100:00:00,020 –> 00:00:12,240God making his appeal through us, and the us is those who reconcile to him through200:00:12,240 –> 00:00:18,040every Christian. In other words when you speak about Jesus, Jesus speaks through300:00:18,040 –> 00:00:24,820you. That’s why in chapter 6 in verse 1 he says we are God’s fellow workers400:00:24,980 –> 00:00:30,379Because when you reach out to people Jesus reaches out to these people500:00:30,379 –> 00:00:36,660through you. Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick600:00:36,660 –> 00:00:40,919Glad you could be with us today and Colin that’s an amazing idea for many of700:00:40,919 –> 00:00:45,220us that when we speak out the message of the gospel, the message of hope, and800:00:45,220 –> 00:00:50,099reconciliation, God may be using that to reconcile people to himself900:00:50,099 –> 00:00:54,320Yeah it’s a staggering thought so it’s so good that the Bible actually says it1000:00:54,480 –> 00:01:00,160God making his appeal through us so here’s the deal you know you may be1100:01:00,180 –> 00:01:03,680thinking well if I say something about Christ, you know it’s going to sound1200:01:03,680 –> 00:01:07,720rather lame and I don’t know I’m not really a very good speaker I’m not very1300:01:07,720 –> 00:01:11,559gifted and how is it going to make any difference? Listen what we’re being told1400:01:11,559 –> 00:01:16,779from the Bible today is when you speak about Jesus, Jesus speaks through you1500:01:16,779 –> 00:01:22,400God makes his appeal and how does he do it? Through ordinary folks like us who1600:01:22,400 –> 00:01:25,940are speaking the truth about Jesus Christ into the lives of others. I think1700:01:25,940 –> 00:01:30,580that’s the most marvelous encouragement for speaking simply and honestly the1800:01:30,580 –> 00:01:34,519truth about Jesus. So even people who feel they’ve made a complete mess of1900:01:34,519 –> 00:01:40,059their life they’ve done lots of horrible things God can actually use that? God can2000:01:40,059 –> 00:01:45,260use the speaking of any person about Jesus Christ, so long as you’re able to2100:01:45,260 –> 00:01:51,260point to Jesus Christ, he makes his appeal through us. God speaking he really2200:01:51,300 –> 00:01:54,699does it and he does it through his people. So join us if you can into2300:01:54,699 –> 00:01:59,639Corinthians Chapter 5 as we continue our message, The Gift of Ministry. Here is2400:01:59,639 –> 00:02:11,380Colin. God was reconciling the world to himself. Now here friends is a marvellous2500:02:11,500 –> 00:02:21,399statement about what God was doing at the cross. Here’s what it means. In the2600:02:21,399 –> 00:02:32,059death of Jesus, God was removing every barrier to peace on his side. He was2700:02:32,059 –> 00:02:39,419putting away his own condemnation and wrath arising from justice in relation2800:02:39,559 –> 00:02:46,419to sin. He was dealing with and at the cross, smashing that sword that blocked2900:02:46,419 –> 00:02:54,300the way. And then as he reconciles people to himself, he then sends these people3000:02:54,300 –> 00:03:02,820out to tell the world that it is so. To tell the world what God has done in3100:03:02,820 –> 00:03:09,380Jesus Christ. So understand this it’s important to get it clear in our minds3200:03:09,899 –> 00:03:16,639the message that we are to take out. The message of reconciliation is not you know3300:03:16,639 –> 00:03:21,100God hates you but if you’re really sorry then perhaps that might change.3400:03:21,100 –> 00:03:26,899No, the message of reconciliation and you can say this to any person in whatever3500:03:26,899 –> 00:03:36,940sin God loves you and in Jesus Christ has put away every barrier on his side3600:03:37,199 –> 00:03:46,860in Jesus Christ he offers himself to you in love. He invites you, he wills you to3700:03:46,860 –> 00:03:54,940receive this reconciliation and for you to refuse this reconciliation and instead3800:03:54,940 –> 00:03:59,199to move towards the place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth for you to3900:03:59,199 –> 00:04:05,020do that when the door of heaven has been opened for you and the arms of God are4000:04:05,339 –> 00:04:11,279stretched out towards you that would be the greatest folly to walk away from4100:04:11,279 –> 00:04:18,519this love and it would be your ultimate loss receive this reconciliation. Be4200:04:18,519 –> 00:04:33,000reconciled to God. It’s from God and it’s for the world you can speak in this way4300:04:33,000 –> 00:04:45,320to any person that you ever meet. there’s good news for every person. And how are4400:04:45,320 –> 00:04:53,880they going to hear it? How is this reconciliation going to come from God4500:04:53,880 –> 00:04:57,380for the world4600:04:57,779 –> 00:05:07,279through us? Through us. Now these words are staggering and the more that I4700:05:07,279 –> 00:05:13,480ponder them, as I’ve been doing for years, the more remarkable still they appear to4800:05:13,480 –> 00:05:27,820me verse 20. God making his appeal through us. And then these words, we4900:05:27,820 –> 00:05:33,859implore you on behalf of Christ. Here’s the people of God speaking, we implore5000:05:33,859 –> 00:05:43,119you on behalf of Christ. Be reconciled to God. So this ministry and message of5100:05:43,279 –> 00:05:47,119reconciliation it’s from God it’s for the world. How does it get to the world? The5200:05:47,119 –> 00:05:54,480answer is through us. How does God speak to people? Through his people. How does5300:05:54,480 –> 00:06:00,619God reconcile people to himself? This ministry comes through his people. He5400:06:00,619 –> 00:06:05,399does it through us. He does it through the ones who are already reconciled to5500:06:05,399 –> 00:06:10,720him. That’s verse 18, he reconciled us to himself and gave us this ministry of5600:06:11,079 –> 00:06:17,420reconciliation. Why? So that it may go to the world. That’s what it’s saying.5700:06:18,220 –> 00:06:25,839Sometimes a picture just seals a reality in your mind and earlier this year I was5800:06:25,839 –> 00:06:32,679at a conference in Louisville with about 7,000 Christian leaders mainly young and5900:06:32,679 –> 00:06:39,239in the introductory session they’re kind of trying to get to know who’s6000:06:39,279 –> 00:06:44,399there and in 7,000 people they had you know everyone stand up and then sit down6100:06:44,399 –> 00:06:48,320if you’re from here and there and sit down if you’re over 50 and6200:06:48,320 –> 00:06:54,000all this kind of thing. Then they had everyone stand up and say how6300:06:54,000 –> 00:07:01,279did you come to faith in Jesus Christ. 7,000 people standing. Sit down if6400:07:01,279 –> 00:07:08,100you came to Christ through an open-air meeting some people sat down. Sit down6500:07:08,100 –> 00:07:14,279if you came to Christ through someone giving you a tract.6600:07:14,279 –> 00:07:24,540Few people sat down. 7,000 vast majority standing. Sit down if you came to christ6700:07:24,540 –> 00:07:35,220through the influence of a family member or a friend. You could feel the gasp as6800:07:35,299 –> 00:07:44,899as everyone realized the overwhelming majority sat down as one. You came to Christ6900:07:46,100 –> 00:07:54,260through the influence of a family member or a friend.7000:07:55,700 –> 00:07:58,299That’s Second Corinthians chapter 5.7100:07:59,260 –> 00:08:08,459This message of reconciliation, it is from God, it is for the world, and it’s through7200:08:09,339 –> 00:08:19,739us. It’s through your influence on a friend. It’s through your influence in the life7300:08:20,619 –> 00:08:33,419of a family member. It’s through you being awake to the fact that God has given us this ministry7400:08:34,059 –> 00:08:38,460and that we have it together and that we have it individually.7500:08:39,900 –> 00:08:48,059Friends, this is the most marvelous life vision. You’re working as a nurse in this7600:08:48,140 –> 00:08:54,140sphere in hospital. I’m a teacher here, I’m working on the site there. Wherever God has placed you.7700:08:54,140 –> 00:09:01,979Around you, there are people, people in the world who need the ministry and the message7800:09:01,979 –> 00:09:09,580of reconciliation and there you are. If we were to picture this, picture a globe7900:09:10,940 –> 00:09:15,820and around that globe there are lots and lots of little points of light and8000:09:15,820 –> 00:09:21,900every point of light is someone who has been reconciled to God and that person,8100:09:21,900 –> 00:09:29,820that light has the ministry and the message of reconciliation. Zoom in more closely and see8200:09:29,820 –> 00:09:35,500that building site. And there are lots of orange lights representing all the people,8300:09:35,500 –> 00:09:43,580but there are one or perhaps even two white lights, bright lights. And what does that represent?8400:09:43,580 –> 00:09:47,739Here are people who have the ministry and the message of reconciliation they’re among these8500:09:47,739 –> 00:09:52,940other people. And that’s true in every school, and that’s true in every hospital, that’s true8600:09:52,940 –> 00:09:58,140in every sphere of life. You say, well you know, I’m the only Christian in your family.8700:09:58,140 –> 00:10:03,739Thank God He’s put one light there. What is going to come of that? It’s from God,8800:10:03,739 –> 00:10:15,419it’s for the world, and it is through us. Now, for your encouragement, look at this.8900:10:16,380 –> 00:10:26,059God making his appeal through us, and the us is those who reconcile to Him, through every Christian.9000:10:26,059 –> 00:10:33,979In other words, when you speak about Jesus, Jesus speaks through you. That’s how He speaks. How does9100:10:33,979 –> 00:10:39,419He speak into the world? He speaks through his people. When you speak about Jesus, Jesus speaks9200:10:39,419 –> 00:10:44,859through you, that’s what He’s saying. God makes His appeal through us. That’s why, in chapter 69300:10:44,859 –> 00:10:52,460in verse 1, He says we are God’s fellow workers because, when you reach out to people, Jesus9400:10:52,619 –> 00:11:01,659reaches out to these people through you! So, how is God’s great work of reconciling people in9500:11:01,659 –> 00:11:09,979this community going to happen? The answer is, it’s going to happen through us. It’s going9600:11:09,979 –> 00:11:16,859to happen through you, it’s going to happen through those to whom He has entrusted in this community,9700:11:17,179 –> 00:11:24,140the ministry and the message of reconciliation. And that is, the people that He has reconciled9800:11:25,580 –> 00:11:26,219to Himself.9900:11:47,820 –> 00:12:02,780Let me just give in this last part, three applications deductions10000:12:04,059 –> 00:12:09,500that seem very obviously to arise from this with regards to Our ministry. Here’s the first10100:12:10,500 –> 00:12:20,059’…that we must serve with humility, because we also are sinners who have been reconciled10200:12:20,059 –> 00:12:26,940to God.’ In other words, the stance of Christian ministry is never to be as it were on a high10300:12:26,940 –> 00:12:33,739platform as if we were sort of above everybody else looking down on other people and calling10400:12:33,739 –> 00:12:38,539on them to raise their lives to our standards. That’s not what it is. That’s not the message10500:12:38,539 –> 00:12:48,700and that’s not who we are. We have been reconciled and we needed to be. And apart10600:12:48,700 –> 00:12:54,059from the sheer grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ, the flaming sword would have cut us to10700:12:54,059 –> 00:13:02,460pieces. Spurgeon is so helpful here describing the spirit of a church that really has grasped10800:13:02,460 –> 00:13:09,659the gospel and how we speak to others who are our neighbours and are our friends.10900:13:10,299 –> 00:13:15,340How we present ourselves to the community. I quote Spurgeon here,11000:13:16,219 –> 00:13:25,419Are you sinful? So were we. Are you rebellious against God? So were we.11100:13:26,380 –> 00:13:30,619And are your hearts hard? Ours were, too.11200:13:32,299 –> 00:13:37,659We do not look down on you from an elevated platform of affected dignity,11300:13:38,619 –> 00:13:43,900for we recognise our own nature in yours and therefore come to you as fellow sinners.11400:13:45,580 –> 00:13:51,099We hope, says Spurgeon, that our former condition as sinners and unbelievers will make us speak11500:13:51,099 –> 00:13:58,460to you more tenderly, and will enable us to reach your hearts the better.’11600:13:59,820 –> 00:14:01,820And then I love this comment that he makes,11700:14:03,020 –> 00:14:10,460God might have sent angels to you. And you would perhaps at first have been awed by their glory,11800:14:11,979 –> 00:14:18,700but their sermons would have been cold and unsympathetic compared with ours.11900:14:19,580 –> 00:14:26,380For they could not know your misery and degradation as we do. I love that.12000:14:28,619 –> 00:14:35,659Angels don’t know what it is to be sinners. Angels don’t know what it is to be aware that12100:14:36,460 –> 00:14:41,260your very self, your very life hangs on the grace and mercy of God.12200:14:41,260 –> 00:14:51,099But we do know that and therefore should be the most tender and humble and sympathetic people in all of the world.12300:14:53,099 –> 00:14:57,820Because if it was not for the grace of God, where would your sinful heart have led you today?12400:15:00,140 –> 00:15:06,700Serve with humility. Because we are sinners who’ve been reconciled to God. To whom has this message12500:15:06,700 –> 00:15:11,179and ministry been trust? Those who’ve been reconciled, those who owe everything to Christ.12600:15:11,260 –> 00:15:25,419Second, speak from the heart, because God pleads with sinners through you. The gospel has to be12700:15:25,419 –> 00:15:30,059put into words. That’s why it says not only we have the ministry of reconciliation, but we have12800:15:30,059 –> 00:15:36,780the message of reconciliation. And the gospel is spoken through people. And that’s why it12900:15:36,780 –> 00:15:43,260says in verse 20, God making His appeal. That’s He’s speaking. God making His appeal through us.13000:15:43,260 –> 00:15:51,739We implore you. So we’re speaking on behalf of Christ. Now isn’t this an extraordinary phrase,13100:15:51,739 –> 00:15:56,780God making His appeal. It’s to me, a staggering phrase.13200:15:58,539 –> 00:16:04,059You would think that it should be sinners who are appealing to God,13300:16:04,859 –> 00:16:09,900that it should be sinners who are coming and holding out our hands and saying Oh God,13400:16:09,900 –> 00:16:16,859pleading, urging. But actually what we’re told here is that it is first,13500:16:16,859 –> 00:16:27,260the other way around. Here is God, the sovereign, the Almighty, the Creator Himself.13600:16:27,260 –> 00:16:33,900And He’s holding out His hands. He’s appealing to us. He’s the one who’s saying come long13700:16:33,979 –> 00:16:41,179let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow.13800:16:41,179 –> 00:16:47,099God appealing. Now try and let that settle into your mind, because13900:16:47,099 –> 00:16:52,940it fills out for you something wonderful and glorious that every person needs to know about14000:16:52,940 –> 00:17:02,940God. God wants you. You matter to Him. It matters to Him that you should be reconciled. He sent His14100:17:02,940 –> 00:17:10,619Son into the world for this. If you should find yourself, if anyone in this congregation this14200:17:10,619 –> 00:17:15,180morning should find themselves on the last day outside of heaven,14300:17:15,180 –> 00:17:20,140you could have no one to blame but yourself. You certainly could not blame God14400:17:22,619 –> 00:17:31,900as he reaches out to you even now, appealing to you. Be reconciled. Every barrier on God’s14500:17:31,900 –> 00:17:37,180sight has been removed at immeasurable cost through Jesus Christ and all that14600:17:37,180 –> 00:17:43,579he accomplished on the cross. God in Christ reconciling the world to himself.14700:17:45,739 –> 00:17:47,819His arms are stretched out to you.14800:17:51,500 –> 00:17:59,660And his door is open to you. Jesus told a story that we read earlier in the service about a man14900:17:59,660 –> 00:18:07,500who prepared a great banquet. When the time came, you remember everyone made excuses about why they15000:18:07,500 –> 00:18:12,380couldn’t come, and the master said we’ll go into the streets and the lanes of the city, you bring15100:18:12,380 –> 00:18:17,979in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. And the servant who’d obviously been thinking15200:18:17,979 –> 00:18:23,900ahead said and knew the heart of the master, he said, well we’ve already done it, and still15300:18:23,900 –> 00:18:31,020there is room. And the master then says, we’ll now go out again, go in this time to the highways,15400:18:31,020 –> 00:18:39,900go even into the hedges. Picture that. Find someone there in the hedges. And I love the next word,15500:18:39,900 –> 00:18:48,380and compel them to come in. Compel them to come in. In other words deploy every argument,15600:18:48,380 –> 00:18:55,579every winsomeness you possibly can. Describe to them the great good of the master’s banquet,15700:18:55,579 –> 00:19:01,819and all that is there. And go to people and say I would so like you to enjoy everything15800:19:01,819 –> 00:19:08,780that there is in Jesus Christ. God-making is appeal through us.15900:19:10,459 –> 00:19:15,900A person who shares the heart of God can never share the gospel in a disinterested kind of way.16000:19:15,900 –> 00:19:18,619Well here it is, you know, well, you know, take it or leave it.16100:19:21,420 –> 00:19:28,939God-making is appeal through us. Be reconciled to God.16200:19:30,300 –> 00:19:35,819And notice the word that’s used here of our speaking, the word implore, we implore you.16300:19:35,819 –> 00:19:40,780The strength of that word, the word here can actually be translated beg,16400:19:40,780 –> 00:19:44,619which is fascinating. It’s used in the context of prayer.16500:19:46,380 –> 00:19:49,979So in Luke, chapter 22 when Jesus speaks to Peter.16600:19:51,420 –> 00:19:58,060And he says, now Satan wants to have you, Peter, but I have prayed for you.16700:20:00,140 –> 00:20:03,500It’s from the same word that Jesus uses there.16800:20:05,500 –> 00:20:09,739I’ve implored the Father on your behalf that your faith may not fail.16900:20:11,660 –> 00:20:16,699So, here’s what Christian ministry looks like. We implore God on behalf of people.17000:20:18,060 –> 00:20:25,739And we implore people on behalf of God. And friends when you see that and when you see17100:20:25,739 –> 00:20:32,540that God has actually trusted this ministry in regards to the world, to us, to his people,17200:20:32,540 –> 00:20:38,540to all who have been reconciled to him, this surely is a vision that is worth giving your17300:20:38,540 –> 00:20:48,300life for. This is worth mobilizing all that you have for. And to me, the greatest motivation in17400:20:48,300 –> 00:20:54,859all of this is that this ministry is from God and that God is constantly active in it.17500:20:55,420 –> 00:21:02,459God appealing through us. When you speak, God speaks. When you are speaking about Christ,17600:21:03,339 –> 00:21:10,219if ministry were simply us trying to do our best to get reluctant people to believe,17700:21:10,219 –> 00:21:16,459I think we would soon lose heart. I know we would. But this tells us that God is at work.17800:21:16,459 –> 00:21:22,699God is speaking. God is appealing and He does it through us. So, what greater motivation17900:21:22,699 –> 00:21:27,579could there be than God reconciling the world to himself? He was doing it for Christ,18000:21:27,579 –> 00:21:36,540and now he takes those who have been reconciled. He says go speak, go minister and I will speak18100:21:36,540 –> 00:21:43,180and I will minister through you. You’ve been listening to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin18200:21:43,180 –> 00:21:48,459Smith and the final part of our message, The Gift of Ministry. It’s part of a series called18300:21:48,459 –> 00:21:54,300Don’t Lose Heart, based on second book of Corinthians and chapter 5 and it’s easy to18400:21:54,699 –> 00:21:59,579and listen again, if you ever want to by coming online to our website openthebible.org.uk18500:22:01,420 –> 00:22:06,300or if you prefer to listen to our podcast, go to your favourite podcast site and search for18600:22:06,300 –> 00:22:11,900Open The Bible UK or follow the link from our website. Maybe as you’ve been listening to the18700:22:11,900 –> 00:22:18,140message today, you’ve heard God calling you into a relationship with Jesus Christ. You’d like to18800:22:18,140 –> 00:22:24,219know more about how to enter into that relationship by the saving grace of God and if so I hope you’re18900:22:24,219 –> 00:22:28,939seeking out a trusted Christian friend or family member or maybe go along to a Christian church19000:22:28,939 –> 00:22:35,020fellowship. Take time to speak with the folk there the pastor or simply members of that fellowship.19100:22:35,020 –> 00:22:39,819Tell them about your journey to discover faith for yourself. You’ll find they’ll be ready to19200:22:39,819 –> 00:22:45,020pray with you to help you make that step or if you’re not yet ready to make that step19300:22:45,020 –> 00:22:50,140and still have questions and we all have questions, there may well be a Bible study19400:22:50,140 –> 00:22:56,060course or a home group or an alpha program that you can join. Open the Bible aims to give19500:22:56,060 –> 00:23:02,699individuals, small groups and churches excellent Bible study courses. One of these is Fly Through19600:23:02,699 –> 00:23:08,619the Bible. I’m with Open the Bible’s Executive Director John Martin. John, how does Fly Through19700:23:08,619 –> 00:23:15,339the Bible help with Bible study? Fly Through the Bible is Colin’s whistlestop tour of the Bible.19800:23:15,339 –> 00:23:20,859You meet five characters from the Old Testament, then we look at five events in the life of Jesus19900:23:20,859 –> 00:23:26,300and then we finish with five gifts that God gives to the church. The Book is short and simple and20000:23:26,300 –> 00:23:31,339therefore shareable. It’s something you might want to give away to somebody as a gift. Possibly a20100:23:31,339 –> 00:23:37,900neighbour. The level at which the Book is appealing to is those who are perhaps more exploring faith.20200:23:37,900 –> 00:23:42,619Perhaps they’re new as a Christian, perhaps they want to see how it all fits together. They know20300:23:42,699 –> 00:23:47,739bits and pieces but they wonder where all the characters and events fit together. And this20400:23:47,739 –> 00:23:53,260is Colin’s introduction to that. You can find details of Fly Through the Bible on our website20500:23:53,260 –> 00:23:59,500openthebible.org.uk. Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham to talk about this month’s20600:23:59,500 –> 00:24:06,459offer for anyone who’s able to begin supporting Open the Bible financially. Thanks David. Yes,20700:24:06,540 –> 00:24:13,339This month, we are delighted to offer you two free copies of Christmas Stories by Colin Smith,20800:24:13,900 –> 00:24:20,699a beautifully illustrated book that tells the Christmas story through five key characters,20900:24:20,699 –> 00:24:26,699including Mary, Joseph, and the Angel Gabriel. You’ll also receive five exclusive Christmas21000:24:26,699 –> 00:24:32,540cards featuring artwork from the book, perfect for sharing the true meaning of Christmas.21100:24:33,339 –> 00:24:39,500It’s our free thank you gift when you donate £50 or more or set up a new direct debit of21200:24:39,500 –> 00:24:45,420just £5 a month, but please don’t forget to leave your address so that we can post your gift.21300:24:46,060 –> 00:24:51,579Thanks, Amanda. We’re very grateful to God for the many Open the Bible listeners who support the21400:24:51,579 –> 00:24:58,939work. If you’d like to join them, head over to our website openthebible.org.uk, where you can21500:24:59,020 –> 00:25:03,260give online and find full terms and conditions for our offer this month.21600:25:04,300 –> 00:25:09,339For Open the Bible, Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again soon.21700:25:15,020 –> 00:25:20,219You’re a Christian believer but your own sins are causing you to lose heart.21800:25:20,219 –> 00:25:23,900Find out why next time on Open the Bible.