100:00:00,680 –> 00:00:07,700The battle with the flesh will continue every day of your Christian life.200:00:08,200 –> 00:00:14,200You’ll never be done with it until you see the Lord Jesus Christ.300:00:15,140 –> 00:00:22,580You can’t get rid of the flesh, but you can weaken its position.400:00:22,580 –> 00:00:27,080Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick, and Colin, it’s good to know500:00:27,240 –> 00:00:32,820that as we battle against sin, we can weaken the position of the flesh but it’s600:00:32,820 –> 00:00:36,980also helpful to have a realistic expectation. Yeah, that’s right.700:00:36,980 –> 00:00:41,000Weakening the position of the flesh. That’s a phrase of John Owen, a great800:00:41,000 –> 00:00:45,660Puritan, a teacher of the Bible, has perhaps written more helpfully.900:00:45,660 –> 00:00:49,419Certainly I and many, many others have found his writing so helpful on this1000:00:49,419 –> 00:00:53,580subject and he talks about weakening the position of the flesh rather like cutting1100:00:54,439 –> 00:00:59,340back a vigorous plant. Chipping away at something that has gained an occupancy1200:00:59,340 –> 00:01:02,220in a person’s life. You’re always chipping away at pride1300:01:02,220 –> 00:01:07,199or perhaps at some impulse to anger. You’re trying to pull this thing back1400:01:07,199 –> 00:01:13,220and to get it under control by the power of the Holy Spirit and it’s an ongoing1500:01:13,220 –> 00:01:17,739kind of a battle but to understand the dynamics of this is really, really1600:01:17,739 –> 00:01:20,800helpful in the Christian life. And we’re going to touch on that today and then1700:01:21,339 –> 00:01:25,379see how we can also be planting the beautiful seeds of the new life of the1800:01:25,400 –> 00:01:28,279Holy Spirit that are to grow to the glory of God.1900:01:28,279 –> 00:01:33,199So we see this in Galatians chapter 5 and 6 in today’s message which is2000:01:33,199 –> 00:01:36,680entitled, The Gospel Bears Good Fruit. Here’s Colin.2100:01:36,680 –> 00:01:39,279Let me ask you a question, and please give2200:01:39,279 –> 00:01:47,040me an answer. Crucifixion. Was it a fast death or a slow death?2300:01:47,879 –> 00:01:49,000Slow death.2400:01:49,000 –> 00:01:50,260Very clear answer.2500:01:51,879 –> 00:01:55,000Crucifixion is a slow death.2600:01:56,839 –> 00:02:04,620So when Paul says we have crucified the flesh, he means that it is dying,2700:02:04,639 –> 00:02:05,800not that it is dead.2800:02:07,680 –> 00:02:11,119It causes us plenty of trouble even on the way out.2900:02:12,119 –> 00:02:16,580Now, of course your flesh my flesh will not take this lying down.3000:02:16,580 –> 00:02:20,360The flesh will be kicking and screaming all the way to the cross3100:02:20,360 –> 00:02:25,440and even when it is nailed to the cross, it will be shouting temptations from the cross3200:02:25,440 –> 00:02:28,240and it will be telling you, even from its fixed position,3300:02:28,240 –> 00:02:31,699that it is still your master and that you need to do what it says.3400:02:33,479 –> 00:02:40,160I have to tell you I’m amazed how many Christian believers have been duped by the flesh.3500:02:41,759 –> 00:02:44,979And believe what the flesh says.3600:02:46,759 –> 00:02:54,860There are many in church world who are deeply and strongly convinced3700:02:54,860 –> 00:02:58,399that they cannot deal with their own flesh.3800:02:59,360 –> 00:03:00,440They believe that.3900:03:02,600 –> 00:03:07,399And maybe it’s a mark of our therapeutic culture, in which every sin is given a new name4000:03:07,399 –> 00:03:10,779and reclassified as a condition, but I have to say to you…4100:03:11,660 –> 00:03:19,320That if you say you cannot crucify the flesh, you do not believe the gospel.4200:03:21,419 –> 00:03:23,059And we have to grapple with that.4300:03:23,860 –> 00:03:29,000It’s no use saying we have believed the gospel and then denying it by the back door.4400:03:30,559 –> 00:03:37,380Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh.4500:03:38,440 –> 00:03:39,199Believe it.4600:03:41,179 –> 00:03:42,080It’s a gospel.4700:03:43,979 –> 00:03:44,440It’s a gospel.4800:03:47,660 –> 00:03:53,139If you are a Christian the spirit of God lives in you and that means that you have the ability4900:03:53,139 –> 00:03:54,300to wage this warfare.5000:03:55,600 –> 00:04:00,000It will be a struggle all of your life.5100:04:00,080 –> 00:04:03,279And you know some of you even now wanting to say.5200:04:03,320 –> 00:04:05,520Pastor you have no idea how hard it is for me.5300:04:05,559 –> 00:04:08,979Yeah I do have an idea how hard it is for you because it’s hard for me too.5400:04:09,119 –> 00:04:10,240It’s a warfare.5500:04:10,399 –> 00:04:11,399It’s a struggle.5600:04:12,639 –> 00:04:17,220But don’t deny the gospel by saying that you cannot deal with the flesh if the spirit lives5700:04:17,220 –> 00:04:17,760within you.5800:04:20,040 –> 00:04:23,980The way that you know true Christians is that they are the ones who are waging this warfare.5900:04:25,600 –> 00:04:26,440Against the flesh.6000:04:28,519 –> 00:04:29,480Live by the spirit.6100:04:29,519 –> 00:04:30,559How do you know you’re doing that.6200:04:30,600 –> 00:04:32,640What does it look like to live by the spirits.6300:04:32,640 –> 00:04:34,880Which is the very heart of the Christian life.6400:04:35,200 –> 00:04:35,359Well.6500:04:35,399 –> 00:04:39,359Paul says, number one, it’s about waging war against the flesh, because this conflict6600:04:39,359 –> 00:04:46,899exists within you and your calling by the spirit is that you should crucify the flesh.6700:04:47,839 –> 00:04:50,480Secondly and more briefly, it’s waging war.6800:04:50,480 –> 00:04:57,559It’s bearing fruit, but the fruit, verse 22 of the Spirit is beautiful.6900:04:57,559 –> 00:05:04,299And well known versus is love and it’s joy and peace.7000:05:05,079 –> 00:05:13,679And patience and kindness and goodness and faithfulness and gentleness and self-control.7100:05:13,679 –> 00:05:18,640Nine beautiful qualities and let’s ask the obvious question again.7200:05:18,640 –> 00:05:22,739What do they have in common then, especially since fruit is described as7300:05:22,739 –> 00:05:26,359singular, notice that by the way, works of the flesh are plural.7400:05:26,440 –> 00:05:31,459Any of the above, fruit of the spirit is singular.7500:05:31,459 –> 00:05:33,940All of the above.7600:05:33,980 –> 00:05:38,899What do these nine beautiful virtues have in common?7700:05:38,899 –> 00:05:41,739They’re the character of Jesus.7800:05:41,739 –> 00:05:44,140And you see the fruit of the Spirit is simply this, isn’t it?7900:05:44,140 –> 00:05:46,420It is the character of Jesus in you.8000:05:46,420 –> 00:05:49,799It is fruit, which means it will be produced increasingly8100:05:49,799 –> 00:05:53,399over time.8200:05:53,399 –> 00:05:56,339And it will be the result of the presence of the Lord Jesus,8300:05:56,339 –> 00:06:02,459the life of the Lord Jesus by the Holy Spirit within you.8400:06:02,459 –> 00:06:06,459The flesh produces works, the Spirit produces fruit.8500:06:06,459 –> 00:06:07,459Fruit grows.8600:06:07,459 –> 00:06:08,459It comes from within.8700:06:08,459 –> 00:06:10,739It is not manufactured.8800:06:10,739 –> 00:06:14,459It is not somehow externally tied on.8900:06:14,459 –> 00:06:16,940And notice that it is the fruit of the Spirit.9000:06:16,940 –> 00:06:19,420This is so beautiful.9100:06:19,420 –> 00:06:23,739And it’s not, if we put this in context, you see with Paul’s argument,9200:06:23,739 –> 00:06:28,459this comes not from the law, but it comes from the Spirit.9300:06:28,459 –> 00:06:31,299If you ask how to get more love and how to get more joy9400:06:31,299 –> 00:06:35,700and how to get more peace, more self control in your life,9500:06:35,700 –> 00:06:37,579the answer is not the law.9600:06:37,579 –> 00:06:40,399The law can’t produce this fruit.9700:06:40,399 –> 00:06:46,700See, the law can bring changes in behaviour.9800:06:46,700 –> 00:06:50,339The law can hold you back from fear of consequences.9900:06:50,339 –> 00:06:52,100From doing things that are bad.10000:06:52,100 –> 00:06:55,779But the law can never produce things that are good.10100:06:55,779 –> 00:06:58,779That’s why Christ had to come into the world10200:06:58,779 –> 00:07:00,420and why the Spirit has to come into our hearts10300:07:00,660 –> 00:07:02,260because the law couldn’t do it!10400:07:02,260 –> 00:07:05,839That’s Roman’s chapter 8 and verse 3.10500:07:05,839 –> 00:07:08,880That’s why virtue will never be produced10600:07:08,880 –> 00:07:12,119by the imposition of authority,10700:07:12,119 –> 00:07:14,880it can only be produced from the indwelling10800:07:14,880 –> 00:07:19,760of the Holy Spirit of God.10900:07:19,760 –> 00:07:22,679Suppose you had a garden11000:07:22,679 –> 00:07:26,420and in that garden there was an apple tree11100:07:26,420 –> 00:07:28,940and you don’t like apples in fact you don’t want apples11200:07:28,980 –> 00:07:32,799but you really would like to have pears.11300:07:32,799 –> 00:07:34,480So there are two ways in which you can do this.11400:07:34,480 –> 00:07:37,679One way is that you can pull the apples off the apple tree,11500:07:37,679 –> 00:07:40,059go out to jewel and buy some pears11600:07:40,059 –> 00:07:41,380and stick them with tape11700:07:41,380 –> 00:07:45,820onto the ends of the branches of the apple tree.11800:07:45,820 –> 00:07:50,579A better way would be to plant a pear tree.11900:07:50,579 –> 00:07:51,920And see that really is the difference12000:07:51,920 –> 00:07:53,559between the law and the Spirit.12100:07:53,559 –> 00:07:57,519The Law is never going to produce this fruit.12200:07:57,739 –> 00:08:02,739And therefore, those who simply have tried to copy a model12300:08:02,820 –> 00:08:05,959or those who try to live the Christian life12400:08:05,959 –> 00:08:09,440simply by submitting themselves to some authority,12500:08:09,440 –> 00:08:13,119the just tell me what to do kind of Christian12600:08:13,119 –> 00:08:15,799ends up being like a plastic flower12700:08:16,739 –> 00:08:20,119because the Christian life can only be produced12800:08:20,119 –> 00:08:22,000by the presence of the Holy Spirit.12900:08:22,000 –> 00:08:24,000It’s not behavior modification.13000:08:25,000 –> 00:08:27,700It’s not sticking pears on the ends13100:08:27,700 –> 00:08:29,440of the twigs of apple trees.13200:08:30,519 –> 00:08:32,539The bad tree produces bad fruit Jesus said,13300:08:32,539 –> 00:08:34,799but a good tree produces good fruit.13400:08:34,799 –> 00:08:36,359I am the vine, you are the branches.13500:08:36,359 –> 00:08:38,940Remain in me and you will bear much fruit.13600:08:42,039 –> 00:08:44,059See, the law cannot justify you.13700:08:44,059 –> 00:08:45,119We all know that,13800:08:45,119 –> 00:08:46,440but what Paul is getting at here13900:08:46,440 –> 00:08:48,619is the law cannot sanctify you either.14000:08:48,619 –> 00:08:51,260You’ll never become holy by the imposition of rules.14100:08:52,099 –> 00:08:56,200You are justified by the death of Christ for you14200:08:56,200 –> 00:08:59,099and you are sanctified by the life of Christ in you.14300:09:00,119 –> 00:09:02,059That’s a Christian life.14400:09:02,059 –> 00:09:04,260And the good news is that the Holy Spirit14500:09:04,260 –> 00:09:05,619will produce good fruit.14600:09:05,619 –> 00:09:06,539I am the vine and you are the branches,14700:09:06,539 –> 00:09:11,539Jesus says, remain with me and you will produce much fruit.14800:09:12,780 –> 00:09:17,780There is a peace and arrest that comes from this.14900:09:18,739 –> 00:09:19,940You’re listening to Open the Bible15000:09:19,979 –> 00:09:22,400with Pastor Colin Smith in a message called15100:09:22,400 –> 00:09:24,340The Gospel Bears Good Fruit.15200:09:24,340 –> 00:09:27,200It’s part of our series, Grasping the Gospel,15300:09:27,200 –> 00:09:28,979and if you’ve missed any of the series,15400:09:28,979 –> 00:09:32,299you can always catch up or go back and listen again online15500:09:32,299 –> 00:09:36,219at our website openthebible.org.uk.15600:09:36,219 –> 00:09:38,500You can also find Pastor Colin’s teaching15700:09:38,500 –> 00:09:42,219as a podcast and those are on all the main podcast sites.15800:09:42,219 –> 00:09:44,280Simply search for Open the Bible UK15900:09:44,280 –> 00:09:47,179and subscribe to receive regular updates.16000:09:47,179 –> 00:09:49,460Open the Bible is supported by our listeners16100:09:49,460 –> 00:09:51,859and so if you already give to Open the Bible,16200:09:51,859 –> 00:09:54,320thank you very much, we’re very grateful.16300:09:54,320 –> 00:09:58,059If you’re considering starting to support us in that way16400:09:58,059 –> 00:10:00,840and you’re able to begin a new direct debit16500:10:00,840 –> 00:10:03,219of five pounds per month or more,16600:10:03,219 –> 00:10:05,739or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,16700:10:05,739 –> 00:10:08,080then this month, we’d love to say thank you16800:10:08,080 –> 00:10:10,400by sending you a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress16900:10:10,400 –> 00:10:11,900in a modern version.17000:10:11,900 –> 00:10:15,059It’s the classic Christian book by John Bunyan17100:10:15,059 –> 00:10:16,380and it’s our gift to you17200:10:16,380 –> 00:10:19,299for supporting Open the Bible financially.17300:10:19,460 –> 00:10:21,099Full details, terms and conditions17400:10:21,099 –> 00:10:24,979on our website at Openthebible.org.uk17500:10:24,979 –> 00:10:27,599and I’ll be talking to Colin more about this book17600:10:27,599 –> 00:10:28,640later in the programme,17700:10:28,640 –> 00:10:30,500so I hope you’ll stay with us for that.17800:10:30,500 –> 00:10:31,719Back to the message now.17900:10:31,719 –> 00:10:33,219Here’s Colin.18000:10:33,219 –> 00:10:35,539The fruitfulness, then, of your Christian life18100:10:35,539 –> 00:10:38,859and of mine depends on us cultivating18200:10:38,859 –> 00:10:40,780the life of the Spirit,18300:10:40,780 –> 00:10:44,500or as Paul says it here at the very end in Verse 25,18400:10:44,500 –> 00:10:47,520keeping in step with the Spirit.18500:10:48,299 –> 00:10:50,419And that takes us to the last of these18600:10:50,419 –> 00:10:52,039three distinguishing marks18700:10:52,039 –> 00:10:53,679of a person who lives by the Spirit.18800:10:53,679 –> 00:10:56,320The first was waging war.18900:10:56,320 –> 00:10:58,239The second is bearing fruit,19000:10:59,320 –> 00:11:01,280and the third is sowing seed.19100:11:01,280 –> 00:11:03,440And I want just to move on here to Chapter six,19200:11:03,440 –> 00:11:05,020verses seven and eight,19300:11:05,020 –> 00:11:08,200where Paul really continues this description19400:11:08,200 –> 00:11:10,359of what it means to live in the Spirit,19500:11:10,359 –> 00:11:11,539Chapter six, verse seven,19600:11:11,539 –> 00:11:15,919”And don’t be deceived, God cannot be mocked.19700:11:15,919 –> 00:11:19,619A man reaps what he sows.19800:11:19,619 –> 00:11:24,140The one who sows to please his sinful nature, his flesh,19900:11:24,140 –> 00:11:27,059from that nature will reap destruction,20000:11:27,059 –> 00:11:29,739and the one who sows to please the Spirit,20100:11:29,739 –> 00:11:34,159from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”20200:11:35,780 –> 00:11:40,780Sowing to the Spirit, not sowing to the flesh.20300:11:42,239 –> 00:11:45,299That’s Paul’s kind of recapitulation20400:11:45,299 –> 00:11:49,059of what it means for us to pursue this life20500:11:49,059 –> 00:11:51,380in the Spirit.20600:11:53,979 –> 00:11:56,700”The battle with the flesh will continue20700:11:56,700 –> 00:11:58,799every day of your Christian life.20800:12:00,260 –> 00:12:02,500You’ll never be done with it20900:12:02,500 –> 00:12:06,140until you see the Lord Jesus Christ.21000:12:07,880 –> 00:12:11,440You can’t get rid of the flesh21100:12:12,099 –> 00:12:15,380but you can weaken its position.”21200:12:17,340 –> 00:12:21,940Of all the things that I’ve tried to learn over the years,21300:12:21,940 –> 00:12:23,900I think that insight has probably been21400:12:23,900 –> 00:12:27,080the most helpful to me in terms of encouragement21500:12:27,080 –> 00:12:29,539in the ongoing battle of the Christian life.21600:12:30,599 –> 00:12:32,460If you think that you’re one day gonna get rid21700:12:32,460 –> 00:12:34,840of particular temptations in your life21800:12:34,840 –> 00:12:36,739and they’re no longer gonna be there,21900:12:36,739 –> 00:12:38,280forget it.22000:12:38,280 –> 00:12:39,580It’s not gonna happen.22100:12:41,520 –> 00:12:43,760In fact, the scripture says it won’t happen.22200:12:46,219 –> 00:12:49,460You will never be rid of the flesh22300:12:49,460 –> 00:12:51,239or its pull within your life,22400:12:51,239 –> 00:12:53,859though the forms of that pull may change over time,22500:12:55,219 –> 00:12:57,979but you can weaken its position.22600:12:57,979 –> 00:13:01,979John Owen, the Puritan writer who was perhaps22700:13:01,979 –> 00:13:04,760the most profound Christian writer and teacher22800:13:04,760 –> 00:13:07,340on the subject in all of human history22900:13:07,380 –> 00:13:12,380speaks about a habitual weakening of sin in your life.23000:13:14,159 –> 00:13:16,539You see, he understood well, you never get rid of the root,23100:13:16,539 –> 00:13:21,380but what’s important is the habitual weakening23200:13:21,380 –> 00:13:22,320of sin in your life.23300:13:22,320 –> 00:13:23,340You can’t get rid of the flesh,23400:13:23,340 –> 00:13:25,580but you can weaken its position.23500:13:27,419 –> 00:13:29,780Now I find it helpful to think of it this way.23600:13:31,099 –> 00:13:34,979Every time you say yes to the flesh,23700:13:34,979 –> 00:13:37,659you strengthen its position in your life.23800:13:38,840 –> 00:13:40,940So every time you say yes to gossip,23900:13:41,900 –> 00:13:46,900or jealousy, or hatred, every time you get drunk,24000:13:47,859 –> 00:13:49,659every time you look at pornography,24100:13:50,539 –> 00:13:53,000every time you take pleasure in a lewd joke,24200:13:53,000 –> 00:13:55,700every time you say yes to the flesh,24300:13:55,700 –> 00:14:00,700what happens, you increase its power in your life.24400:14:01,880 –> 00:14:03,440It’s harder next time to say no.24500:14:05,239 –> 00:14:07,400Why, because you’re sowing to the flesh.24600:14:07,400 –> 00:14:08,760That’s what Paul’s talking about here.24700:14:08,760 –> 00:14:10,559You’re sowing to the flesh.24800:14:10,559 –> 00:14:12,020So you’re gonna reap from it.24900:14:14,400 –> 00:14:17,080And every time you say no to the flesh,25000:14:17,080 –> 00:14:22,080guess what happens, you weaken its position in your life.25100:14:25,500 –> 00:14:28,719Now here’s the reality, and some of us know it well.25200:14:30,440 –> 00:14:32,640If you have said yes to the flesh25300:14:32,640 –> 00:14:34,739repeatedly in the same area25400:14:34,739 –> 00:14:37,559over a long period of time, many years,25500:14:38,599 –> 00:14:40,200you will be reaping the harvest now25600:14:40,200 –> 00:14:42,919of finding that it has gained a grip in your life25700:14:44,239 –> 00:14:47,159and it will be causing great destruction,25800:14:47,159 –> 00:14:48,359which is what Paul says here.25900:14:48,359 –> 00:14:49,679A man reaps what he sows,26000:14:49,679 –> 00:14:51,640and the one who sows to please the flesh26100:14:51,640 –> 00:14:53,619from the flesh will reap destruction.26200:14:55,520 –> 00:14:59,039If you have been sowing to the flesh over time26300:14:59,799 –> 00:15:02,520and have therefore allowed a particular sin26400:15:02,520 –> 00:15:05,580to build a strong hold in your life,26500:15:06,739 –> 00:15:07,700then honestly,26600:15:07,700 –> 00:15:11,260you need to hear the alarm bell ringing today.26700:15:12,619 –> 00:15:15,520And it is not enough to say a quick prayer26800:15:15,520 –> 00:15:16,380at the end of the service,26900:15:16,380 –> 00:15:18,280dear Lord, forgive me and then I’ll carry on as usual27000:15:18,280 –> 00:15:19,479for the rest of the week.27100:15:21,919 –> 00:15:23,880You need to crucify the flesh27200:15:23,880 –> 00:15:25,440and it’s going to be more difficult now27300:15:25,440 –> 00:15:27,500than it would have been 10, 20 years ago.27400:15:30,039 –> 00:15:30,960But possible.27500:15:32,400 –> 00:15:34,580Because the Spirit of God lives within you.27600:15:38,039 –> 00:15:40,640And you need to start sowing to the spirit.27700:15:40,640 –> 00:15:41,799You’re never gonna get out of this27800:15:41,799 –> 00:15:45,200if you do not start cultivating the Word and prayer27900:15:45,200 –> 00:15:47,239and fellowship and good reading28000:15:47,239 –> 00:15:51,440and everything that enhances Christian life and health.28100:15:51,440 –> 00:15:52,719You’re not gonna get out of this28200:15:52,719 –> 00:15:54,520unless you take a total approach28300:15:54,520 –> 00:15:59,520to ceasing sowing to the flesh28400:15:59,679 –> 00:16:02,179and starting sowing to the Spirit.28500:16:05,320 –> 00:16:06,719And you need to do it now.28600:16:06,719 –> 00:16:08,159Remember, the Scripture says,28700:16:08,159 –> 00:16:12,659if today you hear his voice do not harden your hearts.28800:16:14,940 –> 00:16:16,919And the reason the Scripture gives us that warning28900:16:16,919 –> 00:16:19,039whenever we hear the alarm bell ringing29000:16:19,039 –> 00:16:23,419through the Scriptures is that the longer you leave it29100:16:23,900 –> 00:16:25,880the more difficult it will become29200:16:26,739 –> 00:16:30,179and you have left it too long already.29300:16:33,419 –> 00:16:36,479Let me give you a picture in these last moments.29400:16:37,679 –> 00:16:41,960Two weeks after Karon and I were married29500:16:41,960 –> 00:16:45,119we moved into a house that was owned by the church29600:16:45,119 –> 00:16:47,119that we served in London,29700:16:47,119 –> 00:16:51,039ready to begin our new lives and our ministry together.29800:16:51,039 –> 00:16:53,080The house had been empty for some time29900:16:53,080 –> 00:16:56,880and when we arrived the garden30000:16:56,880 –> 00:16:59,460had become completely overgrown.30100:17:00,400 –> 00:17:01,820Well the day after we arrived30200:17:01,820 –> 00:17:04,040we received a wonderful gift30300:17:04,040 –> 00:17:08,000in that a group of around 20 high school students30400:17:08,000 –> 00:17:09,900together with one of the youth leaders30500:17:09,900 –> 00:17:12,979came round and they spent the entire day30600:17:12,979 –> 00:17:14,599working in that garden,30700:17:14,599 –> 00:17:16,920clearing it right throughout.30800:17:16,920 –> 00:17:20,359We worked together and they did a magnificent job30900:17:20,359 –> 00:17:24,640and by the end of the day there was not a weed in sight.31000:17:24,640 –> 00:17:26,140It was superb.31100:17:28,319 –> 00:17:29,420What we didn’t know31200:17:30,939 –> 00:17:34,439was that the clay soil31300:17:35,979 –> 00:17:40,979that is so dense in that part of the world31400:17:42,680 –> 00:17:44,920was full of bindweed.31500:17:45,760 –> 00:17:47,739Now count your blessings31600:17:47,739 –> 00:17:49,839that you do not know what bindweed is.31700:17:51,180 –> 00:17:56,180But it is a spindly, creeping kind of a weed31800:17:56,739 –> 00:17:59,959that grows with extraordinary speed unaided,31900:17:59,959 –> 00:18:03,140it seems, wrapping itself around anything32000:18:03,140 –> 00:18:04,959that can attach itself to.32100:18:04,959 –> 00:18:07,380And in this clay that would come up in lumps32200:18:07,380 –> 00:18:08,619and you would break the lumps32300:18:08,619 –> 00:18:12,040and you would find this stuff right through the clay itself.32400:18:12,040 –> 00:18:14,979A little piece of root, two inches long,32500:18:14,979 –> 00:18:17,219could produce several feet of bindweed32600:18:17,219 –> 00:18:21,140just by leaving it there for a period of time.32700:18:21,140 –> 00:18:23,319And being so spindly,32800:18:23,319 –> 00:18:26,939it was very easy to snap off the bindweed,32900:18:26,939 –> 00:18:29,920though it took a long time to disengage it33000:18:29,920 –> 00:18:32,420from the roses around which it wrapped itself.33100:18:32,420 –> 00:18:34,459That was always a painful business.33200:18:35,920 –> 00:18:37,219You could snap it off,33300:18:37,219 –> 00:18:40,040but it was almost impossible to get at the root.33400:18:41,979 –> 00:18:43,939The roots multiplied underground33500:18:43,979 –> 00:18:47,619and even the smallest piece of root33600:18:49,199 –> 00:18:50,760proved to be very vigorous.33700:18:51,819 –> 00:18:54,739Well, we grew roses in the front garden33800:18:54,739 –> 00:18:57,000and they did really well.33900:18:57,000 –> 00:18:59,560In fact, the garden really was rather beautiful34000:18:59,560 –> 00:19:01,359for much of the time.34100:19:02,180 –> 00:19:04,339But here was the problem that we always battled34200:19:04,339 –> 00:19:06,979and we battled it for 16 years,34300:19:06,979 –> 00:19:10,380that every year, as the roses grew,34400:19:10,380 –> 00:19:12,819the bindweed came up with them,34500:19:12,819 –> 00:19:16,859coiling itself round just about every stem34600:19:16,859 –> 00:19:19,140if we allowed it to get that far.34700:19:20,260 –> 00:19:22,420So every year, we battled the bindweed.34800:19:23,500 –> 00:19:26,140We never got rid of its roots,34900:19:26,140 –> 00:19:27,400but you know what?35000:19:27,400 –> 00:19:31,119Over time, we did weaken its position.35100:19:33,819 –> 00:19:36,719I have to say sometimes through our neglect,35200:19:37,579 –> 00:19:39,959it re-established its strength,35300:19:40,900 –> 00:19:43,219and then we had to mount35400:19:43,219 –> 00:19:46,680a renewed and vigorous assault upon it.35500:19:48,420 –> 00:19:52,020Now I found that to be a helpful picture.35600:19:52,020 –> 00:19:53,660I know someone’s gonna come up and tell me35700:19:53,660 –> 00:19:56,500what I could’ve done about the bindweed after this service,35800:19:56,500 –> 00:19:58,099so let me just confess.35900:19:58,099 –> 00:20:00,640When I went back and saw our garden a few years ago,36000:20:00,640 –> 00:20:02,060do you know what I found?36100:20:02,060 –> 00:20:03,959That those who are living in the house now36200:20:03,959 –> 00:20:05,540have covered the whole place with concrete,36300:20:05,540 –> 00:20:06,719so there you go.36400:20:06,719 –> 00:20:11,719Oh well, you know, one day there will be no more bindweed36500:20:11,880 –> 00:20:13,900when we’re in the presence of Jesus.36600:20:13,900 –> 00:20:18,079No more of the vigorous life of the flesh36700:20:18,079 –> 00:20:20,199that desires what is contrary to the spirit,36800:20:20,199 –> 00:20:23,540but take the analogy, until that day we will be battling36900:20:23,540 –> 00:20:24,380the bindweed.37000:20:24,380 –> 00:20:25,760We will be battling the flesh.37100:20:26,660 –> 00:20:29,400And over time you will weaken its position37200:20:29,400 –> 00:20:31,400by a sustained assault upon it,37300:20:31,400 –> 00:20:33,359and if you neglect it, you will find37400:20:33,359 –> 00:20:36,140that it very quickly reestablishes.37500:20:36,760 –> 00:20:37,599It’s strength.37600:20:37,599 –> 00:20:38,880That is our struggle with the flesh.37700:20:38,880 –> 00:20:42,380Every victory over sin, thank God for it.37800:20:42,380 –> 00:20:44,699Every no to a temptation,37900:20:46,040 –> 00:20:50,119weakens the power of sin in your life.38000:20:51,819 –> 00:20:53,760And every capitulation to sin38100:20:53,760 –> 00:20:55,979will increase its power in your life.38200:20:55,979 –> 00:21:00,500Every yes to Christ, every yes to the Holy Spirit,38300:21:00,500 –> 00:21:03,319even the yes that you will say in your heart to him38400:21:03,319 –> 00:21:07,660by God’s grace right now weakens the power of sin.38500:21:09,660 –> 00:21:14,160Every time you act in faith and release forgiveness38600:21:14,160 –> 00:21:16,660and reach out in a work of kindness38700:21:16,660 –> 00:21:18,540and of service and of compassion,38800:21:18,540 –> 00:21:21,579it is deepening the work of the spirit in your life.38900:21:21,579 –> 00:21:24,619Every time you draw near to God in the word,39000:21:24,619 –> 00:21:26,699every time you draw near to him in worship39100:21:26,699 –> 00:21:29,479and prayer and fellowship, ministry,39200:21:29,479 –> 00:21:32,140it is strengthening the work of the spirit,39300:21:32,160 –> 00:21:34,239it is weakening the power of sin,39400:21:34,239 –> 00:21:37,800and holiness is a harvest,39500:21:39,040 –> 00:21:42,319a harvest that is produced over time,39600:21:43,359 –> 00:21:45,099and it depends on what you sow.39700:21:46,560 –> 00:21:49,199So don’t sow to the flesh,39800:21:50,479 –> 00:21:52,699or from the flesh you will reap destruction,39900:21:54,199 –> 00:21:55,599sow to the spirit,40000:21:56,400 –> 00:21:57,439and from the spirit40100:21:58,640 –> 00:21:59,760you will reap40200:22:00,660 –> 00:22:01,500life.40300:22:02,500 –> 00:22:05,680I love that picture from Pastor Colin of bind weeds40400:22:05,680 –> 00:22:07,800that every time we say no to sin40500:22:07,800 –> 00:22:09,959we weaken its stronghold on our life,40600:22:09,959 –> 00:22:13,099and it gets easier to resist next time.40700:22:13,099 –> 00:22:14,579You’ve been listening to Open the Bible40800:22:14,579 –> 00:22:16,239with Pastor Colin Smith,40900:22:16,239 –> 00:22:19,699and a Message called The Gospel Bears Good Fruit,41000:22:19,699 –> 00:22:22,099it’s part of our series, Grasping the Gospel,41100:22:22,099 –> 00:22:23,920and if you’ve missed any of the series41200:22:23,920 –> 00:22:24,900you can always catch up,41300:22:24,900 –> 00:22:26,579or go back and listen again online41400:22:26,579 –> 00:22:30,780at our website, openthebible.org. UK,41500:22:30,800 –> 00:22:33,119or find us as a podcast if you prefer,41600:22:33,119 –> 00:22:35,459and those are on all the main podcast sites,41700:22:35,459 –> 00:22:37,420search for Open The Bible UK,41800:22:37,420 –> 00:22:40,500and subscribe if you want to be regularly updated.41900:22:40,500 –> 00:22:42,859Just a reminder that Open the Bible is available42000:22:42,859 –> 00:22:46,060as a short two to three minute daily reflection,42100:22:46,060 –> 00:22:49,420and that’s on our website and available as a podcast.42200:22:49,420 –> 00:22:51,160We call it Open The Bible Daily,42300:22:51,160 –> 00:22:53,319and it’s a great way to start the day.42400:22:53,319 –> 00:22:55,400It’s based on Pastor Colin’s teaching,42500:22:55,400 –> 00:22:58,579and read in the UK by Sue MacLeish.42600:22:58,579 –> 00:22:59,660If you haven’t heard it before42700:22:59,819 –> 00:23:01,339why not check it out today.42800:23:01,339 –> 00:23:05,239Open The Bible is supported by our listeners financially.42900:23:05,239 –> 00:23:07,099We do depend on people like you43000:23:07,099 –> 00:23:09,459to keep Pastor Colin Smith’s messages43100:23:09,459 –> 00:23:11,400on the radio and online,43200:23:11,400 –> 00:23:13,619so if you already support us in that way,43300:23:13,619 –> 00:23:14,959thank you very much.43400:23:14,959 –> 00:23:16,979If that’s something you’re considering43500:23:16,979 –> 00:23:18,699starting to do this month,43600:23:18,699 –> 00:23:21,020if you’re able to set up a new direct debit43700:23:21,020 –> 00:23:23,359of five pounds per month or more,43800:23:23,359 –> 00:23:26,180or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more,43900:23:26,180 –> 00:23:27,500we’d love to say thank you44000:23:27,500 –> 00:23:30,140by sending you Pilgrim’s Progress,44100:23:30,140 –> 00:23:33,880John Bunyan’s classic allegory about the Christian life,44200:23:33,880 –> 00:23:35,380which so many have enjoyed44300:23:35,380 –> 00:23:37,640and benefited greatly from reading.44400:23:38,560 –> 00:23:40,260Along with the Book, we’ll send you44500:23:40,260 –> 00:23:42,900a specially printed Open The Bible bookmark44600:23:42,900 –> 00:23:45,119and an Open The Bible pen.44700:23:45,119 –> 00:23:47,800Colin, I’ve heard that this is one of your favorite books.44800:23:47,800 –> 00:23:49,699It absolutely is.44900:23:49,699 –> 00:23:53,180In fact, if I was stranded on a desert island45000:23:53,180 –> 00:23:55,459and I was only allowed to take one book45100:23:55,459 –> 00:23:58,099apart from The Bible, of course,45200:23:58,099 –> 00:24:01,579then my choice would definitely be45300:24:01,579 –> 00:24:03,859John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.45400:24:03,859 –> 00:24:07,020Here’s why, if you’ve got one book besides The Bible,45500:24:07,020 –> 00:24:08,380you would want to have something45600:24:08,380 –> 00:24:10,900that was enjoyable, compelling,45700:24:10,900 –> 00:24:11,780you’d want to have something45800:24:11,780 –> 00:24:13,380that you would keep coming back to,45900:24:13,380 –> 00:24:15,079and you’d want to have something46000:24:15,079 –> 00:24:17,660that did you lasting good.46100:24:17,660 –> 00:24:20,640And John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress46200:24:20,640 –> 00:24:23,579has fulfilled all of these things in my life.46300:24:23,579 –> 00:24:25,939It really is a treasured book,46400:24:25,939 –> 00:24:28,199and I’m absolutely delighted46500:24:28,199 –> 00:24:29,880that we are able to offer46600:24:29,880 –> 00:24:33,140this month John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.46700:24:33,140 –> 00:24:35,819It is a book that you will treasure,46800:24:35,819 –> 00:24:39,140and every Christian home ought to have a copy.46900:24:39,140 –> 00:24:42,219So, we’d love to send you a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress47000:24:42,219 –> 00:24:45,260to say thank you for setting up a new Direct Debit47100:24:45,260 –> 00:24:48,099in the amount of five pounds per month or more,47200:24:48,099 –> 00:24:51,939or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more this month47300:24:51,939 –> 00:24:54,479in support of Open the Bible.47400:24:54,479 –> 00:24:56,819Full terms and conditions are on our website,47500:24:56,819 –> 00:25:00,699that’s at openthebible.org.uk.47600:25:00,699 –> 00:25:02,939For Open the Bible, and for Pastor Colin Smith,47700:25:02,939 –> 00:25:04,579I’m David Pick,47800:25:04,579 –> 00:25:07,160and I hope you’ll be able to join us again very soon.47900:25:11,859 –> 00:25:13,699In the history of the church there have been48000:25:13,699 –> 00:25:16,540three different versions of Christianity.48100:25:16,540 –> 00:25:19,739Find out what they are next time on Open the Bible.