100:00:00,040 –> 00:00:02,040Night Talk200:00:03,680 –> 00:00:06,520ESA missed the grace of God. He rejected it.300:00:06,520 –> 00:00:11,120Felt sorry for himself, and how angry with his cousin and those who remained at that distance from God,400:00:11,120 –> 00:00:12,720and that was the story of his life!500:00:12,720 –> 00:00:15,700and in that position no one can repent.600:00:15,700 –> 00:00:21,360Now says the book of Hebrews. You make sure that you’re not like that.700:00:21,360 –> 00:00:25,080Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick,800:00:25,120 –> 00:00:30,680And Colin, there may be some listening today who are in a similar position to Esau900:00:30,680 –> 00:00:35,720They know there’s something wrong but they’re so angry they don’t want to deal with it.1000:00:35,720 –> 00:00:40,580Yeah, that’s right. And of course the problem with Esau is the Bible says he was a godless man,1100:00:40,580 –> 00:00:45,619that’s why he couldn’t repent, because the only way to repent is to draw near to God,1200:00:45,619 –> 00:00:49,919and that’s what Esau refused to do, and that’s why the book of Hebrews says,1300:00:50,000 –> 00:00:53,560Well now make sure that no one misses the grace of God.1400:00:53,560 –> 00:00:57,799Make sure that you don’t find yourself stuck at a distance from God.1500:00:57,799 –> 00:01:02,500Come near to Him, because there’s grace that’s to be found for every person who will draw1600:01:02,500 –> 00:01:04,400near to Him in Jesus Christ1700:01:04,400 –> 00:01:07,440What if a person hears that, but is thinking,1800:01:07,440 –> 00:01:13,000I know there’s something hard in my heart, and I should do that, but I’m struggling to do that right now.1900:01:13,000 –> 00:01:16,300Yeah, that’s right. You’ve got to come with the heart that you have.2000:01:16,300 –> 00:01:20,660You don’t come because you’ve got a good heart, you come because you need a good heart.2100:01:20,660 –> 00:01:27,239And it’s a marvellous thing to say, Lord I need by your grace that you will change this2200:01:27,239 –> 00:01:28,239heart.2300:01:28,239 –> 00:01:31,580And that’s a wonderful thing that He is able to change the heart.2400:01:31,580 –> 00:01:36,500So, don’t wait until you’re in the right condition of heart and of mind before you come to God.2500:01:36,500 –> 00:01:40,339You come as you are and receive what you need.2600:01:40,339 –> 00:01:45,599Don’t come because you have repentance, but because you need repentance and you’ll find2700:01:46,000 –> 00:01:48,000His grace gives you what you don’t have.2800:01:48,000 –> 00:01:50,980What an encouraging way to start today’s program.2900:01:50,980 –> 00:01:56,599Join us if you can in Hebrews twelve as we continue the message, The man who could not3000:01:56,599 –> 00:01:57,599repent.3100:01:57,599 –> 00:01:58,599Here is Pastor Colin.3200:01:58,599 –> 00:02:03,599I want to offer a definition of repentance that I have found to be extremely helpful.3300:02:03,599 –> 00:02:09,800I found this a number of years ago in the writing of Doctor Jim Packer and the moment3400:02:09,800 –> 00:02:16,059I read this, it was as if a light went on in my mind and I thought, that’s repentance,3500:02:16,059 –> 00:02:21,259that’s it stated as clearly as ever it could be stated.3600:02:21,259 –> 00:02:23,639Doctor Jim Packer puts it like this.3700:02:23,639 –> 00:02:30,759Repentance, he says, is turning from as much as you know of your sin to give as much as3800:02:30,759 –> 00:02:34,860you know of yourself to as much as you know of God.3900:02:34,860 –> 00:02:37,559It’s a marvelous definition.4000:02:38,000 –> 00:02:42,259Now, over these next weeks we’re going to use Godwilling Packer’s definition as a kind4100:02:42,259 –> 00:02:48,639of framework for learning what repentance is, and how we can pursue it joyfully together4200:02:48,639 –> 00:02:52,539throughout the entire course of our Christian lives.4300:02:52,539 –> 00:02:56,240Repentance turning from as much as you know of your sin to give as much as you know of4400:02:56,240 –> 00:03:02,559yourself to as much as you know of God, and as we grow at each of these points, knowing4500:03:02,559 –> 00:03:05,880my sin, knowing myself, and knowing my God.4600:03:05,919 –> 00:03:14,139So my repentance will grow deeper, the effect of that is to be transformed increasingly4700:03:14,139 –> 00:03:20,919into the likeness of Jesus Christ, or as Paul puts it, to move from one degree of glory4800:03:20,919 –> 00:03:23,520to another.4900:03:23,520 –> 00:03:28,259So we’re trying to clear away the baggage of misunderstanding, and to the beating up5000:03:28,259 –> 00:03:34,339on yourself, Christians, I want to say this morning, repentance is positive.5100:03:34,460 –> 00:03:41,539For us, being there, done that kind of Christians, I want to say repentance is progressive.5200:03:41,539 –> 00:03:45,820Now the last thing that I want to say this morning, and here we come to Hebrews in chapter5300:03:45,820 –> 00:03:52,46012 more clearly, is that repentance is possible by the grace of God.5400:03:52,460 –> 00:03:57,779It’s positive, it’s progressive, it is possible by the grace of God.5500:03:57,779 –> 00:04:04,220And, it seems to me that this is very important to say because some of us will, in our first5600:04:04,220 –> 00:04:10,899response to this word repentance, feel a great sense of sadness.5700:04:10,899 –> 00:04:13,300You feel defeated.5800:04:13,300 –> 00:04:14,300You come into church.5900:04:14,300 –> 00:04:18,239You hear, okay, we’re going to focus on repentance, and you think, oh dear, here we go again.6000:04:18,239 –> 00:04:24,760I already know that I can’t change and you feel that very deeply.6100:04:24,760 –> 00:04:31,559Maybe you’ve been a Christian for a long time and there are certain sins that have taken6200:04:31,559 –> 00:04:34,600root in your life.6300:04:34,600 –> 00:04:42,239You’ve tried to get free but in some particular area, you’ve not yet been able to do so.6400:04:42,239 –> 00:04:44,679So you feel the need for repentance.6500:04:44,679 –> 00:04:49,480You would very much like to see change in this area of your life, but you are deeply6600:04:49,480 –> 00:04:54,920convinced that because it has been there a long time, this is no longer possible for6700:04:54,920 –> 00:04:56,700you.6800:04:56,700 –> 00:05:03,339So when you hear the word repentance, you say in your head, I would if I could, but6900:05:03,339 –> 00:05:05,980I can’t.7000:05:05,980 –> 00:05:13,059And the truth is that you feel trapped, you feel defeated, you say to yourself, I just7100:05:13,059 –> 00:05:15,619can’t change.7200:05:16,500 –> 00:05:28,320Now the title for this series is Repentance, the Hidden Path to a Transformed Life.7300:05:28,320 –> 00:05:32,519And the reason for calling it a hidden path is the very obvious fact that many people7400:05:32,519 –> 00:05:35,619never find it.7500:05:35,619 –> 00:05:46,600There are many who would love to overcome bitterness, or resentment, or pornography,7600:05:46,600 –> 00:05:52,239or alcohol, but they remain in the grip of these things.7700:05:53,179 –> 00:06:00,320They have deep regrets. They shed many tears,7800:06:00,320 –> 00:06:08,859but they do not change. They seek repentance, but they cannot find it. That7900:06:08,859 –> 00:06:18,619is their testimony. Now, the Bible tells us about a man just like that, and it8000:06:18,619 –> 00:06:26,940tells us what his problem was, so that we may have a different outcome. And8100:06:26,940 –> 00:06:31,459that’s why we’ve read from Hebrews in chapter 12 this morning. And I do hope8200:06:31,459 –> 00:06:35,820you’ll have your Bible open at that place in front of you. I’m referring of8300:06:35,820 –> 00:06:43,339course to this sad story of Esau and the fascinating statement that is made about8400:06:43,600 –> 00:06:50,079him in Hebrews chapter 12. Now I’m going to read from verse 14. Please follow the8500:06:50,079 –> 00:06:56,880story with me. Hebrews chapter 12, and I’m reading from verse 14.8600:07:43,679 –> 00:07:50,600Now the writer is referring here to the Old Testament story about two brothers8700:07:50,600 –> 00:07:58,579Jacob and Esau. Esau was the firstborn and he held the rights of inheritance as8800:07:58,579 –> 00:08:05,339the firstborn in the family, but Esau was an impulsive man and as many know the8900:08:05,339 –> 00:08:09,679story well, he came home one day from hunting, he was desperately hungry, and9000:08:10,040 –> 00:08:15,440brother Jacob was cooking stew. Jacob was a cunning, twisted kind of a man until9100:08:15,440 –> 00:08:18,880God got hold of his life, and he said to Esau,9200:08:18,880 –> 00:08:25,239I’ll give you some stew if you sell me your birthright. And Esau was desperate9300:08:25,239 –> 00:08:31,399for a meal, so he sold his birthright, the book of Hebrews tells us, for a9400:08:31,940 –> 00:08:38,599meal. Now later, when Isaac the father was about to die,9500:08:38,599 –> 00:08:45,640Jacob pulled another stunt, and he pretended to be Esau and through that9600:08:45,640 –> 00:08:51,940impersonation received Esau’s blessing from the father. Later, when Esau arrives9700:08:51,940 –> 00:08:56,799on the scene, he asks for it the blessing and finds that it has already been given9800:08:57,000 –> 00:09:00,539by his father to his brother and at that9900:09:00,539 –> 00:09:07,559point the writer to Hebrews takes up the story, because Genesis tells us that when10000:09:07,559 –> 00:09:14,919Esau heard this, he burst out with a loud and bitter cry. It places great emphasis10100:09:14,919 –> 00:09:22,719in Genesis on the weeping of Esau. Now a writer takes up the story in verse 17.10200:09:22,719 –> 00:09:28,479Afterwards, that is after this extraordinary incident in which he10300:09:28,479 –> 00:09:36,640discovered that the blessing was not his. Afterward as you know when he wanted to10400:09:36,640 –> 00:09:48,799inherit this blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no change of mind10500:09:48,900 –> 00:09:53,679though he sought the blessing with tears.10600:09:53,700 –> 00:10:00,900That’s an extraordinary statement. What does it mean? The word change of mind10700:10:00,900 –> 00:10:05,039that is used here is of course the word repent or repentance, and other10800:10:05,039 –> 00:10:10,280translations have this clearly. The New American Standard Bible says, he found no10900:10:10,280 –> 00:10:15,340place of repentance, though he sought it with tears. The English Standard Version11000:10:15,659 –> 00:10:22,820says, he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. The New11100:10:22,840 –> 00:10:26,460International Version, from which we’re reading in the Pew Bible, says he could11200:10:26,460 –> 00:10:34,320bring about no change of mind, though he sought this blessing with tears.11300:10:34,320 –> 00:10:39,960Now, when it says that Esau could bring about no change of mind does it mean that he11400:10:39,960 –> 00:10:44,020could bring about no change in his father’s mind, with regards to the11500:10:44,080 –> 00:10:49,440blessing that had now been imparted to Jacob, or does it mean that Esau could11600:10:49,440 –> 00:10:53,799bring about no change in his own mind? In other words, he could bring about no11700:10:53,799 –> 00:11:01,320change in himself, and the answer is both. Both. He could neither change the11800:11:01,320 –> 00:11:05,619decision that had been made about him, nor could he change the pattern of11900:11:05,619 –> 00:11:12,239behavior in himself that had brought about that decision. Esau was— Hebrews is12000:11:12,280 –> 00:11:24,520telling us—the man who couldn’t repent. Pause and take that in. And the evidence12100:11:24,520 –> 00:11:28,140of what we find in the book of Hebrews of course is in the story of his life.12200:11:28,140 –> 00:11:34,859The man never changed. He never changed.12300:11:35,179 –> 00:11:48,799Plenty of tears, but no movement towards God. Lots of beating up on himself…no12400:11:48,799 –> 00:11:54,440transformation. See, repentance isn’t beating up on yourself. You can do that and12500:11:54,440 –> 00:12:01,820never change. Esau did. Now, why is this relevant to us?12600:12:02,039 –> 00:12:06,599Because we just said two or three minutes ago that there are some of us who go around12700:12:06,619 –> 00:12:14,039through life saying, I can’t change. If you’re saying, I can’t change, you are12800:12:14,039 –> 00:12:19,760identifying yourself with who? Esau. It’s what you’re doing. You’re saying, I’m with12900:12:19,760 –> 00:12:26,260him. Like him, repentance is a hidden path to me. I’d like to travel on it, but like13000:12:26,260 –> 00:12:29,840Esau I have tears, but I can’t change.13100:12:31,820 –> 00:12:34,239I don’t think you want to stay there, do you?13200:13:01,940 –> 00:13:06,419Back to the message now. Here again is Pastor Colin.13300:13:06,419 –> 00:13:10,419Now here’s the obvious critical question.13400:13:10,419 –> 00:13:12,619Because we’re all struggling a little bit, I think,13500:13:12,619 –> 00:13:15,119with the idea that there ever was a man who couldn’t repent.13600:13:15,119 –> 00:13:18,880So the obvious question is why couldn’t Esau repent?13700:13:18,880 –> 00:13:20,320Isn’t that the question?13800:13:20,320 –> 00:13:23,179And the book of Hebrews exactly gives us the answer.13900:13:23,179 –> 00:13:24,739In fact, there are two answers.14000:13:24,739 –> 00:13:27,280Here is why Esau could not repent.14100:13:27,280 –> 00:13:30,340It’s right here in verse 16 and then in verse 15.14200:13:31,260 –> 00:13:36,260First, he couldn’t repent because he was godless, verse 16.14300:13:36,440 –> 00:13:41,140See to it that no one is godless.14400:13:42,200 –> 00:13:44,599Like Esau, godless.14500:13:44,599 –> 00:13:46,039Now Esau believed in God.14600:13:46,039 –> 00:13:47,979I’m sure he would have been here on a Sunday morning14700:13:47,979 –> 00:13:50,380along with all the rest of us if he was living today.14800:13:50,380 –> 00:13:52,000He wanted the blessing of God.14900:13:52,000 –> 00:13:53,679He burst out in tears when he didn’t get15000:13:53,679 –> 00:13:55,140the blessing that he wanted.15100:13:55,140 –> 00:13:57,020But the reality that we’re being told here15200:13:57,039 –> 00:14:00,599in the Book of Hebrews is that Esau had no real place15300:14:00,599 –> 00:14:02,020for God in his life.15400:14:02,020 –> 00:14:04,719To him, God was a means to an end15500:14:04,719 –> 00:14:06,619and if he got the blessing, he was happy,15600:14:06,619 –> 00:14:08,479if he didn’t get the blessing he had15700:14:08,479 –> 00:14:10,859no other place for God in his life.15800:14:13,099 –> 00:14:14,739Esau was a godless man15900:14:14,739 –> 00:14:17,820and a godless man or woman cannot repent.16000:14:18,900 –> 00:14:23,900Because real change begins, not with seeking repentance,16100:14:24,059 –> 00:14:25,960but with seeking God.16200:14:27,440 –> 00:14:31,400You can’t repent at a distance from God16300:14:34,179 –> 00:14:37,640and because Esau insisted on living his life16400:14:37,640 –> 00:14:39,159at a distance from God,16500:14:39,159 –> 00:14:41,940he remained the man who could not repent16600:14:41,940 –> 00:14:43,900and the writer to the Hebrews is saying,16700:14:43,900 –> 00:14:46,820please see to it, that none of you16800:14:46,820 –> 00:14:47,919are in that position.16900:14:47,919 –> 00:14:52,919The second thing that we’re told here17000:14:55,020 –> 00:14:57,539is that Esau missed the grace of God.17100:14:57,539 –> 00:15:01,280Look at verse 15, see to it17200:15:03,119 –> 00:15:08,119that no one misses the grace of God.17300:15:09,719 –> 00:15:12,400Remember he’s writing to a community of believers.17400:15:12,640 –> 00:15:13,479But here.17500:15:15,840 –> 00:15:18,219The scripture is saying to us see to it17600:15:18,219 –> 00:15:23,219that nobody here misses the grace of God17700:15:26,840 –> 00:15:29,359and that nobody here ends up like Esau17800:15:29,359 –> 00:15:32,359in whom a bitter root grew up.17900:15:37,539 –> 00:15:40,140See to it that nobody’s like Esau.18000:15:42,820 –> 00:15:46,539Godless man who misses grace.18100:15:47,400 –> 00:15:50,000Without God, without grace, you can’t repent.18200:15:52,080 –> 00:15:54,460In order to repent, I have to draw near to God18300:15:54,460 –> 00:15:56,640and I have to embrace the grace18400:15:56,640 –> 00:15:58,599that he offers to me in Jesus Christ,18500:15:58,599 –> 00:15:59,820that’s what we’re learning here.18600:15:59,820 –> 00:16:01,119Otherwise we’ll be like Esau18700:16:01,119 –> 00:16:04,320and we’ll spend the rest of our life saying I can’t repent,18800:16:04,320 –> 00:16:05,599can’t change.18900:16:07,000 –> 00:16:08,159It’s not the gospel.19000:16:13,159 –> 00:16:16,359Let me quote to you a comment from John Calvin19100:16:16,359 –> 00:16:18,799in his commentary on Hebrews in chapter 12.19200:16:18,799 –> 00:16:20,840I find this wonderfully helpful.19300:16:21,960 –> 00:16:26,960Calvin says, whenever a sinner sighs19400:16:26,960 –> 00:16:31,539on account of his sin, the Lord is ready to forgive him.19500:16:32,700 –> 00:16:37,380God’s mercy is never sought in vain19600:16:37,460 –> 00:16:42,460for to him who knocks, it will be opened, period.19700:16:45,340 –> 00:16:50,340But the ungodly, however they may deplore their lot,19800:16:50,900 –> 00:16:55,900complain and howl, do not yet knock at God’s door19900:16:56,739 –> 00:17:01,739for mercy, for this cannot be done, except by faith.20000:17:02,239 –> 00:17:06,560See, what he’s saying is, it’s all very well20100:17:08,780 –> 00:17:12,439beating up on yourself at a distance from God.20200:17:12,439 –> 00:17:16,180You never change that way, you can be absolutely20300:17:16,180 –> 00:17:18,140sure that whoever comes to the Lord will,20400:17:18,140 –> 00:17:19,839indeed, receive mercy and grace,20500:17:19,839 –> 00:17:22,280for to him who knocks, it will be opened.20600:17:22,280 –> 00:17:25,180The problem with the ungodly, the problem with Easel,20700:17:25,180 –> 00:17:26,739the problem with the person who stands20800:17:26,739 –> 00:17:28,359at a distance from God and just says,20900:17:28,520 –> 00:17:32,520I can’t change, is that they never come.21000:17:34,680 –> 00:17:36,640And though they howl and complain and moan21100:17:36,640 –> 00:17:38,880about their lot and full of self-pity,21200:17:38,880 –> 00:17:42,079yet they do not come to God’s door for mercy.21300:17:42,079 –> 00:17:45,880Why, because that can only be done by faith.21400:17:47,040 –> 00:17:51,839In other words, only by faith can you repent.21500:17:51,839 –> 00:17:52,739Think about that.21600:17:53,920 –> 00:17:58,000Only by faith can you repent.21700:17:58,099 –> 00:18:02,260Repentance begins when we have the faith21800:18:02,260 –> 00:18:06,140to believe that God’s mercy will forgive us21900:18:06,140 –> 00:18:08,979and that God’s power can change us.22000:18:09,939 –> 00:18:12,319And you see, the very essence of the problem22100:18:12,319 –> 00:18:13,959where you sit there and say22200:18:13,959 –> 00:18:16,439I can’t change in this area22300:18:16,439 –> 00:18:20,079is that at that point you are not believing the Gospel.22400:18:22,079 –> 00:18:24,400Therefore, you’re standing at a distance.22500:18:25,180 –> 00:18:29,599You’re not knocking at the door of God’s mercy,22600:18:29,599 –> 00:18:32,479you’re not believing that there is a Christ22700:18:32,479 –> 00:18:35,319and the Spirit who is able to bring change in your life.22800:18:35,319 –> 00:18:38,459Esau missed the grace of God, he rejected it.22900:18:38,459 –> 00:18:39,760Felt sorry for himself,23000:18:39,760 –> 00:18:41,099felt angry with his brother,23100:18:41,099 –> 00:18:42,979remained at a distance from God23200:18:42,979 –> 00:18:44,640and that was the story of his life23300:18:44,640 –> 00:18:47,060and in that position, no one can repent.23400:18:48,760 –> 00:18:50,319Now, says the Book of Hebrews,23500:18:50,319 –> 00:18:53,140you make sure that you’re not like that.23600:18:54,760 –> 00:18:57,020Don’t be like Esau.23700:18:58,079 –> 00:19:00,939Because the grace that Esau rejected23800:19:01,939 –> 00:19:05,680is offered to you in Jesus Christ.23900:19:05,680 –> 00:19:07,260Listen to this marvelous statement24000:19:07,260 –> 00:19:09,579that again might help us as we think about repentance24100:19:09,579 –> 00:19:10,739over the coming weeks.24200:19:10,739 –> 00:19:13,459From Acts chapter five and verse 31,24300:19:13,459 –> 00:19:15,660where we’re told in the apostolic preaching24400:19:15,660 –> 00:19:20,660that God has exalted Jesus Christ24500:19:20,859 –> 00:19:24,979to his own right hand as Prince and a savior.24600:19:24,979 –> 00:19:25,800Why?24700:19:25,800 –> 00:19:29,859That he might give repentance24800:19:29,859 –> 00:19:34,400and forgiveness of sins to Israel.24900:19:34,400 –> 00:19:37,640He’ll give repentance.25000:19:37,640 –> 00:19:38,979You say, wow, wait a minute,25100:19:38,979 –> 00:19:40,979isn’t repentance our responsibility?25200:19:40,979 –> 00:19:42,020Yes it is.25300:19:42,020 –> 00:19:43,939But it is God’s grace, we’re learning,25400:19:43,939 –> 00:19:45,219that makes it possible.25500:19:45,219 –> 00:19:47,479That is why David says in the Psalms,25600:19:47,479 –> 00:19:50,500Lord search me and know my heart.25700:19:50,500 –> 00:19:53,199See if there is any offensive way within me25800:19:53,199 –> 00:19:55,839and lead me in the way everlasting.25900:19:55,839 –> 00:19:57,180Why does he pray like that?26000:19:57,180 –> 00:20:00,079Because he knows he needs God in order to repent.26100:20:00,079 –> 00:20:02,459Lord show me my sins.26200:20:02,459 –> 00:20:04,079Otherwise I won’t even see them.26300:20:04,079 –> 00:20:06,599Lord lead me on the everlasting path.26400:20:06,599 –> 00:20:08,599Otherwise I will not even find it.26500:20:08,599 –> 00:20:12,699It is God’s grace that makes repentance possible.26600:20:14,800 –> 00:20:16,800And you know there is a deep-seated rebellion26700:20:16,839 –> 00:20:19,000towards God that lurks in the human heart26800:20:19,000 –> 00:20:21,579that only God’s grace can heal.26900:20:22,760 –> 00:20:25,599The inclination to repent27000:20:26,479 –> 00:20:28,660comes when the Holy Spirit shows you27100:20:28,660 –> 00:20:30,199the extent of your sin.27200:20:31,479 –> 00:20:34,699And the courage to repent27300:20:34,699 –> 00:20:36,479comes when the Holy Spirit shows you27400:20:36,479 –> 00:20:38,400the extent of Christ’s love.27500:20:39,660 –> 00:20:41,800And it is in embracing grace,27600:20:41,800 –> 00:20:44,040it is in knocking on the door of God’s mercy.27700:20:44,040 –> 00:20:47,199It is in believing the gospel27800:20:48,660 –> 00:20:51,079in relation to the particular struggles27900:20:51,079 –> 00:20:52,739of my own life28000:20:53,880 –> 00:20:56,380that I find the path of repentance28100:20:58,199 –> 00:21:01,239on which real and lasting change28200:21:02,579 –> 00:21:03,959is wonderfully possible.28300:21:06,540 –> 00:21:07,979It’s where repentance begins,28400:21:10,239 –> 00:21:12,160not with seeking repentance,28500:21:12,699 –> 00:21:15,619but with seeking God.28600:21:15,619 –> 00:21:18,699A powerful and practical message there on Open the Bible.28700:21:18,699 –> 00:21:21,699How many of us have felt horrible about our sin28800:21:21,699 –> 00:21:23,160and really wanted to change,28900:21:23,160 –> 00:21:25,619but it just hasn’t happened?29000:21:25,619 –> 00:21:28,479The story of Esau can help us understand29100:21:28,479 –> 00:21:30,239that we need to come closer to God29200:21:30,239 –> 00:21:32,359and that in itself will enable us29300:21:32,359 –> 00:21:34,020to begin to really repent.29400:21:35,280 –> 00:21:36,780We’ve been listen to Open the Bible29500:21:36,780 –> 00:21:38,400with Pastor Colin Smith29600:21:38,400 –> 00:21:39,560and a message called29700:21:40,359 –> 00:21:42,300The man who could not repent,29800:21:42,300 –> 00:21:43,979part of our new series,29900:21:43,979 –> 00:21:48,060Repentance. The hidden path to a transformed life.30000:21:48,060 –> 00:21:49,420Don’t forget if you ever miss30100:21:49,420 –> 00:21:51,040one of the messages in the series,30200:21:51,040 –> 00:21:53,739it’s easy to catch up or go back and listen again30300:21:53,739 –> 00:21:56,000by coming online to our website.30400:21:56,000 –> 00:21:59,380That’s at openthebible.org.uk30500:21:59,380 –> 00:22:02,500And you can also find Pastor Colin’s messages30600:22:02,500 –> 00:22:05,439as a podcast on all the main podcast sites.30700:22:05,439 –> 00:22:07,540Simply search for Open the Bible UK30800:22:08,280 –> 00:22:11,939and subscribe if you want to receive regular updates.30900:22:11,939 –> 00:22:14,300I know many of you listen to podcasts31000:22:14,300 –> 00:22:15,719and we’re excited to tell you31100:22:15,719 –> 00:22:18,459about a new podcast for Open the Bible.31200:22:18,459 –> 00:22:21,359It’s a companion to Pastor Colin’s book31300:22:21,359 –> 00:22:22,859Hike Through the Bible.31400:22:22,859 –> 00:22:25,819Yeah, and each week, I’ll read a chapter from the book31500:22:25,819 –> 00:22:28,420and then I get to discuss it with some friends.31600:22:28,420 –> 00:22:31,660So if you join us on the podcast in 50 weeks,31700:22:31,660 –> 00:22:34,540we’ll cover 50 chapters of the Bible together.31800:22:34,540 –> 00:22:36,900And in a year, you’ll have hiked31900:22:36,900 –> 00:22:39,300through the entire Bible story.32000:22:39,300 –> 00:22:41,900Now if you think hiking sounds like hard work,32100:22:41,900 –> 00:22:44,479don’t worry, I promise you this hike32200:22:44,479 –> 00:22:46,859will be an easy, gentle piece.32300:22:46,859 –> 00:22:50,180There’s a link to the podcast and lots more information32400:22:50,180 –> 00:22:54,380on our website at openthebible.org.uk.32500:22:55,339 –> 00:22:57,859Open the Bible is supported by our listeners.32600:22:57,859 –> 00:23:00,780It’s people just like you who keep Open the Bible32700:23:00,780 –> 00:23:03,060on this station, on the internet,32800:23:03,060 –> 00:23:05,260and on all the podcast sites.32900:23:05,280 –> 00:23:07,660So if you already give to support the work,33000:23:07,660 –> 00:23:09,660thank you so much.33100:23:09,660 –> 00:23:11,819If supporting Open the Bible financially33200:23:11,819 –> 00:23:14,140is something that you’d like to begin to do,33300:23:14,140 –> 00:23:16,119this month we’d love to say thank you33400:23:16,119 –> 00:23:18,500by sending you a free gift.33500:23:18,500 –> 00:23:20,819If you’re able to begin a new Direct Debit33600:23:20,819 –> 00:23:23,459of 5 pounds per month or more,33700:23:23,459 –> 00:23:26,219or a one-off gift of 60 pounds or more,33800:23:26,219 –> 00:23:28,540we’d love to send you a copy of33900:23:28,540 –> 00:23:31,739Nancy Guthrie’s book I’m Praying For You.34000:23:31,819 –> 00:23:33,81940 Days of Praying The Bible34100:23:33,819 –> 00:23:35,819for someone who is suffering.34200:23:35,819 –> 00:23:38,500Colin, who would you say this book is for?34300:23:38,500 –> 00:23:41,939Well it’s for anyone who has ever said to someone34400:23:41,939 –> 00:23:45,900I’m praying for you and that surely is every Christian.34500:23:45,900 –> 00:23:48,380We’ve all said to someone who’s in need34600:23:48,380 –> 00:23:50,579or perhaps a loved one in our family,34700:23:50,579 –> 00:23:51,780I’m praying for you.34800:23:51,780 –> 00:23:53,459But here’s the challenge,34900:23:53,459 –> 00:23:56,479how do you keep your prayers fresh35000:23:56,479 –> 00:23:58,699when you’ve been praying for someone for some time,35100:23:58,699 –> 00:24:00,520perhaps even for many years?35200:24:00,520 –> 00:24:01,699I mean, what are you going to do,35300:24:02,280 –> 00:24:04,280you just keep saying God bless them, God bless them.35400:24:04,280 –> 00:24:07,000How do you keep your prayers fresh?35500:24:07,000 –> 00:24:10,540And Nancy Guthrie has done a wonderful job35600:24:10,540 –> 00:24:12,000in putting together a book35700:24:12,000 –> 00:24:14,640that draws deeply from scripture35800:24:14,640 –> 00:24:18,920so that we are given 40 practical suggestions35900:24:18,920 –> 00:24:22,359as to how you can pray for a friend, a loved one,36000:24:22,359 –> 00:24:25,319or someone who’s going through a really difficult time.36100:24:25,319 –> 00:24:27,420It’s a marvellous resource36200:24:27,420 –> 00:24:30,599and I think folks are going to find it very very helpful.36300:24:30,660 –> 00:24:31,660Well, we’d love to send you36400:24:31,660 –> 00:24:34,739a copy of Nancy Guthrie’s book, I’m Praying for You,36500:24:34,739 –> 00:24:36,619when you begin a new direct debit36600:24:36,619 –> 00:24:38,020to the work of Open the Bible36700:24:38,020 –> 00:24:40,339of five pounds per month or more36800:24:40,339 –> 00:24:43,199or a one off gift of 60 pounds or more.36900:24:43,199 –> 00:24:45,699You’ll find full terms and conditions online37000:24:45,699 –> 00:24:49,640at our website, openthebible.org.uk37100:24:49,640 –> 00:24:52,020and you can also give online.37200:24:52,020 –> 00:24:54,579If you want us to send you this free gift37300:24:54,579 –> 00:24:56,579please don’t give anonymously37400:24:56,579 –> 00:24:59,180and don’t forget to leave your full name and address37500:24:59,280 –> 00:25:01,180so that we can send you your gift.37600:25:02,280 –> 00:25:04,180For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,37700:25:04,180 –> 00:25:07,140I’m David Pick, thanks for being with us today37800:25:07,140 –> 00:25:10,140and I hope you’ll join us again next time.37900:25:18,579 –> 00:25:19,520Many people believe38000:25:19,520 –> 00:25:21,280that the first step to repentance38100:25:21,280 –> 00:25:24,739is cleaning up your life and turning from sin.38200:25:24,739 –> 00:25:27,540Find out why that’s often not true.38300:25:27,540 –> 00:25:29,300That’s next time on Open the Bible.