The Hellish Sin of Discontent, Part 2

Exodus 17:1-7
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Today, Pastor Colin digs deep into the often-overlooked sin of discontent and its profound impact on our lives. With powerful insights from the Bible, discover how discontent can lead us to become our own tormentors and how it reflects a deeper rebellion against God. Join us as we journey from dissatisfaction and frustration towards finding lasting peace and contentment through faith.

100:00:00,840 –> 00:00:02,920Hell200:00:02,920 –> 00:00:09,520Hell is a place of torment and the irony of discontent is that the discontented300:00:09,520 –> 00:00:17,559person becomes his or her own tormentor. When discontent gets a grip in your life400:00:17,559 –> 00:00:24,000it really does bring a taste of hell, right here, right now to you.500:00:24,000 –> 00:00:28,920Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and David Pick. And Colin600:00:29,320 –> 00:00:32,259That’s something I think most Christians understand, that hell is a place of700:00:32,259 –> 00:00:36,279torment. But I don’t think many of us have thought about discontent has hap—800:00:36,279 –> 00:00:40,919being anywhere near that. It’s a very strong statement you’ve made. Well for900:00:40,919 –> 00:00:45,200sure that’s got to be part of the experience there, and of course the1000:00:45,200 –> 00:00:47,680reason that we’re looking at that is that we want to go in the opposite1100:00:47,680 –> 00:00:52,799direction. What we want to go after is contentment. This great grace that the1200:00:52,799 –> 00:00:57,720Bible commends to us. And where we’re starting is at the beginning of this1300:00:57,740 –> 00:01:02,119journey in which we’re trying to get from anger to peace from frustration to1400:01:02,119 –> 00:01:07,500satisfaction, and from anxiety to trust. That’s the heart of what contentment is.1500:01:07,500 –> 00:01:14,660And we’re beginning by naming discontent for what it is. It is a hellish sin. Got to1600:01:14,660 –> 00:01:18,860deal with that wherever it rears its ugly head in my life, in order to get on1700:01:18,860 –> 00:01:22,860the path to contentment. So that’s what we’re doing in today’s broadcast, so join1800:01:22,940 –> 00:01:27,639us if you can, in Exodus 17 as we continue the message, The Hellish Sin of1900:01:27,639 –> 00:01:32,459Discontent. Here’s Colin. In the Old Testament as you know well, we have the2000:01:32,459 –> 00:01:38,900story of Job, a good and a godly man, a man wonderfully blessed by God. His2100:01:38,900 –> 00:01:43,379family was blessed, his business was blessed. Job was living the dream as we2200:01:43,379 –> 00:01:49,300would say until one day, through a series of disasters, this good and godly man2300:01:49,559 –> 00:01:54,919lost everything. And Job said, you remember these famous words, the Lord2400:01:54,919 –> 00:02:03,040gave, the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord. Now, that’s what a2500:02:03,040 –> 00:02:09,800godly person says. An ungodly person, a discontented person, says something2600:02:09,800 –> 00:02:13,899different. You see the discontented person says, the Lord gave ,and he should2700:02:14,100 –> 00:02:22,179have given more. The Lord has taken away, and he should not have done that, which2800:02:22,179 –> 00:02:27,440is why Jude speaks about the harsh things that ungodly sinners speak2900:02:27,440 –> 00:02:34,399against God. Discontent is a hellish sin, because at its heart it is3000:02:34,399 –> 00:02:38,899a rebellion against God. Any person who believes in a sovereign God, and then is3100:02:38,899 –> 00:02:44,660discontent is guilty of rebellion because God is sovereign, over all of my3200:02:44,660 –> 00:02:53,300life. Paul pictures it this way, in the book of Romans, he said, imagine a piece3300:02:53,300 –> 00:03:04,740of clay, saying to the potter whose hands mold it, why are you making me like this,3400:03:05,059 –> 00:03:11,100why have you made me like this, have you ever said that to God? God, you should3500:03:11,100 –> 00:03:14,380have done something different and remember how the Apostle Paul answers3600:03:14,380 –> 00:03:22,259that, he says who are you, O man, to talk back to God. He’s God. But you see, all3700:03:22,259 –> 00:03:28,559discontent at its heart is an expression of horrible rebellion against God, it’s a3800:03:28,559 –> 00:03:32,919manifestation of pride, it is an expression of rebellion, it is thirdly a3900:03:33,500 –> 00:03:39,699fruit of unbelief and this is why we read from Exodus in chapter 17 this4000:03:39,699 –> 00:03:46,539morning. It tells the story of how God’s people had been greatly blessed. They4100:03:46,539 –> 00:03:50,679had been brought out of slavery in Egypt. They had crossed the Red Sea without4200:03:50,679 –> 00:03:54,940getting their feet wet. God had given them manna to feed them4300:03:54,940 –> 00:04:01,179in the wilderness and here’s something fascinating. Why is it that those who are4400:04:01,179 –> 00:04:11,740most evidently blessed are often most discontent. Nimay, this was an4500:04:11,740 –> 00:04:17,359overwhelming impression made upon me the very first time I came to India. Meeting4600:04:17,359 –> 00:04:22,220brothers and sisters who have so much less than I have in my life, so much less4700:04:22,220 –> 00:04:30,619than the vast majority of us have. And seeing that the was a far greater general4800:04:30,660 –> 00:04:34,440level of contentment among Christian believers than typically is experienced4900:04:34,440 –> 00:04:43,660here. Why is that? That so often those who are blessed the most are content the5000:04:43,660 –> 00:04:49,079least. Why would that be? And the answer of course is that contentment has5100:04:49,079 –> 00:04:54,579nothing whatsoever to do with what you have or what you do not have in life.5200:04:54,679 –> 00:05:02,440Contentment is a condition of heart. That is why adding to what you have cannot5300:05:02,440 –> 00:05:06,940bring contentment. It just doesn’t work. It doesn’t happen. The world always says5400:05:06,940 –> 00:05:10,500to us, if you can bring what you have up to what you want, then you will be5500:05:10,500 –> 00:05:16,279content. It never happens what you want, just moves. Contentment is a condition of5600:05:16,279 –> 00:05:23,820heart. Now, at one point God’s people who had been so greatly blessed, they come to5700:05:23,820 –> 00:05:28,799a place where they had no water. Now that is a legitimate concern. And there5800:05:28,799 –> 00:05:34,380obviously are times in life where we may have a legitimate concern as to how God5900:05:34,380 –> 00:05:40,079will supply what we need. But what happened was that their legitimate6000:05:40,079 –> 00:05:50,440concern metastasized into unbelief. Version XVII of Exodus 17. They tested the6100:05:50,440 –> 00:06:00,660Lord by saying is the Lord among us or not. Now here are redeemed people, God’s6200:06:00,660 –> 00:06:06,220people brought through the Red Sea, and within a very short space of time they6300:06:06,220 –> 00:06:12,459have lost confidence that God is with them. If you no longer believe that God6400:06:12,459 –> 00:06:17,500is with you, you will no longer be confident that he will supply what you6500:06:17,880 –> 00:06:22,760and it will not be longer before the grumbling, the complaining begins and6600:06:22,760 –> 00:06:26,980you will find yourself sliding into the hellish sin of discontent. Because it is6700:06:26,980 –> 00:06:32,739the fruit of unbelief! It arises from a loss of confidence that God is actually6800:06:32,739 –> 00:06:37,540with you that he cares for you, and that he will as we’re gonna see later in the6900:06:37,540 –> 00:06:44,720series, wonderfully supply all that you need. So discontent, it really is a7000:06:44,720 –> 00:06:50,899hellish sin. Why? Because it leads to hell! It’s the defining characteristic of the7100:06:50,899 –> 00:06:58,299ungodly, always discontent. It comes from hell. It is a manifestation of horrible7200:06:58,299 –> 00:07:05,480pride, rebellion against God and of unbelief, lack of trust in Him. And then7300:07:05,480 –> 00:07:11,480thirdly discontent can rightfully be described as a hellish sin because it7400:07:12,320 –> 00:07:20,880brings a taste of hell into your own experience right now. Hell is a place of7500:07:20,880 –> 00:07:27,619torment and the irony of discontent is that the discontented person becomes his7600:07:27,619 –> 00:07:36,500or her own tormentor. When discontent gets a grip in your life it really does7700:07:36,540 –> 00:07:44,720bring a taste of hell right here right now to you, and for that reason it is a7800:07:44,720 –> 00:07:50,700very, very costly thing. Jeremiah Burroughs, one of the things that he says7900:07:50,700 –> 00:07:58,579about the cost of discontent and it was very striking to me. He says by murmuring8000:07:58,579 –> 00:08:10,500and discontent in your hearts you come to lose a great deal of time, a great8100:08:10,500 –> 00:08:20,600deal of time, and that has been very striking to me. How much time is wasted8200:08:20,899 –> 00:08:31,119over brooding over what might have been, if I had done this? If I had pursued that?8300:08:31,119 –> 00:08:38,960If I had taken this other fork in the road? If only I had not made that foolish8400:08:38,960 –> 00:08:46,419mistake. And then your time and your energy can be increasingly sucked into a8500:08:46,760 –> 00:08:55,159different life. What might have been? Friends, do not waste the time that you8600:08:55,159 –> 00:09:00,700have by dreaming of a life that you have not been given. It is a waste. God is8700:09:00,700 –> 00:09:04,700calling you to live the life you have been given, the life that you have, the8800:09:04,700 –> 00:09:09,099life that you have now the situation that you’re in now and to do it for his8900:09:09,219 –> 00:09:17,940glory. Secondly, it brings this awful cost, this hellish sin of discontent. Not9000:09:17,940 –> 00:09:23,880only…you just waste time, you waste your life with it, but it costs you your9100:09:23,880 –> 00:09:29,940discernment, you lose discernment. Now this is especially clear in the story9200:09:29,940 –> 00:09:34,859recorded in Numbers in chapter 16 where we read about God’s people grumbling in9300:09:34,859 –> 00:09:39,020the desert and they begin complaining. It’s one of these scenes that occurs in9400:09:39,020 –> 00:09:44,659the Old Testament story and what is so fascinating, and I want you to see this,9500:09:44,659 –> 00:09:54,659is that as they complain, they lose touch with reality. Now just remember this, if9600:09:54,659 –> 00:10:03,020you are in the company of someone who often complains, say this to yourself,9700:10:03,039 –> 00:10:11,179this person often complains, I must therefore remember not to trust his or9800:10:11,179 –> 00:10:19,179her discernment. Because complaining directly costs discernment when it9900:10:19,179 –> 00:10:24,280becomes habitual, and I’ll show you that here in Numbers chapter 16 in verse 3.10000:10:24,280 –> 00:10:28,119It’s so clear. Here are God’s people and again they’re10100:10:28,539 –> 00:10:33,099to Moses, Numbers chapter 16, and they say this. How is this for losing touch10200:10:33,099 –> 00:10:41,719with reality? You have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey.10300:10:41,719 –> 00:10:45,559Not you’re taking us to a land of milk and honey, you brought us…10400:10:45,559 –> 00:10:49,020Egypt is now apparently a land that was flowing with milk and honey.10500:10:49,020 –> 00:10:51,359They’ve forgotten all about the bricks being made without straw and10600:10:51,359 –> 00:10:55,200apparently their memory has got so clouded, they’re so distorted by10700:10:55,359 –> 00:10:59,900their own complaining, that their memory of Egypt is transformed from10800:10:59,900 –> 00:11:02,880the reality of what it actually was. And then they say something else.10900:11:02,880 –> 00:11:06,580You’ve brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in11000:11:06,580 –> 00:11:13,500the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince to be over us.11100:11:13,500 –> 00:11:16,380So you see what they’re saying to Moses. You’re just wanting to make11200:11:16,380 –> 00:11:22,059yourself a prince. Wait a minute, where was Moses brought up?11300:11:22,119 –> 00:11:26,039He was brought up in a palace. And what did he do for the sake of the11400:11:26,039 –> 00:11:30,179people of God? He gave up being a prince. He gave up the palace in order11500:11:30,179 –> 00:11:33,340to take his stand with a very persecuted people of God.11600:11:33,340 –> 00:11:37,099But you see, these folks have got into the habit of complaining to such a degree11700:11:37,099 –> 00:11:42,979that they have lost their own discernment. That’s what it does to you.11800:11:42,979 –> 00:11:48,539You become a malcontent, you can no longer tell truth from lies.11900:11:48,580 –> 00:11:52,619You can no longer discern good from bad, better from worse.12000:11:52,619 –> 00:11:55,979It costs you. Here’s what discontent does.12100:11:55,979 –> 00:12:01,859Discontent leads you to an exaggeration of the blessings of yesterday and to losing12200:12:01,859 –> 00:12:05,299sight of the blessings and the opportunities of today.12300:12:05,299 –> 00:12:10,219That’s what discontent does. And it’s a hellish sin.12400:12:10,219 –> 00:12:13,479You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message12500:12:13,479 –> 00:12:17,419called The Hellish Sin of Discontent.12600:12:17,419 –> 00:12:22,619It’s based on Exodus 17 and is part of our series The Art of Contentment.12700:12:22,619 –> 00:12:26,239And if you ever miss one of the series – don’t forget you can always catch up or go back12800:12:26,239 –> 00:12:31,479and listen again online at our website openthebible.org.uk12900:12:31,479 –> 00:12:35,520Or find us as a podcast, and those are on all the main podcast sites.13000:12:35,520 –> 00:12:40,900Search for Open the Bible UK and subscribe if you want to receive regular reminders.13100:13:11,500 –> 00:13:18,119There are many examples of this in the Bible, but the one that is most striking to me – and13200:13:18,119 –> 00:13:23,659it’s a very tender story, and I have thought long about this one – it’s the story of13300:13:23,659 –> 00:13:28,119Rachel, who was married to Jacob.13400:13:28,119 –> 00:13:33,960She saw her sister Leah – you remember this story – having children, and as the years13500:13:33,960 –> 00:13:36,919passed – it got to her.13600:13:37,200 –> 00:13:39,640Rachel wanted children, and she had none.13700:13:39,659 –> 00:13:45,960Now, what a tender and what a sensitive issue.13800:13:45,960 –> 00:13:49,840And you may would like to identify that issue, or you may like to broaden it out to some13900:13:49,840 –> 00:13:52,640other issue, but you find yourself saying,14000:13:52,640 –> 00:14:03,200Here is something that I really want in my life, and God has not given it to me.14100:14:03,200 –> 00:14:07,979And for some, that may be the gift of children, or the gift of grandchildren, or of marriage,14200:14:07,979 –> 00:14:13,559or of some particular ministry, or of some particular position, or a dream of something14300:14:13,559 –> 00:14:18,580that you looked for and it has not come to pass.14400:14:18,580 –> 00:14:20,739Well, Rachel was in that position.14500:14:20,739 –> 00:14:22,940She was not happy.14600:14:22,940 –> 00:14:28,739She was not content with what God had given to her in her life.14700:14:28,739 –> 00:14:30,179And your heart goes out to her.14800:14:30,179 –> 00:14:33,880You sympathize with her.14900:14:33,880 –> 00:14:43,400But Scripture records that when Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, she envied15000:14:43,400 –> 00:14:55,760her sister and she said to Jacob, give me children or I die.15100:14:55,760 –> 00:14:58,179Extraordinary words.15200:14:58,179 –> 00:15:04,539Give me children or I die.15300:15:04,539 –> 00:15:11,859If I don’t have this, my life isn’t worth living.15400:15:11,859 –> 00:15:14,780I have to have it.15500:15:14,780 –> 00:15:19,219I have to have it.15600:15:19,219 –> 00:15:25,559And, that discontent costs Rachel her life.15700:15:25,640 –> 00:15:30,320Because, she had a child and she died in childbirth.15800:15:30,320 –> 00:15:35,260Now, let me be clear, Rachel is a dearly loved child of God.15900:15:35,260 –> 00:15:38,440All who are in Christ will see her in Heaven.16000:15:38,500 –> 00:15:45,200God is the Great Redeemer, and the first child born to Rachel, of course, was Joseph,16100:15:45,200 –> 00:15:50,000and the child born that cost her her life was Benjamine.16200:15:50,119 –> 00:15:54,539And we know from that story how God’s great, great purpose of grace was wonderfully16300:15:54,539 –> 00:15:55,840advanced through them.16400:15:55,840 –> 00:16:04,400But we must not miss from this story that it is possible to want something,16500:16:04,960 –> 00:16:10,440that God has not given so much, that you bring sorrow into your life16600:16:10,440 –> 00:16:14,200that you would not have had otherwise.16700:16:14,200 –> 00:16:19,340What if getting what you want should prove to be the heaviest burden16800:16:19,460 –> 00:16:23,179and the greatest cross of your life?16900:16:23,179 –> 00:16:29,400The scripture says God withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly.17000:16:29,400 –> 00:16:35,419In other words, everything that will wonderfully nourish and advance His purpose in your life,17100:16:35,419 –> 00:16:39,219the good and the bad, the sovereign hand brings.17200:16:39,219 –> 00:16:40,940He will withhold no good thing.17300:16:40,940 –> 00:16:48,679What if God’s withholding is actually part of His kindness towards you?17400:16:50,119 –> 00:16:56,700It is possible, friends, to want something that God has not given too much.17500:16:56,700 –> 00:17:00,859And there is all the difference in the world between humbly coming before God17600:17:00,859 –> 00:17:05,359and saying from the heart, Lord, give me children,17700:17:05,359 –> 00:17:08,079but whatever happens, I will love you,17800:17:08,079 –> 00:17:11,020and I will live for your glory.17900:17:11,020 –> 00:17:16,339There’s a big difference between that and the spirit of Rachel that says,18000:17:16,339 –> 00:17:23,140Give me children or my life isn’t worth living, give me children or I die.18100:17:23,140 –> 00:17:28,300That’s idolatry, isn’t it? That’s idolatry.18200:17:28,300 –> 00:17:32,380So remember the principle of the manna.18300:17:32,380 –> 00:17:39,699When you gather what God gives, it is a blessing to you,18400:17:39,699 –> 00:17:43,180but when you try to grasp more,18500:17:43,339 –> 00:17:45,660it goes bad on you.18600:17:45,660 –> 00:17:48,780That’s the principle of the manna.18700:17:48,780 –> 00:17:51,260And discontent is a hellish sin,18800:17:51,260 –> 00:17:54,020first because it leads to hell like we learn from Jude,18900:17:54,020 –> 00:17:56,219second because it comes from hell,19000:17:56,219 –> 00:17:59,619it is characterized by the things that are at the very heart of hell,19100:17:59,619 –> 00:18:02,339pride and rebellion, and unbelief itself.19200:18:02,339 –> 00:18:06,260And discontent is a hellish sin because it brings into your life right now,19300:18:06,260 –> 00:18:07,579if you allow it to take root,19400:18:07,579 –> 00:18:14,140a taste of hell in which you become your own tormentor.19500:18:14,140 –> 00:18:18,619So I hope that all of us are now ready to deal with discontent.19600:18:19,140 –> 00:18:21,579I hope that every person in this first service today19700:18:21,579 –> 00:18:23,219is at the place of saying,19800:18:23,219 –> 00:18:25,500I didn’t think too much about this before,19900:18:25,500 –> 00:18:29,380but now I see that I need to deal with this hellish sin20000:18:29,380 –> 00:18:32,619wherever it rears it’s ugly head in my life.20100:18:32,619 –> 00:18:34,219I need to get beyond thinking20200:18:34,579 –> 00:18:36,660that moaning and complaining does not matter.20300:18:36,660 –> 00:18:41,380I need to get serious about moving from anger to peace20400:18:41,380 –> 00:18:43,819and from frustration to satisfaction20500:18:45,020 –> 00:18:47,540and from anxiety to trust.20600:18:49,180 –> 00:18:53,579Friend, thank God today,20700:18:53,579 –> 00:18:56,540don’t you thank God with me today20800:18:56,540 –> 00:19:01,420that there is a saviour for this hellish sin.20900:19:02,339 –> 00:19:05,339A saviour to whom we can come21000:19:05,339 –> 00:19:07,699with all of our discontent today.21100:19:08,900 –> 00:19:13,760A saviour we can ask to forgive this hellish sin21200:19:13,760 –> 00:19:17,099whatever we see it in our own lives.21300:19:17,099 –> 00:19:19,660A saviour, we can ask to cleanse us,21400:19:19,660 –> 00:19:22,900to wash this out of the very fabric of my life,21500:19:22,900 –> 00:19:25,619oh God do that in our hearts today.21600:19:26,939 –> 00:19:28,660A saviour, to whom we can come and say,21700:19:28,660 –> 00:19:30,819you came to deliver me from every sin21800:19:30,880 –> 00:19:33,180that leads to hell, I want you to deliver me from this,21900:19:33,180 –> 00:19:37,660I want you to bring me into a place of growing contentment22000:19:37,660 –> 00:19:40,859and do it, oh Lord, in increasing measure even this month.22100:19:42,500 –> 00:19:46,800And as you set, as it were, your sail for this journey,22200:19:46,800 –> 00:19:48,119from anger to peace,22300:19:48,119 –> 00:19:50,060from frustration to satisfaction,22400:19:50,060 –> 00:19:53,000from anxiety to trust,22500:19:53,000 –> 00:19:55,579you will find the peace in life comes22600:19:55,579 –> 00:19:58,119from knowing that everything that concerns you22700:19:58,119 –> 00:20:00,619really is in the hands of a saviour who loves you.22800:20:01,760 –> 00:20:03,619But satisfaction lies in knowing22900:20:03,619 –> 00:20:07,380that in Jesus Christ you really do have all that you need.23000:20:08,520 –> 00:20:10,760And trust begins when you know and see again23100:20:10,760 –> 00:20:13,660that he really is faithful and those who look to him23200:20:13,660 –> 00:20:17,359are never, never, never put to shame.23300:20:18,439 –> 00:20:20,939I end with a quote from one of my heroes23400:20:20,939 –> 00:20:24,119of the faith in this last generation, Alan Redpath.23500:20:24,119 –> 00:20:26,939I know his ministry at Moody meant much23600:20:26,939 –> 00:20:30,640to many who still remember him from these years23700:20:30,640 –> 00:20:34,880and Alan Redpath went through some extraordinarily23800:20:34,880 –> 00:20:37,359difficult times in his life, especially when23900:20:37,359 –> 00:20:39,800after returning from Moody, he came to my home church24000:20:39,800 –> 00:20:42,260in Edinburgh, Scotland, Charlotte Chapel24100:20:42,260 –> 00:20:44,260and then he had a stroke, was laid on his back24200:20:44,260 –> 00:20:46,319for a prolonged period of time,24300:20:46,319 –> 00:20:48,680then made a very slow and gradual recovery.24400:20:50,260 –> 00:20:52,760And Alan Redpaths wrote these words24500:20:53,920 –> 00:20:56,780and at a time that was most difficult in my life,24600:20:57,599 –> 00:21:00,140I wrote them out, stuck them in my Bible24700:21:00,140 –> 00:21:04,040and probably read them every few days in the fly leaf.24800:21:05,699 –> 00:21:07,520There is nothing, Redpaths said,24900:21:08,780 –> 00:21:12,839no circumstance, no trouble, no testing25000:21:12,839 –> 00:21:17,280that can ever touch me, until first of all,25100:21:17,280 –> 00:21:20,839it has gone past God, past Christ and through to me.25200:21:22,579 –> 00:21:24,500If it has come that far,25300:21:24,500 –> 00:21:27,060it has come with a great purpose,25400:21:27,060 –> 00:21:30,300which I may not understand at the moment,25500:21:30,300 –> 00:21:33,800I may not know what his great purpose is,25600:21:33,800 –> 00:21:38,500but, and I just love this, I refuse to panic.25700:21:40,400 –> 00:21:42,420And as I lift my eyes to Him,25800:21:42,420 –> 00:21:45,260no circumstance will cause me to fret,25900:21:45,260 –> 00:21:50,260for I shall rest in the joy of what my Lord is,26000:21:50,260 –> 00:21:54,780and that is the rest of victory.26100:21:55,800 –> 00:21:57,439You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith26200:21:57,439 –> 00:21:58,540on Open the Bible,26300:21:58,540 –> 00:21:59,400with the message called,26400:21:59,400 –> 00:22:01,660The Hellish Sin of Disconsent.26500:22:01,660 –> 00:22:02,479I don’t know about you,26600:22:02,479 –> 00:22:04,119but perhaps we don’t really think26700:22:04,119 –> 00:22:06,880of grumbling and complaining as a hellish sin,26800:22:06,880 –> 00:22:09,859it seems there must be many much worse sins.26900:22:09,859 –> 00:22:12,699But I think today’s message shows us the power of this sin,27000:22:12,699 –> 00:22:15,020and the importance of dealing with it.27100:22:15,020 –> 00:22:16,819If you ever want to listen to the message again,27200:22:16,819 –> 00:22:19,660or any of the messages which have already gone out on air,27300:22:19,699 –> 00:22:22,020you can do that by coming online to our website,27400:22:22,020 –> 00:22:24,060openthebible.org.uk.27500:22:24,060 –> 00:22:28,300Or look for them as a podcast on all the main podcast sites27600:22:28,300 –> 00:22:30,920by searching for open the Bible UK,27700:22:30,920 –> 00:22:34,180or following the link from our website.27800:22:34,180 –> 00:22:36,579Open the Bible is able to stay on the radio27900:22:36,579 –> 00:22:40,219and on the internet because of the very generous donations28000:22:40,219 –> 00:22:41,660made by our listeners.28100:22:41,660 –> 00:22:44,540So if you already give to support Open the Bible,28200:22:44,540 –> 00:22:46,060thank you so much.28300:22:46,060 –> 00:22:48,300If that’s something that you’ve been considering doing28400:22:48,300 –> 00:22:49,180in the future,28500:22:49,380 –> 00:22:52,339each month we aim to offer a special gift28600:22:52,339 –> 00:22:55,219in return for setting up a new support payment28700:22:55,219 –> 00:22:56,680for Open the Bible.28800:22:56,680 –> 00:22:59,420If you’re able to set up a new monthly direct debit28900:22:59,420 –> 00:23:01,959of five pounds per month or more,29000:23:01,959 –> 00:23:04,739or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more,29100:23:04,739 –> 00:23:06,500we’d love to say thank you29200:23:06,500 –> 00:23:09,020by sending you a copy of Colin Smith’s book29300:23:09,020 –> 00:23:10,780Fly Through The Bible.29400:23:10,780 –> 00:23:13,339Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham29500:23:13,339 –> 00:23:14,699to talk about the book29600:23:14,699 –> 00:23:17,260and also about some other exciting resources29700:23:17,339 –> 00:23:19,579which are free for everyone to receive.29800:23:19,579 –> 00:23:22,500Thanks David, well if you’ve been listening for a while29900:23:22,500 –> 00:23:24,719you’ll know that we love to give away30000:23:24,719 –> 00:23:27,300a free book each month when you donate.30100:23:27,300 –> 00:23:29,819Either a one off gift of 50 pounds or more30200:23:29,819 –> 00:23:33,800or by setting up a new direct debit of at least five pounds.30300:23:33,800 –> 00:23:35,380But this July and August30400:23:35,380 –> 00:23:37,739we’re doing something extra special.30500:23:37,739 –> 00:23:40,939We’ve launched a campaign full of free resources30600:23:40,939 –> 00:23:43,699to help you open the Bible with others30700:23:43,760 –> 00:23:45,859because we know that can be hard30800:23:45,859 –> 00:23:47,739and we want to equip you.30900:23:47,739 –> 00:23:49,979So yes you’ll still get a free copy31000:23:49,979 –> 00:23:52,319of Fly Through the Bible when you donate31100:23:52,319 –> 00:23:57,319but anyone can now access a whole set of free tools.31200:23:57,599 –> 00:23:59,219We’ve got a video series,31300:23:59,219 –> 00:24:01,959where Colin Smith walks through each session31400:24:01,959 –> 00:24:03,979of the Fly Through the Bible course on our website.31500:24:03,979 –> 00:24:06,339There’s a free app,31600:24:06,339 –> 00:24:09,939just search Fly Through the Bible in your app store.31700:24:09,939 –> 00:24:12,859And if you’re a church leader thinking ahead to September31800:24:12,859 –> 00:24:17,099head to openthebible.org.uk forward slash fly31900:24:17,099 –> 00:24:21,540and download our free small group discussion guide.32000:24:21,540 –> 00:24:24,219We really pray these resources bless you32100:24:24,219 –> 00:24:27,739and those around you as you open the Bible together.32200:24:27,739 –> 00:24:29,540And what better place to start32300:24:29,540 –> 00:24:32,219than a journey through the Bible story.32400:24:32,219 –> 00:24:35,619Thanks Amanda, you can access these free resource32500:24:35,619 –> 00:24:39,540at our website openthebible.org.uk32600:24:39,540 –> 00:24:42,280and you can download the Fly app32700:24:42,280 –> 00:24:45,339at the Apple App Store or Google Play.32800:24:45,339 –> 00:24:47,760Our offer to send you a copy of Colin’s book32900:24:47,760 –> 00:24:51,000Fly Through the Bible is available all this month.33000:24:51,000 –> 00:24:53,260If you would like to receive this free gift33100:24:53,260 –> 00:24:56,959select the monthly giveaway under project fund33200:24:56,959 –> 00:24:59,579and please do not give anonymously33300:24:59,579 –> 00:25:01,040as we can only send a book33400:25:01,040 –> 00:25:03,119if we have your address details.33500:25:03,119 –> 00:25:06,540Full details, terms and conditions are on our websites33600:25:06,540 –> 00:25:11,060openthebible.org.uk and you can give online.33700:25:11,079 –> 00:25:13,540For Open The Bible, Pastor Colin Smith,33800:25:13,540 –> 00:25:16,959I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time.33900:25:25,520 –> 00:25:28,339You can learn the secret of contentment.34000:25:28,339 –> 00:25:31,300Find out what it is next time on Open The Bible.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Contentment does not mean that you are indifferent to your circumstances. It means that you are not controlled by your circumstances. Contentment is about moving from anger to peace, from frustration to satisfaction, and from anxiety to trust. The apostle Paul says that he “learned” the secret of contentment, and so can you!

Colin Smith

New! Graphic Novel

A man of crime. A ruthless empire. A fellow prisoner. A promise of Paradise. 

Discover the story of the thief on the cross, and his life-changing encounter with Jesus, in this brand new full colour graphic novel version of Colin S Smith’s Heaven, How I Got Here: The Story of the Thief on the Cross.

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