100:00:00,080 –> 00:00:05,380Someone said to me recently,200:00:05,380 –> 00:00:12,180Pastor I have these terrible thoughts that come to me, and I hate them!300:00:12,180 –> 00:00:14,360And I said, Thank God!400:00:14,360 –> 00:00:19,879The fact that you hate them is the evidence of the Spirit in your life.500:00:19,879 –> 00:00:23,420The Spirit desires what is contrary to flesh.600:00:23,420 –> 00:00:26,260Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.700:00:26,260 –> 00:00:27,260I’m David Pick.800:00:27,680 –> 00:00:30,879For Christians who might be feeling like they’re tired of the battle,900:00:30,879 –> 00:00:34,459the fact that they’re still in their fighting, is a pretty good sign isn’t it?1000:00:34,459 –> 00:00:36,580Oh, yeah it’s a sign of life.1100:00:36,580 –> 00:00:42,840One writer said that you can tell a real Christian as much by his war as by his peace.1200:00:42,840 –> 00:00:46,700In other words, you know, don’t get the idea that simply to be a Christian1300:00:46,700 –> 00:00:50,820means that you have this wonderful feeling of peace about yourself all the time.1400:00:50,820 –> 00:00:55,540It is an evidence that you’re a true Christian, that you actually are at war against the flesh1500:00:56,259 –> 00:00:59,980the impulses of sin that you find remaining within yourself.1600:00:59,980 –> 00:01:05,339It’s a real battle and that’s one of the encouragements that I think we need to give to each other.1700:01:05,339 –> 00:01:10,940The very fact that you’re engaged in this fight is evidence that the Holy Spirit is within you.1800:01:10,940 –> 00:01:13,279You’re not just drifting with the tide.1900:01:13,279 –> 00:01:17,779You’re putting up a fight and you’re making some progress in it even though at times you’re defeated.2000:01:17,779 –> 00:01:22,400If that sounds like you, I think you’ll find today’s message a great encouragement.2100:01:22,519 –> 00:01:25,860We’re looking at the book of Galatians in chapters 5 and 6.2200:01:25,860 –> 00:01:29,320As we begin the message, the gospel bears good fruit.2300:01:29,320 –> 00:01:30,940Here’s Colin.2400:01:30,940 –> 00:01:38,879Now some folks in Paul’s day, as indeed today, were really terribly worried about this idea of Christian freedom.2500:01:38,879 –> 00:01:44,080And thinking about it, it isn’t difficult to understand why that would be.2600:01:44,080 –> 00:01:50,260After all, if we are forgiven freely by the grace of God through the death of Christ2700:01:50,480 –> 00:01:57,160and our entrance into heaven is already assured and it does not depend on our works,2800:01:57,160 –> 00:02:03,320then the obvious question is now, what motivation therefore, is there to live an authentic Christian life?2900:02:05,300 –> 00:02:14,580So suppose that you’re taking a high school class on, let’s say, calculus, just for fun,3000:02:14,580 –> 00:02:19,740and on the first morning if you imagine yourself taking the position of a student3100:02:19,779 –> 00:02:23,759going into the first morning of a new class on calculus, the teacher gets up in front of the3200:02:23,759 –> 00:02:28,899class and he says, now I have some good news for you today. The outcome of your3300:02:28,899 –> 00:02:35,419final examination on calculus is already secure. Every one of you will pass this class with3400:02:35,419 –> 00:02:42,779flying colors, in fact you will all get an A. The A will be my gift to you, it will not3500:02:42,779 –> 00:02:49,979depend on your works in any degree. It will be freely given, and I can promise you, I3600:02:49,979 –> 00:02:56,320give you my word, it is already secure. Now, how much work do you think these3700:02:56,320 –> 00:03:05,940students are gonna do in that class during the year? Absolutely none! Pencils down,3800:03:06,740 –> 00:03:14,300why? Because there’s no incentive. The outcome’s already known. Now, you see that3900:03:14,300 –> 00:03:18,699was exactly the issue for the false teachers in Galatia, you see, they were4000:03:18,699 –> 00:03:23,039saying, if you teach that your sins are forgiven, that heaven is secure, it’s by4100:03:23,039 –> 00:03:27,339grace alone, and does not depend on works, then all you’re doing is that you’re4200:03:27,339 –> 00:03:33,100inviting people to indulge the flesh. People will put no effort whatsoever4300:03:33,139 –> 00:03:37,199into their Christian lives on that basis, it will just be like a student who4400:03:37,199 –> 00:03:41,800already knows the outcome of their calculus class. And so the false teachers4500:03:41,800 –> 00:03:50,240said there is only one solution, law. You have to lay it out there and that was4600:03:50,240 –> 00:03:55,940their message, you see, Christ forgives your sins against the law, now you are to4700:03:55,940 –> 00:04:00,360go and fulfill the law and so let’s get started with all being circumcised. That4800:04:00,360 –> 00:04:08,300was their message and you can see their point they were convinced that there are4900:04:08,300 –> 00:04:17,579only two alternatives, keeping the law or indulging the flesh. Now Paul says to5000:04:17,579 –> 00:04:20,899them something quite different, and I want us to see it clearly as it comes5100:04:20,899 –> 00:04:27,540out in the scripture this morning. He saying no no no, you are free. Don’t lose5200:04:27,720 –> 00:04:33,420freedom either by returning to the law or by indulging the flesh. Well if5300:04:33,420 –> 00:04:36,600we’re not to do either of these two things which the false teachers thought5400:04:36,600 –> 00:04:41,519were the only alternatives, what then are we to do? Chapter 5 and verse 16 do you5500:04:41,519 –> 00:04:44,920see it right there? Here’s Pauls answer and it’s the very essence of the5600:04:44,920 –> 00:04:52,859Christian life, chapter 5 verse 16, live by the Spirit. There’s the Christian life5700:04:52,859 –> 00:04:57,279and here we come right to the heart of the message of Galatians and indeed of5800:04:57,420 –> 00:05:01,700the gospel itself. The gospel is Christ for me on the cross,5900:05:01,700 –> 00:05:08,380Christ in me by the Spirit. There is no gospel without the coming of the Son of6000:05:08,380 –> 00:05:12,119God into the world, there is no gospel without the coming of the Spirit of God6100:05:12,119 –> 00:05:19,079into your heart. And you see the false teachers had grasped the death of Jesus6200:05:19,079 –> 00:05:23,839for us, but they certainly had not grasped the life of Jesus in us and that6300:05:23,859 –> 00:05:29,019is why they kept going back to the law, and it’s still the case for many today.6400:05:29,019 –> 00:05:33,079Now Paul says if you are a Christian, here’s the essence of the gospel, Christ6500:05:33,079 –> 00:05:39,440lives in you, God has sent His Spirit into your heart. This is foundational for6600:05:39,440 –> 00:05:43,880what it actually means to be a Christian, Galatians chapter 4 in verse 6, he sent6700:05:43,880 –> 00:05:53,160his spirit into our hearts. Now if the spirit of Jesus lives in you, think about6800:05:53,160 –> 00:06:03,119this, if the spirit of Jesus lives in you, what kind of life do you want to live?6900:06:03,119 –> 00:06:09,519The spirit of Jesus lives within you. Well you see he answers that question7000:06:09,519 –> 00:06:13,559right there in verse 16, if you live by the spirit, the spirit of Jesus within7100:06:13,559 –> 00:06:22,579you, you will not indulge the flesh. That’s the Christian life. Now we’re7200:06:23,119 –> 00:06:26,220to look at this very important subject of what it means to live by the7300:06:26,220 –> 00:06:30,880spirit together. What does it mean to live by the spirit? How would you know if7400:06:30,880 –> 00:06:36,019you are indeed living by the spirit? What are the marks of it? And it seems to me7500:06:36,019 –> 00:06:39,679that Paul gives us three distinguishing marks of the person who lives by the7600:06:39,679 –> 00:06:45,079spirit and these are, first that he or she is waging war, second bearing fruit7700:06:45,079 –> 00:06:51,720and third sewing seed. These three together this morning. first then waging7800:06:51,820 –> 00:06:57,100war and here we’re introduced to the major conflict that continues in the7900:06:57,100 –> 00:07:03,540life of every Christian believer. Verse 17, the sinful nature desires what is8000:07:03,540 –> 00:07:09,339contrary to the spirit and the spirits that is the Holy Spirit of course notice8100:07:09,339 –> 00:07:15,519it is capitalized and the Holy Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.8200:07:16,500 –> 00:07:22,739They are in conflict with each other. Now the New International Version uses8300:07:22,739 –> 00:07:27,059the phrase here sinful nature throughout this passage I’m going to use the older8400:07:27,059 –> 00:07:32,640term this morning the flesh which I think actually is is clearer and easier8500:07:32,640 –> 00:07:38,940for us to understand. The flesh desires what is country to the spirit and the8600:07:38,940 –> 00:07:44,559spirit desires what is country to the flesh they are in conflict with each8700:07:44,559 –> 00:07:49,359other. So notice that we’re being told that there is a fundamental conflict8800:07:49,359 –> 00:07:54,239that goes on in the experience of every Christian believer I hope you’re8900:07:54,239 –> 00:08:00,179encouraged to know that I read that I say oh thankfully I’m normal because9000:08:00,179 –> 00:08:04,279what I experience is not different from what Paul says I’m going to experience9100:08:04,279 –> 00:08:09,880there will be this ongoing conflict. When you become a Christian you become a new9200:08:09,880 –> 00:08:16,059person in Christ you are a new creation but you do live this life in the body9300:08:16,059 –> 00:08:20,339remember Galatians 2 20 I lift this life by faith in the Son of God but I live9400:08:20,339 –> 00:08:27,679this life in the body and that’s the tension, Christ has come as the welcome9500:08:27,679 –> 00:08:35,020invader of my life he has taken command of my heart but there is an active9600:08:35,159 –> 00:08:41,239resistance movement that goes on within me and goes on within you too there is9700:08:41,239 –> 00:08:47,119within my flesh that which will always resist the rule and the reign of Jesus9800:08:47,119 –> 00:08:53,000Christ in my life and Paul says that conflict will continue throughout the9900:08:53,000 –> 00:08:57,679Christian life that the the flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit10000:08:57,679 –> 00:09:02,280and the spirit desires what is contrary to the flesh they are in conflict with10100:09:02,460 –> 00:09:07,619other that is the normal Christian life I think I’ve mentioned before the story10200:09:07,619 –> 00:09:12,380of the new Christian who was baptized by immersion and afterwards was so full of10300:09:12,380 –> 00:09:17,340joy and said to the pastor with a glowing face oh it’s so wonderful I’m10400:09:17,340 –> 00:09:21,960not going to be struggling with temptation anymore and the pastor said10500:09:21,960 –> 00:09:27,380for that blessing I would have had to hold you under for a little longer10600:09:27,679 –> 00:09:37,760and that is true the struggle against sin which remains rooted within our10700:09:37,760 –> 00:09:44,739flesh continues throughout the entire Christian life and seeing this clearly10800:09:44,739 –> 00:09:48,260in the Bible really is wonderfully helpful because it does tell you that10900:09:48,260 –> 00:09:53,280you are normal. the normal Christian life is one of11000:09:53,280 –> 00:10:00,340sustained warfare against the ongoing resistance of my flesh to the rule of11100:10:00,340 –> 00:10:04,440Jesus Christ in my life and if you can get hold of that it will help you it will11200:10:04,440 –> 00:10:08,919certainly helped me that the normal Christian life is one of sustained11300:10:08,919 –> 00:10:17,260warfare against the ongoing resistance of my flesh to the rule of Christ in my11400:10:17,260 –> 00:10:21,960life. so here’s the bad news we have to begin with the bad news the continuing11500:10:21,960 –> 00:10:27,359presence of sin in the life of a believer. the flesh desires what is11600:10:27,359 –> 00:10:35,099contrary to the Spirit in my flesh the Bible says dwells no good thing.11700:10:35,099 –> 00:10:39,080you’re listening to open the Bible with Pastor Collin Smith and the message11800:10:39,080 –> 00:10:44,219called the gospel bears good fruit it’s part of our series grasping the gospel11900:10:44,219 –> 00:10:47,500and if you’ve missed any of the series or if you want to go back and listen12000:10:47,760 –> 00:10:50,859again you can do that by coming online to our website12100:10:52,539 –> 00:10:57,020UK there you’ll find all the messages that have already gone out on air12200:10:57,020 –> 00:11:01,280you can also find pastor Collins teaching as a podcast if that’s a12300:11:01,280 –> 00:11:04,760better way for you to keep up with it and those are available on all the main12400:11:04,760 –> 00:11:09,299podcast sites you can search for open the Bible UK and find them there or12500:11:09,299 –> 00:11:14,780indeed follow the links from our website open the Bible is supported by our12600:11:15,400 –> 00:11:19,820and if you already do that we want to say a big thank you if you’ve been12700:11:19,820 –> 00:11:24,219considering beginning to support open the Bible this month we’d love to offer12800:11:24,219 –> 00:11:29,200you a free gift if you’re able to begin a new direct debit of five pounds per12900:11:29,200 –> 00:11:34,460month or more or a one-off gift of fifty pounds more here’s Open the Bible’s13000:11:34,460 –> 00:11:38,780Amanda Cunningham to tell us more we’re thrilled to be able to give away a free13100:11:38,780 –> 00:11:45,419Open the Bible UK pen bookmark and an updated copy of the timeless classic The13200:11:45,419 –> 00:11:50,659Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. I honestly believe that this book will13300:11:50,659 –> 00:11:54,859inspire you and give you hope even if you’re currently going through a13400:11:54,859 –> 00:12:00,359difficult time and amazingly John Bunyan did not write this book from an ivory13500:12:00,359 –> 00:12:07,039tower but from a grim English prison he knew what suffering was so we would love13600:12:07,159 –> 00:12:11,359to send you these free gifts both to encourage you and to say thank you for13700:12:11,359 –> 00:12:15,500your donation well that’s our free gift to you if you’re able to begin a new13800:12:18,799 –> 00:12:24,260per month or more this month or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more full13900:12:24,260 –> 00:12:28,919terms and conditions are on our website and you can give online back to the14000:12:28,919 –> 00:12:36,299message now here’s Colin. Now if we give the flesh what it wants what will it14100:12:36,539 –> 00:12:44,280produce well Paul tells us in verse 19 the acts of the sinful nature give the14200:12:44,280 –> 00:12:49,200flesh what it wants here’s what it will produce it’s obvious he says sexual14300:12:49,200 –> 00:12:57,619immorality impurity debauchery idolatry and witchcraft hatred discord jealousy14400:12:57,619 –> 00:13:03,859fits of rage selfish ambition dissensions factions and14500:13:04,460 –> 00:13:13,280drunkenness orgies and the like that’s a pretty diverse list don’t you think so14600:13:13,280 –> 00:13:19,640the obvious question is what do all these things have in common and there’s14700:13:19,640 –> 00:13:26,500one very clear answer to that self I didn’t notice this before but found it14800:13:26,500 –> 00:13:30,380very clearly in a comment by ck Barrett and I’d like to quote this to you14900:13:30,440 –> 00:13:37,140because I found it so helpful he says this the sexual sins stand first in the15000:13:37,140 –> 00:13:41,780list because they are the clearest examples of a man or a woman exploiting15100:13:41,780 –> 00:13:49,260for his own indulgence another’s person and at its most sensitive point but15200:13:49,260 –> 00:13:57,479idolatry sorcery amnety’s strifes jealousy’s wrath factions divisions15300:13:57,479 –> 00:14:05,799party spirit envying these two are works of the flesh and church history has been15400:14:05,799 –> 00:14:13,679and is littered with them they are not all carnal sins he says but they are all15500:14:13,679 –> 00:14:22,599self-centered sins they underline the fact that sin is egocentricity and the15600:14:22,619 –> 00:14:28,840flesh is man’s innate tendency to egocentricity then he quotes from15700:14:28,840 –> 00:14:33,559Shakespeare the play Richard the third where Shakespeare has this line Richard15800:14:33,559 –> 00:14:43,200loves Richard that is I am I self love is bound up with self awareness and15900:14:43,200 –> 00:14:48,700personality of ourselves we cannot escape it and Paul says that those who16000:14:48,700 –> 00:14:55,280practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God verse 21 of course16100:14:55,280 –> 00:15:01,919not Barrett says they are not heirs because they do not belong to Christ and16200:15:01,919 –> 00:15:10,820they do not belong to Christ because they insist on belonging to themselves16300:15:10,820 –> 00:15:15,900is he what he’s saying that there are many divers16400:15:16,020 –> 00:15:20,599works that come from the flesh but they have one thing in common they are a16500:15:20,599 –> 00:15:29,679manifestation of the rule of self and a life that is a manifestation of the rule16600:15:29,679 –> 00:15:33,219of self is self-evidently a manifestation of the absence of the16700:15:33,219 –> 00:15:39,940role of Christ which is is why Paul says not if you’ve ever done any of these16800:15:39,940 –> 00:15:42,820things you want to inherit the kingdom of God he doesn’t say that but he says16900:15:42,820 –> 00:15:49,520if you live like this that’s where your life is don’t think you’re a Christian17000:15:49,520 –> 00:15:54,179it cannot belong to Christ because they insist on belonging to themselves17100:15:54,179 –> 00:16:05,320Barrett says I’ve found this diversity of the list to be profoundly challenging17200:16:05,320 –> 00:16:10,440as I’ve tried to think about it and pray about it in relation to my own life17300:16:11,200 –> 00:16:18,179because you see sin will always try and establish itself at the weakest point of17400:16:18,179 –> 00:16:25,739your life some of these sins you might not be in great danger of though if17500:16:25,739 –> 00:16:31,460anyone thinks he stands let him take heed lest he fall but it’s worth looking17600:16:31,460 –> 00:16:37,539at the list and say to which one might I be most vulnerable in what we would17700:16:37,880 –> 00:16:48,500life most likely manifest itself in its ugliness in me see sin will always try17800:16:48,500 –> 00:16:54,179and establish itself at the weakest point of your life it’s like water17900:16:54,179 –> 00:16:58,700trying to find its way into the basement when the snow thoughts you know that18000:16:58,700 –> 00:17:04,900deal the waters there and it looks to find the crack in your basement as it18100:17:04,900 –> 00:17:12,439were in your wall and and it will find the weakest point no your weakest point18200:17:12,439 –> 00:17:16,459might depend somewhat on your personality your experience your18300:17:16,459 –> 00:17:22,500temperament your age your state of health your position in life some are18400:17:22,500 –> 00:17:27,699tempted more through laziness others through ambition some through sexual18500:17:28,020 –> 00:17:35,819sins some through conversational sins gossip back biting and so forth some18600:17:35,819 –> 00:17:45,020through competitive sins envy jealousy and so forth the bad news is that the18700:17:45,020 –> 00:17:52,500root of this sin the root of the works of the flesh in whatever form still lies18800:17:52,500 –> 00:17:56,859within us the bad news is the continuing presence18900:17:57,140 –> 00:18:03,459and the life of a Christian believer the flesh desires what is contrary to the19000:18:03,459 –> 00:18:10,140spirit that is true of my flesh and it is true of your flesh too that’s the bad19100:18:10,140 –> 00:18:15,579news now the good news I was reading this to my wife last night she said get19200:18:15,579 –> 00:18:22,359to the good news quick will you here’s the good news the bad news is the19300:18:22,359 –> 00:18:26,020continuing presence of sin in the life of a Christian believer the good news is19400:18:26,060 –> 00:18:29,380the continuing presence of the spirit in the life of a believer isn’t that good19500:18:29,380 –> 00:18:36,500news the spirit desires what is contrary to the flesh there’s the good news that19600:18:36,500 –> 00:18:42,020means because the spirit lives within you that you are not at the mercy of the19700:18:42,020 –> 00:18:50,280flesh the spirit is active within you he desires what is contrary to the flesh19800:18:50,280 –> 00:18:54,920now you can see as we begin to think about this verse how it really sets up19900:18:54,920 –> 00:18:58,199an understanding of our experience of the Christian life there’s the20000:18:58,199 –> 00:19:03,579continuing presence of sin rooted within our flesh that goes on throughout the20100:19:03,579 –> 00:19:08,420life and experience of a Christian always producing this fresh temptation20200:19:08,420 –> 00:19:12,160that we need to contend with and at the same time in the mercy of God the20300:19:12,160 –> 00:19:16,640continuing presence of the Holy Spirit guaranteeing there for that there’s20400:19:16,640 –> 00:19:20,699going to be an ongoing conflict which will be the normal experience of the20500:19:20,719 –> 00:19:24,900Christian life until the day I enter the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ and20600:19:24,900 –> 00:19:31,459that conflict will be waging war by the Spirit against the flesh20700:19:31,459 –> 00:19:38,060someone said to me recently pastor I have these terrible thoughts that come20800:19:38,060 –> 00:19:48,619to me and I hate them and I said thank God the fact that you hate them is the20900:19:48,619 –> 00:19:53,479evidence of the Spirit in your life, the Spirit desires what is contrary to the21000:19:53,479 –> 00:20:00,040flesh. Okay we have this conflict what is our responsibility in this conflict?21100:20:00,040 –> 00:20:04,939What are we to do? How are we to wage this war? Look at verse 24 it’s very very21200:20:04,939 –> 00:20:12,819clear here, those who belong to Christ have crucified the sinful nature with21300:20:12,920 –> 00:20:18,800its passions and its desires. Those who belong to Christ verse 24 have crucified21400:20:18,800 –> 00:20:23,920the sinful nature with his passions and with its desires now let me ask you a21500:20:23,920 –> 00:20:31,800question and please give me an answer. Crucifixion was it a fast death or a21600:20:32,000 –> 00:20:42,459slow death? Answer? Slow death. Very clear answer. Crucifixion is a slow death.21700:20:42,459 –> 00:20:51,400So when Paul says we have crucified the flesh he means that it is dying not that21800:20:51,400 –> 00:20:59,939it is dead. It causes us plenty of trouble even on the way out. Now I found21900:20:59,939 –> 00:21:05,439great help from a Christian writer of an earlier generation John Brown who puts22000:21:05,439 –> 00:21:12,400it like this. He says, Crucifixion produced death not suddenly but22100:21:12,400 –> 00:21:20,219gradually. True Christians do not succeed in completely destroying the22200:21:20,219 –> 00:21:27,380flesh in this life. But they have fixed it to the cross and they are determined22300:21:27,939 –> 00:21:33,959to keep it there till it expires. We’re talking in other words here about a22400:21:33,959 –> 00:21:39,520policy of zero tolerance for the flesh, give it no quarter. You have to be22500:21:39,520 –> 00:21:45,260merciless to the works of the flesh and to crucify them. A reminder there from22600:21:45,260 –> 00:21:49,180Pastor Colin Smith that to live the Christian life we need to put up a fight22700:21:49,180 –> 00:21:54,339and to crucify the sinful nature. You’ve been listening to Open the Bible with22800:21:54,400 –> 00:21:59,680Pastor Colin Smith and a message called The Gospel bears good fruit. It’s part of22900:21:59,680 –> 00:22:03,859our larger series Grasping the Gospel and if you ever miss one of the series23000:22:03,859 –> 00:22:07,060or if you want to go back and listen again you can do that by coming online23100:22:07,060 –> 00:22:12,420to our website openthebible.org.uk there you’ll find all the messages which23200:22:12,420 –> 00:22:16,579have already gone out on air. You can also find Open the Bible as a podcast23300:22:16,579 –> 00:22:21,420and that’s on all the main podcast sites search for Open the Bible UK and23400:22:21,699 –> 00:22:26,260subscribe if you want to be regularly updated about the podcast also on our23500:22:26,260 –> 00:22:30,939website and available as a podcast is Open the Bible Daily and that’s a series23600:22:30,939 –> 00:22:35,500of short two to three minute daily reflections based on Pastor Colin’s23700:22:35,500 –> 00:22:39,959teaching and read in the UK by Sue Mecliche. Many Christians find it’s a23800:22:39,959 –> 00:22:44,380great way to start the day at Open the Bible we welcome contact with our23900:22:44,380 –> 00:22:48,699listeners. If you’ve been blessed by Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching and you’d24000:22:48,780 –> 00:22:56,160like to reach out to us you can write to us at openthebible p o box 1420 Cheltenham24100:22:56,160 –> 00:23:08,020GL 50 9 PG that’s Open the Bible p.o. box 142 0 Cheltenham GL50 9 PG24200:23:08,099 –> 00:23:12,280our address and telephone number and email address are available on24300:23:13,280 –> 00:23:17,160openthebible.org.uk24400:23:17,160 –> 00:23:21,140Open the Bible is supported financially by our listeners.24500:23:21,140 –> 00:23:26,920We do depend on people like you to keep Pastor Colin Smith’s Messages on the radio and online.24600:23:26,920 –> 00:23:31,880So if you already support us in that way, thank you so much.24700:23:31,880 –> 00:23:35,560If that’s something you’re considering beginning to do this month,24800:23:35,560 –> 00:23:40,680if you’re able to set up a new direct debit of 5 pounds per month or more,24900:23:41,479 –> 00:23:45,719or a one-off gift of 50 pounds, we’d love to say thank you by sending you25000:23:45,719 –> 00:23:51,640a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan’s classic allegory of the Christian life,25100:23:51,640 –> 00:23:55,319which so many have enjoyed and benefiting by reading,25200:23:55,319 –> 00:24:01,479along with a specially printed open the Bible bookmark and an open the Bible pen.25300:24:01,479 –> 00:24:06,839Colin, many people may have heard of this book but not really know what it’s all about.25400:24:07,160 –> 00:24:09,880Well, Pilgrim’s Progress is a classic25500:24:09,880 –> 00:24:14,920of Christian literature that was written by John Bunyan in the 17th century.25600:24:14,920 –> 00:24:17,160Bunyan’s one of my heroes of the faith.25700:24:17,160 –> 00:24:20,280He was a preacher of the gospel and he was arrested25800:24:20,280 –> 00:24:25,640for preaching the gospel during a time when there were real restrictions on believers25900:24:25,640 –> 00:24:32,119in England, and during his time in prison he wrote this Christian classic that is a story26000:24:32,199 –> 00:24:37,880about a man who takes a journey from a city called Destruction to the Celestial City,26100:24:37,880 –> 00:24:43,400which is his way of speaking about Heaven and it is full of profound insight26200:24:43,959 –> 00:24:51,079into the Christian life! It’s so easy to read and it is so rich in what we can learn from it.26300:24:51,079 –> 00:24:54,280Well, we’d love to send you a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress26400:24:54,280 –> 00:24:58,040as our way of saying thank you for supporting Open The Bible Financially.26500:24:58,839 –> 00:25:03,000Full terms and conditions on our website at openthebible.org.uk26600:25:05,000 –> 00:25:08,439For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick.26700:25:08,439 –> 00:25:11,000Thank you for joining us and I hope we’ll see you again soon.26800:25:15,880 –> 00:25:20,119Would you think that crucifixion is a fast death or a slow death?26900:25:20,839 –> 00:25:24,520Find out what the answer means for your ongoing battle with sin,27000:25:24,520 –> 00:25:26,599that’s next time on Open The Bible.