47,719through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.21400:17:48,640 –> 00:17:51,900The life of God is in you.21500:17:51,900 –> 00:17:55,400The Spirit of God indwells you.21600:17:55,400 –> 00:17:59,300Your faith has been proved genuine.21700:18:00,400 –> 00:18:03,599You belong to Jesus Christ21800:18:03,599 –> 00:18:07,619and he is yours forever.21900:18:12,040 –> 00:18:15,839Tested faith is genuine faith.22000:18:17,280 –> 00:18:20,359And now Peter goes on to tell us22100:18:20,359 –> 00:18:21,660why that is so important.22200:18:22,839 –> 00:18:27,839Because tested faith is more precious than gold.22300:18:30,579 –> 00:18:34,619The tested genuineness of your faith, he says,22400:18:34,619 –> 00:18:39,400more precious than gold that perishes.22500:18:41,819 –> 00:18:44,420Now, do you see that Peter is talking here22600:18:44,420 –> 00:18:49,060about the value of a genuine faith?22700:18:49,979 –> 00:18:54,979Now, the world looks on with condescending disdain22800:18:55,119 –> 00:18:56,939in regards to faith.22900:18:56,939 –> 00:18:58,780While faith is a good thing, you know,23000:18:58,780 –> 00:19:01,079especially for those who feel that they need it,23100:19:01,079 –> 00:19:03,219that’s the way in which the world views faith.23200:19:03,219 –> 00:19:07,160It’s something of very little value indeed.23300:19:08,099 –> 00:19:13,099The world sees faith as a kind of crutch, for weak people.23400:19:14,260 –> 00:19:16,099But you see, Peter tells us here23500:19:16,099 –> 00:19:18,459that far from being a crutch,23600:19:19,339 –> 00:19:24,040genuine faith is a gift of infinite value.23700:19:25,939 –> 00:19:29,219And to press home how valuable it really is,23800:19:29,219 –> 00:19:31,199he makes this comparison.23900:19:31,199 –> 00:19:33,619He puts it alongside money,24000:19:33,619 –> 00:19:36,660not just a little money but a lot of money.24100:19:36,660 –> 00:19:39,020He talks about pure gold.24200:19:40,839 –> 00:19:45,839Suppose a man has millions of dollars, millions.24300:19:45,859 –> 00:19:50,859He is blessed, there are many joys of life24400:19:52,599 –> 00:19:55,739that he can savor because of his money.24500:19:57,319 –> 00:20:00,060But only for a short time,24600:20:00,060 –> 00:20:05,060very soon he will have to kiss his money goodbye.24700:20:06,800 –> 00:20:09,680Gold is a finite value.24800:20:11,400 –> 00:20:15,079But genuine faith, Peter is telling us,24900:20:15,560 –> 00:20:19,140is of greater value by far.25000:20:19,140 –> 00:20:22,959It is more precious than gold.25100:20:25,000 –> 00:20:28,219Gold will give you access to many pleasures25200:20:28,219 –> 00:20:30,760for a short while.25300:20:31,880 –> 00:20:36,680Genuine faith will give you access to the presence of God25400:20:36,680 –> 00:20:39,760where there is fullness of joy and pleasures25500:20:39,760 –> 00:20:43,219at his right hand forevermore.25600:20:44,160 –> 00:20:49,040So faith that is tested and proved genuine25700:20:49,040 –> 00:20:54,140is more precious, Peter says, than gold.25800:20:55,339 –> 00:20:58,939Spurgeon says, if you have faith,25900:20:59,939 –> 00:21:01,839you don’t need to ask for much more26000:21:03,140 –> 00:21:04,979except that your faith will grow.26100:21:06,660 –> 00:21:09,579And then Peter takes this comparison26200:21:10,140 –> 00:21:13,819between faith and gold a step further.26300:21:13,819 –> 00:21:16,979Notice that he speaks here about gold that perishes26400:21:16,979 –> 00:21:21,459though it is tested by fire.26500:21:21,459 –> 00:21:22,540Now he’s talking, of course,26600:21:22,540 –> 00:21:25,239about the way in which gold is purified26700:21:25,239 –> 00:21:28,500or refined in the fire.26800:21:28,500 –> 00:21:31,219And he’s saying in the same way,26900:21:31,219 –> 00:21:33,500faith is strengthened, faith grows,27000:21:33,500 –> 00:21:38,500faith is refined when it is tested27100:21:38,540 –> 00:21:40,079and when it is tried.27200:21:42,500 –> 00:21:43,900You’ve been listening to Open The Bible27300:21:43,900 –> 00:21:47,260with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called Tested Faith.27400:21:47,260 –> 00:21:49,160And you can hear the second part of this message27500:21:49,160 –> 00:21:50,479in our next broadcast.27600:21:50,479 –> 00:21:52,420So I hope you’ll join us for that.27700:21:52,420 –> 00:21:53,939If you can’t join us next time27800:21:53,939 –> 00:21:56,800or if you ever miss one of the programmes in the series,27900:21:56,800 –> 00:21:59,819it’s very easy to catch up or go back and listen again.28000:21:59,819 –> 00:22:04,239Just come to our website, openthebible.org.uk,28100:22:04,239 –> 00:22:05,540there you’ll find all the messages28200:22:05,540 –> 00:22:07,819which are already being broadcast.28300:22:07,819 –> 00:22:10,359You’ll also find them on all the main podcast sites28400:22:10,359 –> 00:22:13,959if you search for Open The Bible UK.28500:22:13,959 –> 00:22:17,420Many Christians start their day with Open The Bible Daily,28600:22:17,420 –> 00:22:19,260that’s our series of short two28700:22:19,260 –> 00:22:21,420to three minute daily reflections28800:22:21,420 –> 00:22:25,099based on Pastor Colin’s teaching and read in the UK.28900:22:25,099 –> 00:22:29,640You can find them on our website, at openthebible.org.uk,29000:22:29,640 –> 00:22:32,219or you can find them on all the main podcast sites29100:22:32,219 –> 00:22:34,420by searching for Open The Bible UK.29200:22:34,420 –> 00:22:37,099That’s Open The Bible Daily.29300:22:37,140 –> 00:22:39,579Open The Bible is supported by our listeners,29400:22:39,579 –> 00:22:42,500it’s people just like you who keep Open The Bible29500:22:42,500 –> 00:22:44,780on this station, on the internet,29600:22:44,780 –> 00:22:46,979and on all the podcast sites.29700:22:46,979 –> 00:22:49,420So if you already give to support the work,29800:22:49,420 –> 00:22:51,420thank you so much.29900:22:51,420 –> 00:22:52,839If supporting Open The Bible30000:22:52,839 –> 00:22:55,859financially is something that you’d like to begin to do,30100:22:55,859 –> 00:22:57,819this month we’d love to say thank you30200:22:57,819 –> 00:23:00,180by sending you a free gift.30300:23:00,180 –> 00:23:02,520If you’re able to begin a new direct debit30400:23:02,520 –> 00:23:05,180of five pounds per month or more,30500:23:05,239 –> 00:23:07,959or a one-off gift of 60 pounds or more,30600:23:07,959 –> 00:23:11,819we’d love to send you a copy of Nancy Guthrie’s book,30700:23:11,819 –> 00:23:15,560I’m Praying for You, 40 Days of Praying the Bible30800:23:15,560 –> 00:23:17,199for Someone Who is Suffering.30900:23:18,119 –> 00:23:20,140Colin, what makes this book different31000:23:20,140 –> 00:23:22,040from other books on prayer?31100:23:22,040 –> 00:23:23,420Well, it’s not so much a book31200:23:23,420 –> 00:23:26,579that you would read as a book that you would use,31300:23:26,579 –> 00:23:29,060and some folks listening to us might be saying,31400:23:29,060 –> 00:23:31,880I don’t have time to read another book.31500:23:31,900 –> 00:23:34,839Well, this is actually a resource31600:23:34,839 –> 00:23:38,020that you would use to shape your praying31700:23:38,020 –> 00:23:40,140for someone else in your life31800:23:40,140 –> 00:23:42,000that you’re committed to praying for.31900:23:42,000 –> 00:23:43,160And here’s how it works.32000:23:43,160 –> 00:23:45,800Nancy Guthrie gives us very wonderfully32100:23:45,800 –> 00:23:50,31940 different ways of praying for someone we love32200:23:50,319 –> 00:23:51,680or someone who is suffering,32300:23:51,680 –> 00:23:53,800someone who’s in a particular need.32400:23:53,800 –> 00:23:56,800They’re all drawn directly from scripture,32500:23:56,800 –> 00:23:59,359and what she does is in just a few paragraphs,32600:23:59,359 –> 00:24:02,280she points to a scripture, explains what it means,32700:24:02,280 –> 00:24:06,239and then frames a prayer that you can actually use32800:24:06,239 –> 00:24:07,839for someone that you love32900:24:07,839 –> 00:24:10,640and care for someone in need in your own life.33000:24:10,640 –> 00:24:12,780So the way to use this book33100:24:12,780 –> 00:24:14,239is to identify someone,33200:24:14,239 –> 00:24:16,719or maybe two or three people that you’re praying for,33300:24:16,719 –> 00:24:19,300and then use the book as a resource33400:24:19,300 –> 00:24:23,040to guide and shape your praying over a period of 40 days.33500:24:23,040 –> 00:24:25,119And what you’re going to find is this,33600:24:25,119 –> 00:24:27,760that your praying will be fresh,33700:24:27,760 –> 00:24:29,880you will be drawing from the scriptures33800:24:29,880 –> 00:24:31,319and you’ll have the confidence33900:24:31,319 –> 00:24:32,859of knowing that you’re praying according34000:24:32,859 –> 00:24:35,359to God’s will because whatever is in the scripture34100:24:35,359 –> 00:24:37,719is the will of God for his people.34200:24:37,719 –> 00:24:39,239Well, we’d love to send you a copy34300:24:39,239 –> 00:24:40,479of Nancy Guthrie’s book,34400:24:40,479 –> 00:24:41,900I’m Praying For You.34500:24:41,900 –> 00:24:43,760When you begin, a new direct debit34600:24:43,760 –> 00:24:45,180to the work of Open the Bible34700:24:45,180 –> 00:24:47,479of five pounds per month or more,34800:24:47,479 –> 00:24:50,359or a one-off gift of 60 pounds or more.34900:24:50,359 –> 00:24:52,819You’ll find full terms and conditions online35000:24:52,819 –> 00:24:56,599at our website, openthebible.org.uk,35100:24:56,760 –> 00:24:59,140and you can also give online.35200:24:59,140 –> 00:25:01,680If you want us to send you this free gift,35300:25:01,680 –> 00:25:03,900please don’t forget to leave your full name35400:25:03,900 –> 00:25:07,319and address so that we can send you your gift.35500:25:07,319 –> 00:25:09,800For Open the Bible, I’m Pastor Colin Smith,35600:25:09,800 –> 00:25:12,339I’m David Pick, thanks for being with us today,35700:25:12,339 –> 00:25:14,420and I hope you’ll join us again next time.35800:25:22,239 –> 00:25:25,119We all know that our faith is sometimes tested,35900:25:25,119 –> 00:25:27,400but why does God do that?36000:25:27,400 –> 00:25:29,760Find out next time on Open the Bible.