1
00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:08,280
Everyone has something in their life that they wish was different.
2
00:00:08,280 –> 00:00:11,480
Peter says, covering the whole range,
3
00:00:11,480 –> 00:00:17,639
you have been grieved with various trials.
4
00:00:17,639 –> 00:00:23,120
You can fill in the detail of what that means for you.
5
00:00:24,200 –> 00:00:26,480
Now, here’s the question.
6
00:00:26,480 –> 00:00:28,400
Why?
7
00:00:28,440 –> 00:00:34,439
What purpose could God have in these trials?
8
00:00:34,439 –> 00:00:39,799
What good might we hope would come out of them?
9
00:00:39,959 –> 00:00:42,799
Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.
10
00:00:42,799 –> 00:00:43,639
I’m David Pick.
11
00:00:43,639 –> 00:00:48,400
And Colin, I can imagine that over the many years you’ve served as pastor,
12
00:00:48,400 –> 00:00:51,320
you must have been asked that question so many times.
13
00:00:51,320 –> 00:00:54,639
Why does God allow this trial in my life?
14
00:00:54,639 –> 00:00:56,560
It’s probably hundreds of times, isn’t it?
15
00:00:56,680 –> 00:01:01,639
It’s the number one question, and it’s always the most pressing question, isn’t it?
16
00:01:01,639 –> 00:01:05,480
People who suffer have a sense of, you know, I can endure this,
17
00:01:05,480 –> 00:01:07,639
but I need to know that there’s some purpose,
18
00:01:07,639 –> 00:01:10,519
that there’s some good that’s going to come out of it.
19
00:01:10,519 –> 00:01:15,040
If I thought that it was just random, then it would be completely unbearable.
20
00:01:15,040 –> 00:01:17,919
Give me some rationale why.
21
00:01:17,919 –> 00:01:22,919
And we’re going to look in the scriptures today at some very clear
22
00:01:22,959 –> 00:01:26,040
statements that the apostle Peter makes
23
00:01:26,040 –> 00:01:31,040
about what comes out of the trials that God’s children suffer.
24
00:01:31,519 –> 00:01:35,360
The good purposes that God accomplishes in them and through them.
25
00:01:35,360 –> 00:01:39,279
And I hope that this is going to be really encouraging for a person
26
00:01:39,279 –> 00:01:43,040
who’s saying, why am I going through this today?
27
00:01:43,040 –> 00:01:45,320
That you’ll get some glimpse
28
00:01:45,320 –> 00:01:48,639
of what you can look to God to do in and through the things
29
00:01:48,639 –> 00:01:51,040
that you wish were different in your life.
30
00:01:51,160 –> 00:01:53,120
But God has a bigger purpose
31
00:01:53,120 –> 00:01:55,680
and he’s going to accomplish it in you and through you.
32
00:01:55,680 –> 00:01:58,480
Well, let’s open our Bibles together if we can
33
00:01:58,480 –> 00:02:02,720
at 1 Peter in the first chapter, verses 3 to 9 today
34
00:02:02,720 –> 00:02:05,320
as we continue the message, TESTED FAITH.
35
00:02:05,320 –> 00:02:06,639
Here’s Colin.
36
00:02:06,639 –> 00:02:10,399
How do you know that your faith is genuine?
37
00:02:10,399 –> 00:02:13,240
And that is a real question
38
00:02:13,240 –> 00:02:15,360
because there are many people
39
00:02:15,360 –> 00:02:18,000
who at one time professed some kind of faith
40
00:02:18,000 –> 00:02:20,759
and then turned back.
41
00:02:20,800 –> 00:02:25,240
So, how do you know that your faith is genuine?
42
00:02:26,360 –> 00:02:28,240
Well, Peter has the answer.
43
00:02:29,100 –> 00:02:34,100
He tells us that when you are grieved by various trials
44
00:02:34,479 –> 00:02:36,559
and despite them,
45
00:02:36,559 –> 00:02:39,639
you continue to love and to trust
46
00:02:39,639 –> 00:02:42,320
and to obey the Lord Jesus Christ,
47
00:02:42,320 –> 00:02:45,440
then you have decisive proof
48
00:02:46,559 –> 00:02:49,199
that your faith is genuine.
49
00:02:49,199 –> 00:02:50,119
And here’s why.
50
00:02:50,960 –> 00:02:54,279
If your faith was simply a human decision,
51
00:02:54,279 –> 00:02:57,759
if it was simply a sort of religious interest,
52
00:02:57,759 –> 00:03:00,639
if it was simply a passing phase,
53
00:03:00,639 –> 00:03:02,880
then you would renounce your faith
54
00:03:02,880 –> 00:03:04,940
as soon as it became too costly.
55
00:03:05,839 –> 00:03:08,399
If God did not do what you wanted,
56
00:03:08,399 –> 00:03:10,800
if he did not give you what you asked,
57
00:03:10,800 –> 00:03:14,139
well, if your faith was simply a human decision,
58
00:03:14,139 –> 00:03:15,800
you would turn away from worship.
59
00:03:15,800 –> 00:03:18,080
You would turn away from the word of God.
60
00:03:18,080 –> 00:03:19,919
You would give up on prayer.
61
00:03:19,919 –> 00:03:21,479
You would no longer believe,
62
00:03:21,479 –> 00:03:24,720
and you would no longer obey the Lord Jesus Christ.
63
00:03:26,399 –> 00:03:31,059
The natural response, the natural response,
64
00:03:31,059 –> 00:03:35,139
when Jesus Christ leads a person into hard places
65
00:03:35,139 –> 00:03:39,899
would be to turn back and no longer follow him.
66
00:03:41,440 –> 00:03:42,839
But, you see,
67
00:03:42,839 –> 00:03:46,000
Peter is writing here to people
68
00:03:46,000 –> 00:03:48,380
who have endured great trials
69
00:03:48,440 –> 00:03:50,740
and they did not turn back.
70
00:03:52,279 –> 00:03:54,199
And he’s saying to them,
71
00:03:54,199 –> 00:03:56,639
well, there can only be one explanation.
72
00:03:58,740 –> 00:04:00,520
You have been born of God.
73
00:04:01,479 –> 00:04:02,940
You have a living hope
74
00:04:02,940 –> 00:04:06,440
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
75
00:04:07,460 –> 00:04:10,740
The life of God is in you,
76
00:04:10,740 –> 00:04:14,220
the spirit of God indwells you.
77
00:04:14,220 –> 00:04:18,100
Your faith has been proved genuine.
78
00:04:19,220 –> 00:04:22,420
You belong to Jesus Christ
79
00:04:22,420 –> 00:04:26,899
and he is yours forever.
80
00:04:30,859 –> 00:04:34,700
Tested faith is genuine faith.
81
00:04:36,059 –> 00:04:40,799
And now Peter goes on to tell us why that is so important.
82
00:04:41,679 –> 00:04:46,679
Because tested faith is more precious than gold.
83
00:04:49,380 –> 00:04:52,239
The tested genuineness of your faith,
84
00:04:52,239 –> 00:04:57,079
he says, more precious than gold
85
00:04:58,239 –> 00:04:59,339
that perishes.
86
00:05:00,640 –> 00:05:03,239
Now do you see that Peter is talking here
87
00:05:03,239 –> 00:05:07,859
about the value of a genuine faith?
88
00:05:08,779 –> 00:05:13,779
Now, the world looks on with condescending disdain
89
00:05:13,920 –> 00:05:15,760
in regards to faith.
90
00:05:15,760 –> 00:05:18,559
While faith is a good thing, especially for those
91
00:05:18,559 –> 00:05:19,880
who feel that they need it,
92
00:05:19,880 –> 00:05:22,040
that’s the way in which the world views faith.
93
00:05:22,040 –> 00:05:25,980
It’s something of very little value indeed.
94
00:05:26,920 –> 00:05:28,739
The world sees faith as a kind
95
00:05:28,739 –> 00:05:31,739
of crutch for weak people.
96
00:05:33,079 –> 00:05:34,940
But you see, Peter tells us here
97
00:05:35,019 –> 00:05:37,299
that far from being a crutch,
98
00:05:38,200 –> 00:05:42,920
genuine faith is a gift of infinite value.
99
00:05:44,820 –> 00:05:48,019
And to press home how valuable it really is,
100
00:05:48,019 –> 00:05:50,100
he makes this comparison.
101
00:05:50,100 –> 00:05:52,480
He puts it alongside money,
102
00:05:52,480 –> 00:05:53,980
not just a little money,
103
00:05:53,980 –> 00:05:55,480
but a lot of money.
104
00:05:55,480 –> 00:05:57,820
He talks about pure gold.
105
00:05:59,700 –> 00:06:03,619
Suppose a man has millions of dollars,
106
00:06:03,640 –> 00:06:04,940
millions.
107
00:06:07,399 –> 00:06:08,500
He is blessed.
108
00:06:10,380 –> 00:06:12,359
There are many joys of life
109
00:06:12,359 –> 00:06:15,320
that he can savor because of his money,
110
00:06:17,579 –> 00:06:19,160
but only for a short time.
111
00:06:20,980 –> 00:06:25,140
Very soon he will have to kiss his money goodbye.
112
00:06:27,500 –> 00:06:30,279
Gold is a finite value,
113
00:06:31,239 –> 00:06:35,140
but genuine faith, Peter is telling us,
114
00:06:35,140 –> 00:06:37,959
is of greater value by far.
115
00:06:37,959 –> 00:06:41,820
It is more precious than gold.
116
00:06:43,799 –> 00:06:48,239
Gold will give you access to many pleasures
117
00:06:48,239 –> 00:06:49,579
for a short while.
118
00:06:50,679 –> 00:06:55,679
Genuine faith will give you access to the presence of God
119
00:06:55,839 –> 00:06:58,579
where there is fullness of joy and pleasures
120
00:06:58,579 –> 00:07:01,720
at his right hand forevermore.
121
00:07:03,700 –> 00:07:08,540
So faith that is tested and proved genuine
122
00:07:08,540 –> 00:07:13,380
is more precious, Peter says, than gold.
123
00:07:14,739 –> 00:07:18,540
Spurgeon says, if you have faith,
124
00:07:19,380 –> 00:07:21,260
you don’t need to ask for much more
125
00:07:22,579 –> 00:07:24,480
except that your faith will grow.
126
00:07:25,480 –> 00:07:28,519
And then Peter takes this comparison
127
00:07:28,519 –> 00:07:32,239
between faith and gold a step further.
128
00:07:32,239 –> 00:07:35,359
Notice that he speaks here about gold that perishes
129
00:07:35,359 –> 00:07:39,920
though it is tested by fire.
130
00:07:39,920 –> 00:07:40,980
Now he’s talking of course,
131
00:07:40,980 –> 00:07:43,299
about the way in which gold is purified
132
00:07:43,299 –> 00:07:46,880
or refined in the fire.
133
00:07:46,880 –> 00:07:49,579
And he’s saying in the same way.
134
00:07:49,579 –> 00:07:51,959
Faith is strengthened, faith grows,
135
00:07:52,339 –> 00:07:57,339
faith is refined when it is tested
136
00:07:57,359 –> 00:07:59,000
and when it is tried.
137
00:08:00,640 –> 00:08:03,899
Amy Carmichael was an Irish missionary
138
00:08:03,899 –> 00:08:08,359
who started a rescue home for young girls
139
00:08:08,359 –> 00:08:12,380
who had been trafficked in India.
140
00:08:12,380 –> 00:08:15,619
And she tells of an occasion when she went with the girls
141
00:08:15,619 –> 00:08:19,359
under her care to visit a goldsmith
142
00:08:19,359 –> 00:08:23,260
who was refining gold in a charcoal fire.
143
00:08:24,640 –> 00:08:29,640
And they watched as he put the gold into a curved tile
144
00:08:30,200 –> 00:08:34,599
and then put this crucible into the fire.
145
00:08:34,599 –> 00:08:37,719
And then he’d take it out and have a look at the gold.
146
00:08:37,719 –> 00:08:39,400
Then he’d put it back in,
147
00:08:39,400 –> 00:08:40,640
then he’d take it back out
148
00:08:40,640 –> 00:08:43,460
and have a look at the gold again.
149
00:08:44,419 –> 00:08:46,719
And someone asked him,
150
00:08:46,719 –> 00:08:51,719
how do you know when the gold is refined?
151
00:08:51,840 –> 00:08:56,140
And the goldsmith gave this answer.
152
00:08:56,140 –> 00:09:01,140
When I can see my face in it,
153
00:09:01,200 –> 00:09:05,299
then it is pure.
154
00:09:05,299 –> 00:09:09,039
When your faith is tested,
155
00:09:09,599 –> 00:09:14,599
it will grow, it will be refined.
156
00:09:14,820 –> 00:09:16,940
And when the refining is done,
157
00:09:16,940 –> 00:09:20,979
God will produce a reflection
158
00:09:20,979 –> 00:09:25,979
of his own image and likeness in you.
159
00:09:28,059 –> 00:09:33,059
And that is why faith is of greater worth than gold.
160
00:09:33,700 –> 00:09:38,700
Faith that is tested, and proved genuine,
161
00:09:39,500 –> 00:09:45,460
is of infinite value.
162
00:09:45,539 –> 00:09:46,900
You’re listening to Open the Bible
163
00:09:46,900 –> 00:09:48,400
with Pastor Colin Smith.
164
00:09:48,400 –> 00:09:49,799
We’ve got to pause the message there.
165
00:09:49,799 –> 00:09:54,239
We’ve been seeing how tested faith is genuine faith.
166
00:09:54,239 –> 00:09:55,840
It’s more precious than gold,
167
00:09:55,840 –> 00:09:58,140
and when we come back, we’ll see how it results
168
00:09:58,140 –> 00:10:00,919
in praise, honor, and glory.
169
00:10:01,119 –> 00:10:02,739
Honor, and glory.
170
00:10:02,739 –> 00:10:04,140
So I hope you’ll stay with us.
171
00:10:04,479 –> 00:10:05,479
If you tuned in late,
172
00:10:05,479 –> 00:10:07,320
or if you want to go back and listen again,
173
00:10:07,419 –> 00:10:09,679
do that by coming online to our website
174
00:10:09,719 –> 00:10:12,280
openthebible.org.uk.
175
00:10:12,280 –> 00:10:14,380
There you can hear any of the messages
176
00:10:14,380 –> 00:10:16,039
that have already gone out on air.
177
00:10:16,280 –> 00:10:18,619
You can also find us, of course, as a podcast,
178
00:10:18,719 –> 00:10:20,419
if that’s a better way for you to keep up
179
00:10:20,419 –> 00:10:22,080
with Pastor Colin’s teaching.
180
00:10:22,080 –> 00:10:25,039
And those are available on all the major podcast sites.
181
00:10:25,380 –> 00:10:26,979
Search for Open the Bible UK
182
00:10:26,979 –> 00:10:29,640
and subscribe to receive regular updates.
183
00:10:30,599 –> 00:10:34,200
Well, we’re in 1 Peter 1 and verses 3 to 9 today
184
00:10:34,200 –> 00:10:36,760
as we continue our message, Tested Faith
185
00:10:36,760 –> 00:10:37,500
Here’s Colin.
186
00:10:38,099 –> 00:10:40,140
Tested faith is genuine faith.
187
00:10:41,260 –> 00:10:43,900
Tested faith is more precious than gold.
188
00:10:45,140 –> 00:10:47,859
And then Peter tells us that tested faith
189
00:10:48,260 –> 00:10:52,559
will result in praise, glory and honor.
190
00:10:53,140 –> 00:10:54,179
Look at what he says here.
191
00:10:54,179 –> 00:10:57,659
You have been grieved by various trials
192
00:10:58,280 –> 00:11:01,219
so that here’s what will come out of it.
193
00:11:01,700 –> 00:11:05,419
The tested genuineness of your faith
194
00:11:06,219 –> 00:11:07,979
may be found to result in
195
00:11:07,979 –> 00:11:11,599
praise and glory and honour
196
00:11:12,080 –> 00:11:16,500
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
197
00:11:18,559 –> 00:11:20,219
Now, the obvious question is
198
00:11:20,320 –> 00:11:22,859
whose praise, glory and honour
199
00:11:22,859 –> 00:11:24,039
are we talking about?
200
00:11:24,460 –> 00:11:28,200
and there are two answers to that question.
201
00:11:29,119 –> 00:11:31,280
You remember that Jesus tells us
202
00:11:31,799 –> 00:11:35,700
that faithful servants will be praised
203
00:11:36,559 –> 00:11:38,140
by the Master himself.
204
00:11:48,979 –> 00:11:50,880
And in Romans, in chapter two,
205
00:11:50,919 –> 00:11:55,039
Paul says of a person who has come to love God from the heart
206
00:11:55,179 –> 00:11:58,320
and a person who is indwelled by the Holy Spirit,
207
00:11:58,619 –> 00:12:03,039
that his praise is not from man
208
00:12:04,419 –> 00:12:05,580
but from God.
209
00:12:08,419 –> 00:12:10,840
Then, as we think about honour,
210
00:12:11,940 –> 00:12:14,380
in 1 Corinthians, chapter four, in verse five,
211
00:12:14,799 –> 00:12:16,479
Paul speaks about the great day
212
00:12:16,479 –> 00:12:19,080
when God will bring to light the things
213
00:12:19,219 –> 00:12:22,619
that, up until that point, have been hidden in darkness.
214
00:12:22,679 –> 00:12:28,940
And then, God will disclose the hidden purpose of every heart.
215
00:12:29,239 –> 00:12:30,859
What a day that will be.
216
00:12:32,460 –> 00:12:35,419
And then, the Apostle says this,
217
00:12:36,260 –> 00:12:43,119
each one will receive his commendation from God.
218
00:12:44,679 –> 00:12:47,940
Now you read that, and you may find it very hard
219
00:12:47,940 –> 00:12:52,239
to imagine God himself, commending you.
220
00:12:53,880 –> 00:12:55,679
But look at what it says.
221
00:12:56,719 –> 00:13:02,679
If you are in Christ, if by faith you persevere through trial,
222
00:13:04,239 –> 00:13:08,280
the Bible says that God himself will commend you,
223
00:13:09,940 –> 00:13:11,080
honor you.
224
00:13:12,840 –> 00:13:15,880
And then, Peter uses the word glory.
225
00:13:16,599 –> 00:13:20,440
And later in this first letter that he writes,
226
00:13:20,440 –> 00:13:22,460
there are some words given to elders
227
00:13:22,460 –> 00:13:27,039
that can rightly be applied to all who extend themselves
228
00:13:27,039 –> 00:13:29,520
in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ.
229
00:13:29,520 –> 00:13:30,659
This is what Peter says,
230
00:13:30,659 –> 00:13:33,719
when the chief shepherd appears,
231
00:13:33,719 –> 00:13:34,940
here’s what will happen.
232
00:13:34,940 –> 00:13:39,940
You will receive the unfading crown of glory.
233
00:13:43,140 –> 00:13:44,059
Glory.
234
00:13:44,919 –> 00:13:48,219
Praise, honour, glory.
235
00:13:51,799 –> 00:13:54,940
And here, Peter brings the three together.
236
00:13:56,099 –> 00:13:59,479
Faith that is proved genuine he tells us
237
00:13:59,479 –> 00:14:04,479
will result in praise, glory and honour
238
00:14:04,500 –> 00:14:08,979
when Jesus Christ is revealed.
239
00:14:09,140 –> 00:14:14,140
Now, who are these people who are praised
240
00:14:14,919 –> 00:14:18,719
and honoured by the Lord Jesus Christ himself?
241
00:14:18,719 –> 00:14:23,719
Well, they are those who in the face of great trials,
242
00:14:24,940 –> 00:14:29,140
great darkness, grief, suffering and loss,
243
00:14:29,140 –> 00:14:33,280
they have loved and trusted Christ still.
244
00:14:34,340 –> 00:14:36,940
The greatest honour that you can give
245
00:14:37,539 –> 00:14:40,400
to the Lord Jesus Christ in all of your life
246
00:14:41,539 –> 00:14:42,479
is to love him,
247
00:14:43,479 –> 00:14:47,179
trust him and obey him
248
00:14:47,179 –> 00:14:49,539
in the midst of sorrow and loss
249
00:14:50,580 –> 00:14:52,479
that you do not understand.
250
00:14:54,880 –> 00:14:59,880
Now what will those who have endured great trial
251
00:15:00,080 –> 00:15:04,080
do with this praise
252
00:15:04,080 –> 00:15:07,799
and this honor and this glory?
253
00:15:07,799 –> 00:15:09,840
Well, you know what they will do.
254
00:15:09,840 –> 00:15:13,659
They will lay any praise any honor and any glory
255
00:15:13,659 –> 00:15:18,000
that they receive at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ.
256
00:15:18,840 –> 00:15:21,200
And they will say any strength that we had
257
00:15:22,179 –> 00:15:24,900
and any perseverance that we showed
258
00:15:24,900 –> 00:15:27,520
and any faithfulness that we sustained
259
00:15:27,520 –> 00:15:32,280
was by your grace and by your grace alone.
260
00:15:33,219 –> 00:15:35,919
John tells us in the book of Revelation
261
00:15:35,919 –> 00:15:39,719
that the elders cast their crowns
262
00:15:39,719 –> 00:15:42,599
before the Lord Jesus Christ.
263
00:15:43,760 –> 00:15:47,239
And picking up on that, Charles Wesley wrote these words.
264
00:15:47,239 –> 00:15:51,840
Finish then your new creation,
265
00:15:51,840 –> 00:15:56,340
pure and spotless, let us be.
266
00:15:56,340 –> 00:16:01,340
Let us see your great salvation perfect in eternity.
267
00:16:02,940 –> 00:16:06,320
Changed from glory into glory,
268
00:16:06,320 –> 00:16:09,479
till in heaven we take our place,
269
00:16:09,479 –> 00:16:13,520
till we cast our crowns before thee,
270
00:16:14,479 –> 00:16:19,479
lost in wonder, and love, and praise.
271
00:16:23,099 –> 00:16:27,099
And notice that Peter says that this praise,
272
00:16:27,099 –> 00:16:29,659
glory, and honor will come
273
00:16:29,659 –> 00:16:34,419
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
274
00:16:34,419 –> 00:16:36,140
Now Peter, of course, is speaking here
275
00:16:36,140 –> 00:16:39,539
about the return of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
276
00:16:39,539 –> 00:16:44,000
And the Bible often speaks about this as His coming,
277
00:16:44,000 –> 00:16:46,299
but that’s not the word that Peter uses here.
278
00:16:46,299 –> 00:16:49,619
Here, Peter speaks of His being revealed.
279
00:16:49,619 –> 00:16:52,320
He uses the word revelation.
280
00:16:53,940 –> 00:16:58,020
Now, what is the difference between Christ coming
281
00:16:58,020 –> 00:16:59,419
and Christ being revealed?
282
00:16:59,419 –> 00:17:01,679
They clearly refer to the same event,
283
00:17:01,679 –> 00:17:03,260
but there’s a different emphasis
284
00:17:03,260 –> 00:17:04,619
and there’s a different focus.
285
00:17:04,619 –> 00:17:08,180
And Peter chooses his word carefully
286
00:17:08,180 –> 00:17:12,699
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God.
287
00:17:13,800 –> 00:17:14,739
Revealed.
288
00:17:16,180 –> 00:17:20,540
When you have a reveal, at the end of a show
289
00:17:20,540 –> 00:17:23,079
or at the end of a project,
290
00:17:23,079 –> 00:17:27,680
it is the unveiling of something that is already there.
291
00:17:29,719 –> 00:17:33,060
And a scholar by the name of Alan Stibbs
292
00:17:33,060 –> 00:17:35,680
has made this very beautiful comment.
293
00:17:37,060 –> 00:17:40,020
He says the revelation of Jesus Christ
294
00:17:40,920 –> 00:17:45,699
is not the coming of someone hitherto absent,
295
00:17:47,020 –> 00:17:51,339
but the visible unveiling of someone
296
00:17:51,339 –> 00:17:54,479
who has been all the time,
297
00:17:54,479 –> 00:17:59,239
spiritually and invisibly present.
298
00:18:00,300 –> 00:18:05,319
When Amy Carmichael took her girls
299
00:18:06,400 –> 00:18:08,380
to watch the goldsmith at work,
300
00:18:08,380 –> 00:18:10,319
she pointed out to them
301
00:18:11,319 –> 00:18:14,859
that the refiner never leaves the gold
302
00:18:14,859 –> 00:18:16,160
when it is in the fire.
303
00:18:18,939 –> 00:18:21,140
In every trial
304
00:18:21,140 –> 00:18:22,599
that you have faced
305
00:18:23,859 –> 00:18:27,020
your Savior has all the time
306
00:18:28,020 –> 00:18:30,339
been invisibly present.
307
00:18:32,900 –> 00:18:34,619
Brother, sister in Christ,
308
00:18:36,099 –> 00:18:37,739
your faith will be tested.
309
00:18:38,719 –> 00:18:41,280
When your faith is tested,
310
00:18:41,280 –> 00:18:43,439
it will be refined,
311
00:18:43,439 –> 00:18:44,459
it will grow.
312
00:18:45,479 –> 00:18:48,640
Tested faith is genuine faith.
313
00:18:49,680 –> 00:18:51,900
And a tested faith that proves genuine
314
00:18:51,900 –> 00:18:54,719
is more precious than gold.
315
00:18:57,020 –> 00:18:59,819
A tested faith that proves genuine
316
00:18:59,819 –> 00:19:03,560
will result in praise and glory and honour
317
00:19:04,780 –> 00:19:06,579
when Jesus Christ is revealed.
318
00:19:07,719 –> 00:19:10,979
The same trial that brings you pain, grief
319
00:19:10,979 –> 00:19:13,060
and sorrow right now
320
00:19:13,060 –> 00:19:15,900
will bring praise, glory and honour
321
00:19:16,859 –> 00:19:19,359
when you see Jesus Christ face to face.
322
00:19:21,699 –> 00:19:24,099
Now I want to end with a very simple parable
323
00:19:24,219 –> 00:19:28,020
to press the main point of the message today home.
324
00:19:29,540 –> 00:19:34,540
It’s a parable that I’d call the parable of the pit
325
00:19:34,780 –> 00:19:37,339
and it’s a very simple analogy
326
00:19:37,339 –> 00:19:40,319
to remind us that there are discoveries
327
00:19:40,319 –> 00:19:42,579
of God’s grace
328
00:19:42,579 –> 00:19:45,280
that we can only make in the darkest places.
329
00:19:46,359 –> 00:19:48,300
There’s something that you can gain
330
00:19:48,300 –> 00:19:50,660
in the hardest places of your life
331
00:19:50,660 –> 00:19:52,520
that you will not gain anywhere else.
332
00:19:54,439 –> 00:19:56,319
Imagine then, with me for a moment,
333
00:19:56,319 –> 00:20:01,140
that you are told that you will be in a pit for one week,
334
00:20:01,140 –> 00:20:03,199
you’re told that after that week in the pit
335
00:20:03,199 –> 00:20:05,459
you will never, ever go there again,
336
00:20:05,459 –> 00:20:07,020
never in all of your life
337
00:20:07,020 –> 00:20:08,699
and that while you are there
338
00:20:08,699 –> 00:20:12,119
you are to use the time and the opportunity
339
00:20:12,119 –> 00:20:14,099
to make a life
340
00:20:14,099 –> 00:20:15,119
and a future.
341
00:20:16,540 –> 00:20:18,060
You’re lowered into this pit.
342
00:20:19,300 –> 00:20:20,780
It’s dark.
343
00:20:20,780 –> 00:20:21,760
It’s damp
344
00:20:22,819 –> 00:20:23,939
and it smells
345
00:20:24,979 –> 00:20:28,800
you feel around the walls are like glass.
346
00:20:29,640 –> 00:20:31,060
You cut your finger.
347
00:20:32,020 –> 00:20:35,819
You think what I do here to make a life and a future?
348
00:20:38,380 –> 00:20:40,359
You sit miserably in the darkness.
349
00:20:42,380 –> 00:20:44,979
You think well at least I’m gonna be here for one week
350
00:20:44,979 –> 00:20:46,119
and I have been promised
351
00:20:46,119 –> 00:20:49,459
that after one week I will never be here again
352
00:20:50,380 –> 00:20:51,859
and so you count the hours.
353
00:20:52,219 –> 00:20:54,280
You count the days.
354
00:20:54,939 –> 00:20:57,339
You simply wait for the time to pass.
355
00:20:57,339 –> 00:20:59,380
You do nothing, you just sit there
356
00:21:01,060 –> 00:21:06,040
and finally, one week later the day comes
357
00:21:06,579 –> 00:21:08,260
when you are lifted out of the pit
358
00:21:08,260 –> 00:21:11,420
and you rejoice because you know
359
00:21:11,420 –> 00:21:14,000
that you will never be there again.
360
00:21:15,819 –> 00:21:19,560
But as you leave the pit you look backwards.
361
00:21:19,719 –> 00:21:20,839
You look backwards.
362
00:21:22,780 –> 00:21:24,859
And you see a sign that tells you
363
00:21:24,859 –> 00:21:26,939
that the place you have been for an
364
00:21:26,939 –> 00:21:30,319
entire week was a diamond mine.
365
00:21:32,839 –> 00:21:36,880
There are gems of grace that
366
00:21:36,880 –> 00:21:41,079
can only be found in the darkest of places.
367
00:21:43,000 –> 00:21:46,319
So when your faith is tested
368
00:21:47,319 –> 00:21:53,800
make sure that you don’t come out empty-handed.
369
00:21:54,839 –> 00:21:56,339
You’ve been listening to Open the Bible
370
00:21:56,339 –> 00:21:59,079
with Pastor Colin Smith and our message today
371
00:21:59,079 –> 00:22:00,380
Tested Faith.
372
00:22:00,380 –> 00:22:02,060
It’s part of our series called
373
00:22:02,060 –> 00:22:04,400
Growing in Faith, Hope & Love.
374
00:22:04,400 –> 00:22:06,920
And if you’ve missed any of the series so far
375
00:22:06,920 –> 00:22:08,660
or if you want to go back and listen again
376
00:22:08,660 –> 00:22:10,160
don’t forget you can always do that by
377
00:22:10,160 –> 00:22:11,819
coming online to our website
378
00:22:11,819 –> 00:22:14,699
OpentheBible.org.uk
379
00:22:14,859 –> 00:22:16,439
There you can find all the messages
380
00:22:16,439 –> 00:22:19,140
that have previously gone out on air.
381
00:22:19,140 –> 00:22:21,140
You’ll also find them as a podcast
382
00:22:21,140 –> 00:22:24,439
and those are available on all the major podcasting sites.
383
00:22:24,439 –> 00:22:27,119
Search for Open the Bible UK
384
00:22:27,119 –> 00:22:30,000
and subscribe to receive regular updates.
385
00:22:30,000 –> 00:22:31,839
If you’re in our website you can also find
386
00:22:31,839 –> 00:22:34,439
a link to the podcasts on our website.
387
00:22:34,439 –> 00:22:35,800
And our website address again
388
00:22:35,800 –> 00:22:38,619
OpentheBible.org.uk
389
00:22:39,180 –> 00:22:41,959
Also on our website and available as a podcast
390
00:22:41,959 –> 00:22:44,280
you can find Open the Bible Daily
391
00:22:44,280 –> 00:22:46,979
and that’s a series of short, two to three minute
392
00:22:46,979 –> 00:22:50,280
daily reflections based on Pastor Colin’s teaching
393
00:22:50,280 –> 00:22:52,640
and read in the UK by Sue McLeish.
394
00:22:52,640 –> 00:22:53,959
There’s a fresh one every day
395
00:22:53,959 –> 00:22:55,739
and if you subscribe to the podcast
396
00:22:55,739 –> 00:22:57,280
or come to our website
397
00:22:57,280 –> 00:22:59,859
you’ll find it’s a great way to start the day.
398
00:22:59,859 –> 00:23:01,780
That’s Open the Bible Daily
399
00:23:01,780 –> 00:23:06,459
on our website OpentheBible.org.uk
400
00:23:07,500 –> 00:23:10,540
Open the Bible is supported entirely by our listeners
401
00:23:10,540 –> 00:23:12,900
that’s ordinary people just like you.
402
00:23:12,920 –> 00:23:15,479
If you appreciate Open the Bible’s ministry
403
00:23:15,479 –> 00:23:17,119
and you’d like to support us in this way
404
00:23:17,119 –> 00:23:18,920
but you haven’t yet done so
405
00:23:18,920 –> 00:23:21,959
can I encourage you to begin a donation this month
406
00:23:21,959 –> 00:23:23,640
to open the Bible.
407
00:23:23,640 –> 00:23:27,119
If you’re able to begin a new donation to open the Bible
408
00:23:27,119 –> 00:23:29,760
in the amount of five pounds per month or more
409
00:23:29,760 –> 00:23:31,319
we’d love to say thank you
410
00:23:31,319 –> 00:23:33,800
by sending you a copy of Gerry Bridges’ book
411
00:23:33,800 –> 00:23:35,500
Respectable Sins.
412
00:23:35,500 –> 00:23:37,400
Colin we know what sin is
413
00:23:37,400 –> 00:23:39,900
but what in the world is respectable sin?
414
00:23:39,959 –> 00:23:43,979
Yeah it’s a fascinating title for a book isn’t it.
415
00:23:43,979 –> 00:23:47,959
Gerry Bridges’ point is that there are some sins
416
00:23:47,959 –> 00:23:49,979
that are so despicable
417
00:23:49,979 –> 00:23:52,640
that we immediately recognize them as things
418
00:23:52,640 –> 00:23:54,920
that we would never touch or go near
419
00:23:54,920 –> 00:23:56,719
but there are other things
420
00:23:56,719 –> 00:23:58,520
that are displeasing to God
421
00:23:58,520 –> 00:24:00,260
and equally sins
422
00:24:00,260 –> 00:24:03,239
that we maybe tempted to accommodate in our lives
423
00:24:03,239 –> 00:24:06,599
and perhaps not even recognize them as sins
424
00:24:06,599 –> 00:24:07,859
which they are
425
00:24:07,900 –> 00:24:09,739
and what’s so helpful
426
00:24:09,739 –> 00:24:11,839
is that Gerry actually lists these.
427
00:24:11,839 –> 00:24:15,140
He has a short chapter on any number of them
428
00:24:15,140 –> 00:24:18,739
including anger, frustration, discontent,
429
00:24:18,739 –> 00:24:21,579
unthankfulness, pride, selfishness,
430
00:24:21,579 –> 00:24:23,599
lack of self-control, impatience,
431
00:24:23,599 –> 00:24:26,640
irritability, judgmentalism, envy, jealousy
432
00:24:26,640 –> 00:24:28,020
the list goes on
433
00:24:28,020 –> 00:24:30,739
but what he does is he identifies them,
434
00:24:30,739 –> 00:24:33,180
speaks about why they’re sins,
435
00:24:33,180 –> 00:24:35,239
why they’re displeasing to God,
436
00:24:35,239 –> 00:24:38,319
why they bring destruction in our lives
437
00:24:38,319 –> 00:24:40,640
and how we can fight against them
438
00:24:40,640 –> 00:24:43,400
and begin to prevail over them.
439
00:24:43,400 –> 00:24:45,660
So this is a wonderful book for anyone
440
00:24:45,660 –> 00:24:47,380
who wants to grow in likeness
441
00:24:47,380 –> 00:24:49,119
to the Lord Jesus Christ.
442
00:24:49,119 –> 00:24:51,219
I have found it immensely helpful,
443
00:24:51,219 –> 00:24:53,640
it’s a book I’ve gone back to many times
444
00:24:53,640 –> 00:24:55,959
and that’s why I’m really pleased
445
00:24:55,959 –> 00:24:58,359
that we’re able to commend it to others this month.
446
00:24:58,359 –> 00:25:00,599
Well, Gerry Bridges book Respectable Sins
447
00:25:00,599 –> 00:25:01,920
is our gift to you,
448
00:25:01,920 –> 00:25:03,959
if you’re able to start a new donation
449
00:25:04,099 –> 00:25:05,680
to the work of Open the Bible
450
00:25:05,680 –> 00:25:08,760
for five pounds per month or more.
451
00:25:08,760 –> 00:25:11,119
For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,
452
00:25:11,119 –> 00:25:13,119
I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll be able to join us
453
00:25:13,119 –> 00:25:14,839
next time on Open the Bible.
454
00:25:18,160 –> 00:25:21,800
Don’t make faith work automatically
455
00:25:22,719 –> 00:25:25,560
Doesn’t faith work automatically?
456
00:25:25,560 –> 00:25:27,819
Discover why it needs to be applied
457
00:25:27,819 –> 00:25:29,599
next time on Open the Bible.
