100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,940The message of the gospel is not, get your heart right so that200:00:07,940 –> 00:00:13,380you can come to God. The message of the gospel is, come to God300:00:13,420 –> 00:00:19,700in order that you may get your heart right. You do not come to400:00:19,700 –> 00:00:23,580Jesus Christ because you have a right heart. You come to Jesus500:00:23,580 –> 00:00:27,540Christ because you need a right heart and you know today that600:00:27,540 –> 00:00:28,420you don’t have it.700:00:28,920 –> 00:00:32,400Welcome to open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith I’m David800:00:32,400 –> 00:00:35,900Pick so pleased you could be with us today and Colin, there900:00:35,900 –> 00:00:39,259may be some listening today who just know that their heart is1000:00:39,259 –> 00:00:41,779not right. What would you say to them?1100:00:42,160 –> 00:00:45,080I say well, that’s precisely why Jesus Christ came into the1200:00:45,080 –> 00:00:49,759world and thank God that he has not said to us Hey, get yourself1300:00:49,759 –> 00:00:53,840right and then come to me, he said come to me and I will put1400:00:53,840 –> 00:00:57,180you right I will give you a new heart. That’s the promise of the1500:00:57,180 –> 00:01:00,180gospel. Well today we’re going to look at all the ways in which1600:01:00,180 –> 00:01:03,660the heart goes wrong, how does a person veer onto the wrong1700:01:03,660 –> 00:01:07,559track? Where does it actually begin, what’s at the root of1800:01:07,559 –> 00:01:11,199actually moving away from God and his purpose and his will1900:01:11,199 –> 00:01:14,959for our lives and once we’ve discovered what makes the heart2000:01:14,959 –> 00:01:18,379wrong, the bigger thing is how Jesus Christ puts it Right2100:01:18,500 –> 00:01:22,199there’s a message of great hope today about how Jesus changes2200:01:22,199 –> 00:01:22,820the heart.2300:01:23,239 –> 00:01:27,260so join us again today if you can in Proverbs 23. As we2400:01:27,260 –> 00:01:30,860continue the message, the heart gone wrong. Here is Pastor2500:01:30,860 –> 00:01:31,239Colin2600:01:31,279 –> 00:01:35,300I want to suggest to you three places where the heart most2700:01:35,339 –> 00:01:39,459often goes wrong, I suspect these were the things because2800:01:39,459 –> 00:01:44,620Solomon says them here that he was seeing emerging in the heart2900:01:44,620 –> 00:01:45,839of his own son.3000:01:46,900 –> 00:01:49,940The first is that the heart goes wrong with regards to who you3100:01:49,980 –> 00:01:50,699admire.3200:01:50,739 –> 00:02:00,199Verse 17, let’s not your heart envy sinners, but continue in3300:02:00,199 –> 00:02:03,260the fear of the Lord all the day.3400:02:05,419 –> 00:02:08,820Now we have every reason to believe that Rehoboam in his3500:02:08,820 –> 00:02:14,020early years conformed to the faith of his grandfather David3600:02:14,020 –> 00:02:17,660and of his father Solomon. The faith that had been passed on3700:02:18,600 –> 00:02:23,740the faith with which he was raised but it seems from this3800:02:23,740 –> 00:02:28,059that when Rehoboam looked at godless people, people who live3900:02:28,059 –> 00:02:32,720without God in their lives, it seems he found their life,4000:02:32,720 –> 00:02:35,699their model, their example to be attractive, that’s the4100:02:35,699 –> 00:02:39,660significance surely of let not your heart envy the wicked.4200:02:41,199 –> 00:02:46,160So here’s Solomon’s fear, he has a son who professes faith,4300:02:46,860 –> 00:02:51,820he professes to believe the faith that was handed down4400:02:51,820 –> 00:02:55,500from his grandfather David and now his father, Solomon,4500:02:57,039 –> 00:03:02,039but there seems to be in this son a secret longing,4600:03:03,199 –> 00:03:06,899an attraction of his heart, a drawing of his heart4700:03:06,899 –> 00:03:10,039to move in a different direction.4800:03:10,399 –> 00:03:13,279Solomon says, verse 24,4900:03:13,279 –> 00:03:18,279he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him,5000:03:19,860 –> 00:03:22,100but at this point you see Solomon’s not sure5100:03:22,100 –> 00:03:23,759if he’s got a wise son or not.5200:03:24,940 –> 00:03:29,720He fears that his son’s heart may be somewhere else.5300:03:29,720 –> 00:03:31,740He admires the wrong people.5400:03:33,360 –> 00:03:36,539He envies sinners.5500:03:36,580 –> 00:03:41,139He looks up to the example of people who live without God.5600:03:41,139 –> 00:03:43,179They’re the role models for him,5700:03:44,460 –> 00:03:46,559and they’re the ones he wants to be like.5800:03:50,320 –> 00:03:51,820Now, I want to speak from the heart5900:03:51,820 –> 00:03:54,899to every son and daughter of whatever age6000:03:55,740 –> 00:03:57,539who has been raised in a Christian home.6100:03:57,539 –> 00:04:00,179You have Christian parents or Christian grandparents,6200:04:01,619 –> 00:04:03,679and here’s the burden of my heart today.6300:04:03,679 –> 00:04:08,679I can think of no greater tragedy6400:04:11,039 –> 00:04:15,240than that while people who had no knowledge of the truth6500:04:15,240 –> 00:04:16,320in their early years,6600:04:16,320 –> 00:04:20,140and were exposed to all kinds of evils,6700:04:21,700 –> 00:04:25,559while so many of them are pressing their way6800:04:25,559 –> 00:04:28,760into finding peace and joy in Jesus Christ,6900:04:28,760 –> 00:04:31,760you who have had more blessings7000:04:31,760 –> 00:04:34,559than you may ever realize.7100:04:36,040 –> 00:04:39,140Some of you seem ready to throw it all up.7200:04:41,200 –> 00:04:42,220That’s a tragedy7300:04:43,940 –> 00:04:46,940that others who had none of the blessings you’ve enjoyed7400:04:46,940 –> 00:04:49,700should end up pressing into the knowledge of Christ7500:04:49,700 –> 00:04:52,799and all the good that comes from that forever and forever,7600:04:52,799 –> 00:04:55,239and that you who had all the opportunity7700:04:56,839 –> 00:04:59,600should sit with your heart envying the wicked7800:05:00,000 –> 00:05:01,779and end up throwing it all away.7900:05:04,399 –> 00:05:05,559And you know what the first sign8000:05:05,559 –> 00:05:07,640of being ready to throw it all away is?8100:05:09,279 –> 00:05:11,239You start envying sinners.8200:05:12,880 –> 00:05:16,100You start looking at people who live without God8300:05:16,100 –> 00:05:17,640and you say, that’s what I want to be like,8400:05:17,640 –> 00:05:18,980I want to be like her.8500:05:20,359 –> 00:05:21,640I want to be like him.8600:05:23,079 –> 00:05:25,519I see how they live and that’s how I want to live.8700:05:25,579 –> 00:05:26,880That’s how I want to live.8800:05:28,279 –> 00:05:30,720And when I get the chance, that’s what I’m going to do.8900:05:31,859 –> 00:05:32,940And here you are in church9000:05:32,940 –> 00:05:35,079and that’s where some of you are right now.9100:05:36,779 –> 00:05:38,440Second place the heart goes wrong9200:05:38,440 –> 00:05:40,940is not simply in who you admire,9300:05:40,940 –> 00:05:43,260but it’s in how you decide.9400:05:44,660 –> 00:05:46,959Look at verse 18 here’s something else9500:05:46,959 –> 00:05:49,380that surely Solomon discerned in his son.9600:05:49,380 –> 00:05:53,059He says to him, surely there is a future9700:05:53,820 –> 00:05:58,140and your hope will not be cut off.9800:05:59,660 –> 00:06:03,299Now I think that this shows to us9900:06:03,299 –> 00:06:05,540that Solomon saw in his son10000:06:05,540 –> 00:06:08,959a growing tendency to live only in the present10100:06:08,959 –> 00:06:11,500and to lose sight of the future.10200:06:12,799 –> 00:06:13,640In other words,10300:06:13,640 –> 00:06:16,399Solomon is seeing that his son is going more10400:06:16,399 –> 00:06:17,980and more with what he thinks10500:06:17,980 –> 00:06:20,299and feels at any given point in time.10600:06:21,299 –> 00:06:24,239And so, what Solomon says to him in this verse is,10700:06:24,239 –> 00:06:27,739look son, surely there is a future.10800:06:29,079 –> 00:06:33,600In other words, don’t make your decisions in life10900:06:33,600 –> 00:06:36,420on the basis of short term comfort.11000:06:36,420 –> 00:06:38,260Son, there’s a future.11100:06:38,260 –> 00:06:40,140You make your decisions in life11200:06:40,140 –> 00:06:44,000on the basis of long term outcomes.11300:06:45,380 –> 00:06:46,980Surely there is a future.11400:06:47,640 –> 00:06:50,899Now friends, this is obviously a huge importance11500:06:50,899 –> 00:06:53,100for us today because our culture11600:06:53,100 –> 00:06:55,739is bombarding us with a philosophy11700:06:55,739 –> 00:06:58,959that says live in the moment11800:06:59,940 –> 00:07:02,540that seems to me to be a new phrase11900:07:02,540 –> 00:07:04,119but it’s around us everywhere.12000:07:05,179 –> 00:07:08,579If it means that we are to be fully present12100:07:08,579 –> 00:07:11,380and fully engaged in whatever we are doing12200:07:11,380 –> 00:07:13,720at any given time rather than have our mind12300:07:13,720 –> 00:07:15,859distracted off at a dozen other places12400:07:15,899 –> 00:07:17,940trying to do multiple things at the same time12500:07:17,940 –> 00:07:20,579then that would be a very good thing,12600:07:20,579 –> 00:07:21,480live in the moment.12700:07:21,480 –> 00:07:25,299But I have noticed often enough12800:07:25,299 –> 00:07:28,279to want to comment on this today.12900:07:28,279 –> 00:07:32,279I have noticed the phrase live in the moment13000:07:32,279 –> 00:07:36,000being used too often by people13100:07:36,000 –> 00:07:39,440who are very clearly moving away from Christian faith.13200:07:40,920 –> 00:07:44,700I’m trying to live in the moment, Pastor.13300:07:46,179 –> 00:07:48,220And if I understand that correctly13400:07:48,220 –> 00:07:50,380I think what is being said here is this.13500:07:51,739 –> 00:07:54,559I’m going with what I feel13600:07:55,839 –> 00:07:59,339and sometimes I feel I want to know God13700:07:59,339 –> 00:08:01,720and sometimes I don’t.13800:08:03,200 –> 00:08:04,440And I live in the moment.13900:08:06,579 –> 00:08:09,820Now, in a world that is constantly saying to you14000:08:09,820 –> 00:08:11,899live in the moment,14100:08:11,899 –> 00:08:15,299I want you to hear the word of our father in heaven14200:08:15,299 –> 00:08:18,079who says to you, surely there is a future.14300:08:19,200 –> 00:08:20,420I want you to hear that.14400:08:22,179 –> 00:08:24,380Always remember this friend,14500:08:25,459 –> 00:08:28,359your life, the life that God gives to you14600:08:28,359 –> 00:08:32,539comes into very unequal parts.14700:08:32,539 –> 00:08:36,739You have a very, very short life in time14800:08:36,739 –> 00:08:40,820and you have a very, very long life in eternity.14900:08:40,820 –> 00:08:43,479That’s the life that God has given to you.15000:08:44,039 –> 00:08:48,159How short is your life in this world?15100:08:49,140 –> 00:08:50,820Listen to how God describes it.15200:08:50,820 –> 00:08:53,340He uses pictures so that we’ll get it.15300:08:54,559 –> 00:08:58,000All flesh is grass.15400:08:59,400 –> 00:09:04,400The grass withers when the breath of the Lord blows on it.15500:09:07,059 –> 00:09:11,119How long does grass live?15600:09:12,099 –> 00:09:13,840About a week.15700:09:15,900 –> 00:09:20,599Then you cut it and it’s blown and it is gone.15800:09:22,140 –> 00:09:23,460If you’ve not cut your grass for three weeks,15900:09:23,460 –> 00:09:24,299hey, there you are.16000:09:24,299 –> 00:09:26,320You know, time to do it.16100:09:27,260 –> 00:09:28,099About a week.16200:09:29,440 –> 00:09:34,440That’s the image that God, our Father, gives to us.16300:09:34,880 –> 00:09:38,599If you want to think rightly about your life,16400:09:38,619 –> 00:09:40,640you have to think of the proportion16500:09:40,640 –> 00:09:41,840of what you have in this world16600:09:41,840 –> 00:09:44,140in relation to what you have in eternity16700:09:44,140 –> 00:09:46,280and let me put it in a picture for you,16800:09:46,280 –> 00:09:48,640it’s like grass.16900:09:48,640 –> 00:09:49,559That’s your whole life.17000:09:49,559 –> 00:09:51,599If you live to 100 years and more,17100:09:51,599 –> 00:09:53,080that’s what your life in this world17200:09:53,080 –> 00:09:55,099is like in relation to eternity.17300:09:56,679 –> 00:09:58,039You haven’t got much time.17400:09:59,000 –> 00:10:00,179See, here’s one of the pressures,17500:10:00,179 –> 00:10:01,880especially on younger people today.17600:10:01,880 –> 00:10:03,880We hear it all the time, this phrase, don’t we?17700:10:03,880 –> 00:10:07,679We want to be on the right side of history.17800:10:07,700 –> 00:10:09,599Here’s our answer to that, friends.17900:10:09,599 –> 00:10:14,119We need to be on the right side of eternity.18000:10:14,119 –> 00:10:15,400You’re listening to Open the Bible18100:10:15,400 –> 00:10:16,880with pastor Colin Smith18200:10:16,880 –> 00:10:19,640and a message called The Heart Gone Wrong.18300:10:19,640 –> 00:10:20,719I hope you’ll stay with us18400:10:20,719 –> 00:10:22,000because in just a moment,18500:10:22,000 –> 00:10:24,260we’ll hear how the heart gets right.18600:10:25,260 –> 00:10:26,760The message is part of a series18700:10:26,760 –> 00:10:28,500called A Father’s Wisdom18800:10:28,500 –> 00:10:30,559and if you’ve missed any of the series18900:10:30,559 –> 00:10:32,559or if you want to go back and listen again,19000:10:32,559 –> 00:10:33,400you can do that19100:10:33,400 –> 00:10:35,320by coming online to our website,19200:10:35,320 –> 00:10:38,460openthebible.org.uk.19300:10:38,460 –> 00:10:39,559Back to the message now,19400:10:39,559 –> 00:10:41,380here again is pastor Colin.19500:10:41,380 –> 00:10:42,820Where the heart goes wrong,19600:10:44,919 –> 00:10:48,119who you admire,19700:10:48,119 –> 00:10:49,659how you choose19800:10:49,659 –> 00:10:52,599and thirdly, where you invest.19900:10:53,859 –> 00:10:55,200Look at verse 2320000:10:56,840 –> 00:10:58,760where Solomon says to his son this,20100:10:58,760 –> 00:11:00,719buy truth20200:11:02,460 –> 00:11:04,260and do not sell it20300:11:06,140 –> 00:11:08,080by wisdom instruction20400:11:09,440 –> 00:11:10,679and understanding,20500:11:10,679 –> 00:11:15,359buy truth, invest truth.20600:11:17,659 –> 00:11:20,419I wonder since Solomon says that20700:11:20,419 –> 00:11:24,099as he speaks with this candor to his son,20800:11:24,099 –> 00:11:25,440I wondered if that indicates20900:11:25,440 –> 00:11:28,320that Solomon’s son was losing interest in the truth.21000:11:30,520 –> 00:11:33,599They would have had the five books of Moses,21100:11:33,619 –> 00:11:34,500the Pentateuch,21200:11:36,099 –> 00:11:39,000and they would have read from that part21300:11:39,000 –> 00:11:40,460of the scripture that they had.21400:11:40,460 –> 00:11:44,539I wonder if when the Old Testament books21500:11:44,539 –> 00:11:46,719of Moses were brought out when they were read.21600:11:46,719 –> 00:11:50,099I wonder if Solomon saw his son’s eyes rolling21700:11:50,099 –> 00:11:51,859in the corner of the room.21800:11:54,140 –> 00:11:56,080I wonder if when they went to worship21900:11:56,080 –> 00:11:59,640in Solomon’s great temple,22000:11:59,640 –> 00:12:02,299whether Solomon noticed that his son looked22100:12:02,359 –> 00:12:05,140as if he had absolutely not the faintest22200:12:05,140 –> 00:12:07,200bit of interest in what was going on22300:12:07,200 –> 00:12:08,419in all of the world.22400:12:09,780 –> 00:12:11,580And he thinks to himself,22500:12:11,580 –> 00:12:14,000my son’s heart’s in another place,22600:12:15,840 –> 00:12:17,299and he’s anxious.22700:12:18,619 –> 00:12:20,979The son once was learning the truth22800:12:20,979 –> 00:12:22,500and showed some interest in truth.22900:12:22,500 –> 00:12:24,500But now, there seems to be no interest23000:12:24,500 –> 00:12:26,919in it at all, and he says this,23100:12:26,919 –> 00:12:28,140by the truth,23200:12:28,159 –> 00:12:28,979the truth.23300:12:30,080 –> 00:12:33,260Notice that there is such a thing as the truth,23400:12:33,260 –> 00:12:38,260and that it is worth whatever it costs23500:12:39,539 –> 00:12:40,940you to get it.23600:12:42,659 –> 00:12:46,380Solomon doesn’t tell his son what it will cost him23700:12:46,380 –> 00:12:48,140to stand for the truth.23800:12:48,140 –> 00:12:49,260He doesn’t know.23900:12:49,260 –> 00:12:50,820There isn’t one of us here who knows24000:12:50,820 –> 00:12:53,239what it will cost our children to stand for the truth24100:12:53,239 –> 00:12:56,059or our grandchildren to stand for the truth.24200:12:56,140 –> 00:12:59,780Not a single one of us, none of us knows.24300:12:59,780 –> 00:13:04,780It might cost friends for you to embrace, buy the truth.24400:13:05,619 –> 00:13:08,340It might cost opportunities in your life.24500:13:08,340 –> 00:13:10,119It might cost your life.24600:13:12,000 –> 00:13:14,619But do you see what Solomon is saying to his son here?24700:13:14,619 –> 00:13:18,640He’s saying, buy the truth at any price.24800:13:20,479 –> 00:13:22,299Now those of you who are investors know24900:13:22,299 –> 00:13:24,299you wouldn’t do that with anything else.25000:13:25,080 –> 00:13:28,179With any other investment you’d look at the price25100:13:28,179 –> 00:13:30,099and then you’d look at the options.25200:13:31,640 –> 00:13:33,380But what Solomon says to his son is,25300:13:33,380 –> 00:13:36,140son, when it comes to the truth,25400:13:36,140 –> 00:13:39,419it’s in a whole different category25500:13:39,419 –> 00:13:43,200because the price is never too high for the truth25600:13:43,200 –> 00:13:47,700because the truth has a value that is supreme25700:13:47,700 –> 00:13:50,880because it has a value that is eternal.25800:13:51,760 –> 00:13:54,179And your life in this world is very short.25900:13:55,559 –> 00:13:59,340Your life in eternity is very, very long indeed,26000:13:59,340 –> 00:14:00,539so buy the truth.26100:14:00,539 –> 00:14:02,119Whatever it costs you,26200:14:03,039 –> 00:14:07,739you bind the truth like a belt around your waist26300:14:07,739 –> 00:14:09,580and do not sell it.26400:14:11,820 –> 00:14:13,479Now, Judah sold the truth,26500:14:15,099 –> 00:14:17,219but he is not an example for you.26600:14:17,419 –> 00:14:18,020He is a manifest help to you.26700:14:19,440 –> 00:14:20,820No, says this wise father,26800:14:20,820 –> 00:14:22,020the truth is worth more26900:14:22,020 –> 00:14:26,219than anything you could ever, ever gain by giving it up.27000:14:26,219 –> 00:14:28,340Whatever you think you will gain in life27100:14:28,340 –> 00:14:30,539by giving up the truth,27200:14:30,539 –> 00:14:31,960the truth is worth more27300:14:32,900 –> 00:14:35,080than anything you will ever gain27400:14:35,979 –> 00:14:38,640by giving up the truth.27500:14:38,640 –> 00:14:41,960So buy the truth and do not sell it.27600:14:44,500 –> 00:14:45,380Well very, obviously27700:14:45,419 –> 00:14:47,359this raises the question for all of us,27800:14:47,359 –> 00:14:50,520men, women, fathers, sons, mothers, daughters.27900:14:52,559 –> 00:14:54,099Where is your heart today?28000:14:56,179 –> 00:14:58,659When Jesus was asked what is the very first commandment,28100:14:58,659 –> 00:14:59,859what is the very first thing28200:14:59,859 –> 00:15:02,340that God requires of every one of us?28300:15:03,859 –> 00:15:05,619He said, love the Lord your God28400:15:05,619 –> 00:15:07,140with all your heart.28500:15:07,140 –> 00:15:09,179Where do you stand in relation28600:15:09,179 –> 00:15:12,179to that first calling of God upon your life today?28700:15:12,179 –> 00:15:17,179To love the Lord with all your heart.28800:15:18,219 –> 00:15:19,659And you’d better guard your heart28900:15:19,659 –> 00:15:24,140because from it flow the springs of your life.29000:15:26,880 –> 00:15:31,880I pondered, do we go to the outcome of this story today29100:15:31,900 –> 00:15:33,940or do we hold it for next week?29200:15:33,940 –> 00:15:36,080Big, big preacher’s decision.29300:15:37,000 –> 00:15:39,179So I did the only wise thing to do,29400:15:40,520 –> 00:15:42,059I asked my wife.29500:15:42,239 –> 00:15:46,039And she said,29600:15:46,039 –> 00:15:48,599you better tell them the end of the story today.29700:15:50,080 –> 00:15:52,200And here’s why I hesitated,29800:15:52,200 –> 00:15:56,840because the outcome of the story isn’t good.29900:15:59,140 –> 00:16:00,479But I’ve taken her advice30000:16:00,479 –> 00:16:04,700and I think it’s right to follow the story30100:16:04,700 –> 00:16:05,619to its conclusion30200:16:05,619 –> 00:16:07,700because today we’re looking at the heart gone wrong,30300:16:07,700 –> 00:16:10,400next week we’re gonna look at the heart getting right.30400:16:11,320 –> 00:16:13,380If you want the conclusion of the story,30500:16:13,380 –> 00:16:16,179you’ll find it in Second Chronicles chapter 1230600:16:16,179 –> 00:16:18,059and verses 13 and 14.30700:16:18,059 –> 00:16:19,880And the words that are used there30800:16:19,880 –> 00:16:22,640are very, very striking indeed.30900:16:22,640 –> 00:16:27,400So King Rehoboam grew strong in Jerusalem and he reigned.31000:16:27,400 –> 00:16:29,320So this is the son.31100:16:29,320 –> 00:16:31,059Solomon has now died.31200:16:31,059 –> 00:16:33,659Rehoboam’s 41 years old31300:16:33,659 –> 00:16:35,080when he began to reign31400:16:35,080 –> 00:16:38,979and he reigned for 17 years in Jerusalem.31500:16:40,719 –> 00:16:42,340And then notice what the scripture says,31600:16:42,340 –> 00:16:45,559and he did evil.31700:16:47,280 –> 00:16:48,599Why did he do evil?31800:16:48,599 –> 00:16:49,619Notice what it says.31900:16:49,619 –> 00:16:54,039For he did not set his heart32000:16:56,580 –> 00:16:58,080to seek the Lord.32100:17:00,159 –> 00:17:04,319He did not listen to his father’s wisdom.32200:17:06,939 –> 00:17:08,140You know, think about this32300:17:08,140 –> 00:17:10,839and I say this for the father and for the mother32400:17:10,839 –> 00:17:15,140who wrestles with a rebel son or a daughter32500:17:15,140 –> 00:17:17,020and so often you go over and over32600:17:17,020 –> 00:17:19,339what might we have done different and all of that.32700:17:21,859 –> 00:17:25,199The wisest father who ever lived had a rebel son.32800:17:27,479 –> 00:17:30,500In fact, if you have a rebel son or a rebel daughter32900:17:30,500 –> 00:17:32,920or if you are anxious about a grandchild,33000:17:34,439 –> 00:17:36,819you will want to have made a very clear note33100:17:36,819 –> 00:17:41,459of Isaiah chapter one and verse two where God says this,33200:17:41,459 –> 00:17:46,459I raised children and they rebelled against me.33300:17:46,660 –> 00:17:48,260Can you take that in?33400:17:48,260 –> 00:17:51,479God says, I raised children.33500:17:51,479 –> 00:17:53,260He’s referring to Israel, of course.33600:17:54,819 –> 00:17:56,540And they rebelled against me!33700:17:58,979 –> 00:18:02,119Well, you cannot have a better or a wiser father than God.33800:18:02,560 –> 00:18:07,040Rehoboam, I think is one of the saddest characters33900:18:07,040 –> 00:18:09,939in all of the Bible because he was so privileged34000:18:09,939 –> 00:18:12,199and gave it all away.34100:18:14,199 –> 00:18:17,380Think of this, the scripture is very precise34200:18:17,380 –> 00:18:20,959in its language and it tells us about David34300:18:20,959 –> 00:18:25,479who was Rehoboam’s grandfather,34400:18:26,339 –> 00:18:31,180that his heart was wholly true to the Lord.34500:18:32,479 –> 00:18:34,319We then read later in the story34600:18:34,319 –> 00:18:37,060that Rehoboam had a grandson34700:18:38,959 –> 00:18:41,760and the same words, precisely the same words34800:18:41,760 –> 00:18:44,099are used of him, his name was Asa34900:18:44,099 –> 00:18:47,239and it is said of Asa that his heart35000:18:47,239 –> 00:18:49,719was wholly true to the Lord.35100:18:49,719 –> 00:18:51,920So here’s Rehoboam standing in the middle,35200:18:51,920 –> 00:18:54,959he’s got a grandfather wholly true to the Lord.35300:18:54,959 –> 00:18:58,020He’s got a grandson wholly true to the Lord35400:18:58,020 –> 00:19:01,459and he’s in the middle and he’s giving it all away.35500:19:02,939 –> 00:19:07,060Because he did not set his heart35600:19:07,060 –> 00:19:09,859to seek the Lord.35700:19:11,439 –> 00:19:15,760Are we gonna look, throughout the message next week,35800:19:15,760 –> 00:19:20,040at what it means to get the heart right35900:19:20,040 –> 00:19:22,839but let me just leave you with this in just two minutes.36000:19:24,680 –> 00:19:28,079I think there are two prayers that Rehoboam’s granddad36100:19:28,079 –> 00:19:32,599prayed that would have greatly helped him36200:19:32,599 –> 00:19:36,420and would be of great help to any who find ourselves36300:19:36,420 –> 00:19:38,520with a heart that is astray today.36400:19:40,660 –> 00:19:42,819One of the reasons that David had a heart36500:19:42,819 –> 00:19:44,219that was wholly true to the Lord36600:19:44,219 –> 00:19:46,040was that he learned to pray like this.36700:19:46,040 –> 00:19:47,880He asked God to search his heart,36800:19:47,880 –> 00:19:50,339search me oh God and know my heart,36900:19:50,339 –> 00:19:52,180try me and know my thoughts37000:19:52,180 –> 00:19:55,099and see if there is any grievous way in me37100:19:55,099 –> 00:19:57,339and lead me in the way everlasting.37200:19:57,839 –> 00:19:59,699Make that your prayer today.37300:20:01,339 –> 00:20:02,199It’s a great prayer.37400:20:02,199 –> 00:20:04,180Lord show me where my heart is.37500:20:04,180 –> 00:20:06,719I don’t even understand my own heart37600:20:06,719 –> 00:20:08,819but you do, you’re able to look into it37700:20:08,819 –> 00:20:11,619as no one else ever can, no one else ever will.37800:20:11,619 –> 00:20:14,979Now will you reveal to me what you see in my heart today?37900:20:14,979 –> 00:20:17,739Show me where I’m grieving you right now.38000:20:19,459 –> 00:20:21,579Show me where I’m admiring the wrong people.38100:20:21,579 –> 00:20:24,060Show me where I’m making the wrong decisions38200:20:24,099 –> 00:20:27,979and show me where I’m investing myself in the wrong ways38300:20:30,000 –> 00:20:31,979and then as you ask God to search your heart38400:20:31,979 –> 00:20:34,880ask God to change your heart.38500:20:34,880 –> 00:20:36,780Oh, Rehoboam’s grandfather38600:20:36,780 –> 00:20:38,520knew what it was to pray like this.38700:20:38,520 –> 00:20:43,119Create in me a clean heart, oh God38800:20:43,119 –> 00:20:46,739and renew a right spirit within me.38900:20:48,140 –> 00:20:50,900Friends the message today, the message of the gospel39000:20:50,900 –> 00:20:55,900is not get your heart right so that you can come to God.39100:20:56,180 –> 00:20:59,699The message of the gospel is come to God39200:20:59,699 –> 00:21:03,099in order that you may get your heart right.39300:21:04,199 –> 00:21:06,979You do not come to Jesus Christ39400:21:06,979 –> 00:21:08,780because you have a right heart.39500:21:08,780 –> 00:21:12,739You come to Jesus Christ because you need a right heart39600:21:12,739 –> 00:21:14,900and you know today that you don’t have it.39700:21:16,339 –> 00:21:18,500So you come to the Lord Jesus Christ39800:21:18,500 –> 00:21:20,339in whom this great promise is ours.39900:21:20,380 –> 00:21:21,979I will give you a new heart40000:21:21,979 –> 00:21:24,619and I will put a new spirit within you40100:21:24,619 –> 00:21:28,079and you say, oh God, give me a clean heart40200:21:28,079 –> 00:21:32,500through Jesus Christ, change me40300:21:32,500 –> 00:21:34,920and then God will indeed do that40400:21:34,920 –> 00:21:39,920and he will say, Son, Daughter, give me your heart.40500:21:42,300 –> 00:21:43,699You’ve been listening to open the bible40600:21:43,699 –> 00:21:45,099with Pastor Colin Smith40700:21:45,099 –> 00:21:48,219and a message called The heart gone wrong.40800:21:48,219 –> 00:21:49,819We’ve been looking at Solomon40900:21:49,900 –> 00:21:53,300and his relationship with his son, Rehoboam41000:21:53,300 –> 00:21:55,060focusing on how the heart goes wrong41100:21:55,060 –> 00:21:58,520and we’ve just begun to look at how the heart goes right41200:21:58,520 –> 00:22:00,579and we will hear more about that next time.41300:22:00,579 –> 00:22:03,020So I hope you’ll join us for that.41400:22:03,020 –> 00:22:04,900The message is part of a longer series41500:22:04,900 –> 00:22:06,800called A Father’s Wisdom41600:22:06,800 –> 00:22:08,760and if you ever miss one of the series,41700:22:08,760 –> 00:22:11,260you can easily catch up or go back and listen again41800:22:11,260 –> 00:22:16,060by coming online to our website, openthebible.org.uk.41900:22:16,060 –> 00:22:18,900You can also find Pastor Colin’s messages42000:22:18,900 –> 00:22:22,260as podcasts and those are on all the main podcast sites.42100:22:22,260 –> 00:22:24,819You can find them by searching on the podcast site42200:22:24,819 –> 00:22:27,380for Open The Bible UK42300:22:27,380 –> 00:22:30,140or by following a link from our website.42400:22:31,319 –> 00:22:32,979What if you could go on a hike42500:22:32,979 –> 00:22:35,900with Pastor Colin through the Bible story?42600:22:35,900 –> 00:22:37,719See how it all fits together42700:22:37,719 –> 00:22:40,319and how it all points to Jesus?42800:22:40,319 –> 00:22:43,420Well, now you can with the new podcast42900:22:43,420 –> 00:22:44,900Hike Through The Bible.43000:22:44,900 –> 00:22:46,780Yeah, and this is for everyone43100:22:46,780 –> 00:22:48,619who wants to understand the Bible43200:22:48,819 –> 00:22:52,380better and for everyone who wants to love Jesus more.43300:22:52,380 –> 00:22:54,660In each episode, I’ll read a chapter43400:22:54,660 –> 00:22:56,619from my book Hike Through The Bible43500:22:56,619 –> 00:22:58,920and then I’ll discuss it with some friends.43600:22:58,920 –> 00:23:01,459A new episode releases every week43700:23:01,459 –> 00:23:04,859and so you can take this hike at a gentle pace.43800:23:04,859 –> 00:23:08,619In a year, you’ll have covered the entire Bible story.43900:23:08,619 –> 00:23:11,780I really hope that you’ll join me on this journey44000:23:11,780 –> 00:23:14,260and it’s not too late to get started now.44100:23:14,260 –> 00:23:17,640Well, you can subscribe to Hide Through the Bible Podcast44200:23:17,640 –> 00:23:19,479wherever you get your podcasts44300:23:19,479 –> 00:23:21,880and you can find out more information44400:23:21,880 –> 00:23:26,420on our website, openthebible.org.uk.44500:23:26,420 –> 00:23:29,839Open the Bible is supported financially by our listeners.44600:23:29,839 –> 00:23:32,260It’s donations from people just like you44700:23:32,260 –> 00:23:36,400which keeps Open the Bible on the air and on the internet.44800:23:36,400 –> 00:23:38,640So if you already give to support the work,44900:23:38,640 –> 00:23:40,280thank you so much.45000:23:40,280 –> 00:23:42,560If that’s something you’ve been thinking of doing45100:23:42,560 –> 00:23:46,439either with a one off gift or as a regular donation,45200:23:46,439 –> 00:23:50,020we’d love to say thank you by offering you a free gift.45300:23:50,020 –> 00:23:51,959Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham45400:23:51,959 –> 00:23:53,280to tell us about it.45500:23:53,280 –> 00:23:54,920I don’t know about you David,45600:23:54,920 –> 00:23:57,319but I can’t walk into a shop at the moment45700:23:57,319 –> 00:24:01,119without being reminded that it is Valentine’s season.45800:24:01,119 –> 00:24:05,640Cards, chocolates, and the word love everywhere you look.45900:24:05,640 –> 00:24:10,119But this month, I’ve been struck by a deeper, better love,46000:24:10,119 –> 00:24:12,959the kind we see in the gospels.46100:24:12,959 –> 00:24:16,079At Open the Bible UK, we’re reading gospel stories46200:24:16,119 –> 00:24:20,599by Andrew Wilson, and I have found it such a helpful book.46300:24:20,599 –> 00:24:23,439It explores real encounters with Jesus,46400:24:23,439 –> 00:24:27,260conversations and moments that reveal who he is,46500:24:27,260 –> 00:24:31,040why he came, and the kind of love that he offers,46600:24:31,040 –> 00:24:34,280a love that pursues, forgives, restores,46700:24:34,280 –> 00:24:36,359and never lets go.46800:24:36,359 –> 00:24:39,040Gospel stories is our free thank you gift46900:24:39,040 –> 00:24:43,099when you give a one-off donation of 50 pounds or more,47000:24:43,099 –> 00:24:45,160or set up a new direct debit47100:24:45,160 –> 00:24:47,359of just five pounds a month.47200:24:47,359 –> 00:24:51,420But please do remember to include your name and address47300:24:51,420 –> 00:24:53,520so that we can send you a copy to you.47400:24:53,520 –> 00:24:56,339So that offer is available all this month,47500:24:56,339 –> 00:24:59,300and you can find full terms and conditions,47600:24:59,300 –> 00:25:01,660and you can give online at our website,47700:25:01,660 –> 00:25:05,540openthebible.org.uk.47800:25:05,540 –> 00:25:08,180For Pastor Colin Smith and Open the Bible,47900:25:08,180 –> 00:25:11,760I’m David Picke, and I hope you’ll join us again next time.48000:25:12,040 –> 00:25:14,160What’s your best defense against sin?48100:25:14,160 –> 00:25:16,959Find out next time on Open the Bible.