100:00:00,260 –> 00:00:06,460The secret of a godly life of you pursuing the life to200:00:06,460 –> 00:00:08,820which God has called you, the life for which he has made you300:00:08,820 –> 00:00:11,900it doesn’t lie in some technique, doesn’t lie in400:00:11,900 –> 00:00:15,940some program or even in some set of disciplines God has500:00:15,940 –> 00:00:22,580revealed this secret that a godly life is possible for you600:00:22,580 –> 00:00:25,400through Jesus Christ.700:00:26,000 –> 00:00:29,820Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and800:00:30,139 –> 00:00:33,459I’m David Pick and Colin for the person who hasn’t found900:00:33,459 –> 00:00:36,660what they’re looking for in this life. Today’s a great day1000:00:36,660 –> 00:00:39,939to be listening. Yes we’re really focusing in on the1100:00:39,939 –> 00:00:44,900person of the Lord Jesus Christ and this is so important1200:00:44,900 –> 00:00:49,060because I’ve met an awful lot of people who have really1300:00:49,060 –> 00:00:53,380tried to be different and they’ve thought that the1400:00:53,380 –> 00:00:57,860secret lies in doing something or joining something and1500:00:57,860 –> 00:01:00,099they’ve been told now if you do this and you practice that1600:01:00,099 –> 00:01:04,260and whatever then you’re going to become uh a more godly1700:01:04,260 –> 00:01:08,180kind of person and somehow it doesn’t work and they’re left1800:01:08,180 –> 00:01:13,300with a sense of how can I really change How can I become1900:01:13,300 –> 00:01:16,500the person that God’s calling me to be and here we’re2000:01:16,500 –> 00:01:20,940reading in the scripture that Great is the mystery of2100:01:20,940 –> 00:01:24,139godliness That’s the mystery The question How do I become a2200:01:24,440 –> 00:01:30,440Godly person and then it says in the flesh. In other words,2300:01:30,440 –> 00:01:35,720it’s telling us Jesus Christ himself is the key here and2400:01:35,720 –> 00:01:40,040this is why the New Testament says it’s Christ in you. That2500:01:40,040 –> 00:01:42,680is the hope of glory. Essentially, the Lord Jesus2600:01:42,680 –> 00:01:46,680Christ’s presence, his life being lived out in you,2700:01:46,680 –> 00:01:49,639there’s going to be the means by which you change. Remember2800:01:49,639 –> 00:01:53,239Jesus said, I am the vine. You are the branches. It’s his2900:01:53,239 –> 00:01:56,040life in you. That’s what we’re looking at today. That’s very3000:01:56,040 –> 00:01:59,139different from learning some kind of technique or some sort3100:01:59,139 –> 00:02:02,760of disciplines or, you know, engaging in some kind of3200:02:02,760 –> 00:02:07,480program. The life of Jesus can be in you and if the life of3300:02:07,480 –> 00:02:11,720Jesus is in you, then you will be a different person and3400:02:11,720 –> 00:02:13,880that’s the wonderful truth that’s at the heart of the3500:02:13,880 –> 00:02:16,600gospel. Well, that is what we’re looking at today from the3600:02:16,600 –> 00:02:19,800first Book of Timothy in chapter three. So join us in3700:02:20,199 –> 00:02:23,160the Bible, if you can, as we continue the message, the3800:02:23,160 –> 00:02:27,979open secret of a godly life. Here’s Colin the word. Mystery3900:02:27,979 –> 00:02:32,860is used more than twenty times in the New Testament. We read4000:02:32,860 –> 00:02:37,660about the mystery of Christ, the mystery of God’s will the4100:02:37,660 –> 00:02:42,059mystery of the Jews, the mystery of the Gentiles the4200:02:42,059 –> 00:02:46,460Mystery of the church, the mystery of the resurrection,4300:02:46,460 –> 00:02:50,800the mystery of the gospel right here in this one chapter,4400:02:50,800 –> 00:02:53,360there are two occurrences of the Word you may notice in4500:02:53,360 –> 00:02:58,000verse nine. The Apostle speaks about the mystery of the4600:02:58,000 –> 00:03:03,440faith and then in our verse sixteen, the mystery of4700:03:03,440 –> 00:03:10,000godliness now in each of these cases, the word mystery has a4800:03:10,000 –> 00:03:14,399very distinct meaning. Let me give it to you like this a4900:03:14,600 –> 00:03:21,000and the New Testament is a secret that god has revealed5000:03:21,000 –> 00:03:25,919though it’s full wonder is still to be made known in the5100:03:25,919 –> 00:03:29,839New Testament, a mystery. It’s not a riddle that leaves you5200:03:29,839 –> 00:03:34,660scratching your head. It is a secret that god has revealed5300:03:34,660 –> 00:03:41,059though it’s full wonder is still to be made known now. This5400:03:41,059 –> 00:03:44,979is repeated many times. For example in Romans and Chapter5500:03:44,979 –> 00:03:50,419sixteen Paul speaks about the revelation of the mystery that5600:03:50,419 –> 00:03:57,220was kept secret for long ages, but now has been disclosed. You5700:03:57,220 –> 00:04:01,699say it’s a secret that God has revealed. We wouldn’t have5800:04:01,699 –> 00:04:06,100known what this mystery is unless god had revealed it but5900:04:06,100 –> 00:04:09,940he has revealed that it is a secret that god has revealed our6000:04:09,940 –> 00:04:12,580Colossians in Chapter one, You have the same thing the6100:04:12,580 –> 00:04:19,619mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed6200:04:19,619 –> 00:04:24,899to the Saints, so it’s a secret that was hidden for ages and6300:04:24,899 –> 00:04:28,420for generations. But now mystery. What does it mean? it’s6400:04:28,420 –> 00:04:34,260a secret that god has revealed. let’s apply that for example to6500:04:34,260 –> 00:04:38,820the mystery of the resurrection? Many of you know6600:04:38,820 –> 00:04:42,660this first. Well Christian in chapter fifteen and verse6700:04:42,660 –> 00:04:48,420fifty-one Behold, I tell you a mystery in other words, A6800:04:48,420 –> 00:04:52,100Secret that God has revealed though it’s full wonder is6900:04:52,100 –> 00:04:57,059still to be made known. We shall not all sleep, but we7000:04:57,059 –> 00:05:01,700shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an7100:05:01,700 –> 00:05:06,660eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the7200:05:06,660 –> 00:05:12,179dead will be raised imperishable and we shall be7300:05:12,179 –> 00:05:21,059changed. Now you stand by the grave side of a loved one and7400:05:21,059 –> 00:05:31,720it all seems so bleak and so final. no one would guess from7500:05:31,720 –> 00:05:37,179standing at a gravesite as the casket is lowered that a7600:05:37,179 –> 00:05:41,339bright morning is coming when you’re believing loved one will7700:05:41,339 –> 00:05:45,339rise to a new and an everlasting life. But God has7800:05:45,339 –> 00:05:52,140revealed it and you know God could have kept it secret he7900:05:52,140 –> 00:05:55,980could have kept it to himself so that on the last day we who8000:05:55,980 –> 00:05:59,980believed in him discovered that the greatest part is yet to be8100:06:00,000 –> 00:06:04,320made a pause. But he has not kept it secret. Why because he8200:06:04,320 –> 00:06:08,959wants you now to have the comfort of this hope in your8300:06:08,959 –> 00:06:13,459sorrow God reveals the secret and he says now comfort one8400:06:13,459 –> 00:06:19,920another with these words. So a mystery is something we could8500:06:19,920 –> 00:06:22,720never have worked out ourselves. We’ve never guessed it if we8600:06:22,720 –> 00:06:27,519were left to our own intuition. It’s a secret that God has8700:06:27,880 –> 00:06:30,660Remember there’s a second part to the definition. It’s full8800:06:30,660 –> 00:06:34,540wonder is still to be made known. Now think about that in8900:06:34,540 –> 00:06:40,179relation to the resurrection. God has revealed the secret. Oh9000:06:40,179 –> 00:06:43,299but his full wonder is still to be made known. What will your9100:06:43,299 –> 00:06:49,079resurrection body be like? What joy will be yours when your9200:06:49,079 –> 00:06:54,820whole soul is at peace, and and your whole body is made whole9300:06:54,839 –> 00:07:00,760and you are at one. The likeness of Jesus Christ is9400:07:00,760 –> 00:07:06,380fully reflected in you. What wonder will that be? The full9500:07:06,380 –> 00:07:09,859wonder of it is yet to be made known, but for our comfort, God9600:07:09,859 –> 00:07:14,600has revealed to us the secret that the resurrection day is9700:07:14,600 –> 00:07:18,079coming. So that’s a mystery. That’s what it means in the New9800:07:18,079 –> 00:07:23,260Testament. It is a secret that God has revealed, though its9900:07:23,359 –> 00:07:30,440full wonder is still to be made known. Now, let’s come back to10000:07:30,440 –> 00:07:38,440our verse. Great indeed we confess is the mystery of10100:07:38,440 –> 00:07:45,559godliness. So what then is this secret of godliness? The secret10200:07:45,559 –> 00:07:49,679of you living the life that God has called you to and made you10300:07:49,679 –> 00:07:54,079for. What is the secret that God has revealed the full wonder of10400:07:54,079 –> 00:07:58,200which is still to be made known? And the answer to that is10500:07:58,200 –> 00:08:08,220Jesus. Jesus. Notice the verse. Great indeed we confess is the10600:08:08,220 –> 00:08:15,399mystery of godliness. What’s the next word? He.10700:08:15,720 –> 00:08:21,160And then follow six marvelous statements about the Lord.10800:08:21,160 –> 00:08:30,279Jesus Christ. God has revealed this secret that a godly life10900:08:30,279 –> 00:08:35,719is possible for you through Jesus Christ in other words11000:08:35,719 –> 00:08:40,359the secret of a godly life of you pursuing the life to which11100:08:40,359 –> 00:08:42,840God has called you. The life for which he has made it doesn’t11200:08:42,840 –> 00:08:46,840lie in some technique doesn’t lie in some program or even in11300:08:46,840 –> 00:08:50,840some set of disciplines. The open secret that God has11400:08:50,840 –> 00:08:53,159revealed though it’s full wonderful is still to be made11500:08:53,159 –> 00:08:58,520known, that through Jesus Christ, you can become the11600:08:58,520 –> 00:09:03,080person God called you to be the person God created you to be11700:09:03,080 –> 00:09:08,039through Jesus Christ. You can become God’s man. You can11800:09:08,039 –> 00:09:13,119become God’s woman through Jesus Christ. You can pursue a11900:09:13,119 –> 00:09:24,239godly life. And here’s how. First, we must receive Jesus.12000:09:24,239 –> 00:09:30,239This is the real question. Jesus is the godly one God in12100:09:30,239 –> 00:09:37,119the flesh, supremely God’s man. How can the godliness that is12200:09:37,460 –> 00:09:45,280evidently in Jesus actually be in you? And the answer to that12300:09:45,280 –> 00:09:52,320question throughout the Bible is that we must receive Jesus.12400:09:52,320 –> 00:09:55,440The answer, by the way, is is not simply we must follow the12500:09:55,440 –> 00:10:02,719example of Jesus. If the path to a genuinely godly life was12600:10:02,960 –> 00:10:07,039that we should simply Jesus is the example and you’ve gotta12700:10:07,039 –> 00:10:10,559follow the example. There would be no mystery in that with12800:10:10,559 –> 00:10:15,440there there’s no mystery there. Here’s the example he did it12900:10:15,440 –> 00:10:21,460you do it Where’s the mystery in that? Now what Paul is saying13000:10:21,460 –> 00:10:26,520here is no God has something better than simply you, making13100:10:26,520 –> 00:10:29,460your best effort to copy the perfect life of Jesus, they’re13200:10:29,460 –> 00:10:35,200now God has something better and this is the heart of the13300:10:35,200 –> 00:10:40,640mystery of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let me put it to you in13400:10:40,640 –> 00:10:44,200the words that Paul uses in Colossians and chapter one13500:10:44,200 –> 00:10:49,080where he spells it out, The mystery he says. They’re hidden13600:10:49,080 –> 00:10:55,239for ages and generations, but now reveals to his saints is13700:10:55,320 –> 00:10:59,400what? Christ in13800:11:02,059 –> 00:11:05,780the hope of glory. You see what he’s saying this great13900:11:05,780 –> 00:11:08,419mystery and it is a mystery, the full wonder of it is yet to14000:11:08,419 –> 00:11:13,859be revealed that Jesus Christ, the godly one would actually be14100:11:13,859 –> 00:11:22,640in you and his life. The godly life being in you is the secret14200:11:22,640 –> 00:11:27,200that god has revealed by which you may grow in the path of14300:11:27,200 –> 00:11:33,039godliness as his life is in you or to put it another way, in14400:11:33,039 –> 00:11:36,239Galatians in chapter two in verse twenty where god where14500:11:36,239 –> 00:11:40,080Paul says uh basically the same thing. I have been crucified14600:11:40,080 –> 00:11:44,619with Christ, he says, and it is no longer the who live but14700:11:44,619 –> 00:11:52,520Christ, who lives in me, do you see that? This is way more than14800:11:52,640 –> 00:11:55,159you know I’m doing my best to follow the example of Jesus.14900:11:55,159 –> 00:12:01,719No the life of Jesus is in me. I’ve received Jesus Christ or15000:12:01,719 –> 00:12:05,559to put it in the wonderful analogy that Our lord Jesus15100:12:05,559 –> 00:12:15,799himself uses. He says, I am the vine and you are the branches15200:12:15,799 –> 00:12:19,080and you see what that’s conveying. This is a different15300:12:19,080 –> 00:12:22,119world from you know you try and copy my example. Here’s what15400:12:22,119 –> 00:12:25,400I’ve done. you do the same. No he’s saying look. The life is15500:12:25,400 –> 00:12:29,799in me. I’m the vine and when you are in me and I am in you15600:12:29,799 –> 00:12:34,679my life actually permate your life so that which is in me15700:12:34,679 –> 00:12:38,520will come to be in you. That’s the very heart of how the15800:12:38,520 –> 00:12:44,599Christian life is lived. In other words there is no hope of15900:12:44,599 –> 00:12:49,239godliness without Jesus Christ, but when the life of Jesus16000:12:49,239 –> 00:12:58,119Christ is in you, a godly life will be possible for you.16100:12:58,119 –> 00:13:03,239Therefore we must receive Jesus Christ and how do we do16200:13:03,239 –> 00:13:07,719that we do that by believing in his name. This is the point16300:13:07,719 –> 00:13:10,599that the apostle John makes very clear right at the16400:13:10,599 –> 00:13:13,640beginning of his gospel where he introduces the lord Jesus16500:13:13,640 –> 00:13:19,719Christ to us, he says this, he came to his own and his own16600:13:19,719 –> 00:13:26,359did not receive him. But to as many as did receive him and16700:13:26,359 –> 00:13:29,080then he explains what he means by that what does it mean to16800:13:29,080 –> 00:13:34,919receive? Jesus He says this to those who believed in his name.16900:13:34,919 –> 00:13:40,140so by. In the lord Jesus Christ, you receive him that17000:13:40,640 –> 00:13:45,900comes to be in you. The life of the godly one comes to you so17100:13:45,900 –> 00:13:49,659that thereby through him, this is what god has revealed17200:13:49,659 –> 00:13:53,900though. It’s full wonder still to be made known, you will be17300:13:53,900 –> 00:13:59,659able to pursue a new and a godly life. You’re listening to17400:13:59,659 –> 00:14:02,859open the Bible with Pastor Collins and a message called17500:14:02,859 –> 00:14:06,380The open secret of the godly life. It’s part of our series17600:14:06,380 –> 00:14:09,659simply entitled Jesus and if you’ve ever missed one of the17700:14:09,679 –> 00:14:12,239series, or if you want to go back and listen again, you can17800:14:12,239 –> 00:14:15,200always do that by coming online to our website. Open the17900:14:15,200 –> 00:14:19,280Bible.org.uk. There you’ll find all the broadcasts that have18000:14:19,280 –> 00:14:22,159already gone out on air. They’re also available as a18100:14:22,159 –> 00:14:25,039podcast and those are on all the best podcast sites. Search18200:14:25,039 –> 00:14:28,239for Open the Bible UK and subscribe to receive regular18300:14:28,239 –> 00:14:32,880updates. Back to the message now. Here’s Colin. So we must18400:14:32,880 –> 00:14:39,200receive Jesus. Second, we must hope in Jesus. Now this is the18500:14:39,200 –> 00:14:41,200point maybe where someone will be saying, Well, wait a minute18600:14:41,200 –> 00:14:47,440Colin. I am a believer. I have received the Lord Jesus Christ18700:14:47,440 –> 00:14:51,539but I don’t feel very godly. I feel I’ve got such a long way18800:14:51,539 –> 00:14:58,580to go. And I want to say to you very simply that there is way18900:14:58,580 –> 00:15:03,539more in Jesus Christ than you or any of the rest of us here19000:15:04,299 –> 00:15:09,179discovered way more in Jesus Christ than you have yet19100:15:09,179 –> 00:15:12,679discovered. Remember, the definition of a mystery, a19200:15:12,679 –> 00:15:20,340secret God has revealed though it’s full wonder is still to be19300:15:20,340 –> 00:15:28,559made known. Receiving Jesus is a little bit like opening a gift19400:15:28,559 –> 00:15:35,840gift but only knowing a small part of what it can do.19500:15:35,979 –> 00:15:43,380My mother will reach the age of 90 next month, she has not been19600:15:43,380 –> 00:15:46,919particularly drawn over the last 20 or 30 years to the19700:15:46,919 –> 00:15:55,159developing world of technology. but last year, she said to me.19800:15:55,599 –> 00:16:00,979She said mom I think I’d like to have an iPad.19900:16:01,119 –> 00:16:05,820and I said mom that’s great Why do you want to have an iPad and20000:16:05,820 –> 00:16:06,739she said.20100:16:07,500 –> 00:16:08,979I’d like to be able to do Email.20200:16:10,719 –> 00:16:15,159And so when the iPad was bought, she did a marvelous20300:16:15,159 –> 00:16:17,340job of adapting to it and getting used to it.20400:16:17,440 –> 00:16:21,119and and doing email took a little bit of a while20500:16:21,119 –> 00:16:23,820to get used to. Very good typist. you know doing it with20600:16:23,900 –> 00:16:26,700old keyboard and to get used to the glass was a little20700:16:26,700 –> 00:16:29,539bit different, but she adapted to20800:16:29,539 –> 00:16:32,460it wonderfully well. Once she got the hang of that,20900:16:32,460 –> 00:16:33,280I said to.21000:16:34,179 –> 00:16:34,859You know mum.21100:16:36,299 –> 00:16:38,340That ipad can do a lot more.21200:16:39,380 –> 00:16:41,099Then send and receive email.21300:16:42,780 –> 00:16:43,940For example.21400:16:45,020 –> 00:16:48,000You could see pictures of your great21500:16:48,020 –> 00:16:51,539grandchildren as their mums and dad put21600:16:51,539 –> 00:16:54,580them up and she discovered the21700:16:54,580 –> 00:16:57,280whole world of pictures instantly21800:16:57,280 –> 00:17:00,219being available in our little family21900:17:00,219 –> 00:17:02,679circle that we have going online and22000:17:02,859 –> 00:17:05,420was absolutely thrilled.22100:17:05,979 –> 00:17:08,540Well what happened since is that22200:17:08,579 –> 00:17:11,219each time I go we find out22300:17:11,219 –> 00:17:13,099something else on the iPad,22400:17:13,939 –> 00:17:15,719mum, do you know that you can actually hear22500:17:15,719 –> 00:17:18,859Moody radio on the iPad you22600:17:18,880 –> 00:17:20,359know be six hours different?22700:17:20,359 –> 00:17:22,660But you can actually hear it22800:17:22,660 –> 00:17:24,319right here what exactly what is22900:17:24,739 –> 00:17:27,060held in Chicago, really.23000:17:27,619 –> 00:17:29,099But the best one was last time and23100:17:29,099 –> 00:17:31,380what a blessing this is proving23200:17:31,380 –> 00:17:33,880to be, mum did you know23300:17:33,880 –> 00:17:36,839that you can order your groceries23400:17:36,900 –> 00:17:38,859on the iPad and have them delivered23500:17:38,859 –> 00:17:40,839to your front door every week.23600:17:41,439 –> 00:17:43,439And oh boy she got the hang of that.23700:17:43,640 –> 00:17:46,160That has been a life changer.23800:17:46,199 –> 00:17:50,760Now, I hesitate to use any kind of23900:17:51,300 –> 00:17:53,119illustration to speak of the glories24000:17:53,180 –> 00:17:55,199of Jesus but I want you to see this24100:17:55,199 –> 00:17:55,780and feel it.24200:17:57,859 –> 00:18:00,979That there’s more in Jesus Christ24300:18:01,000 –> 00:18:03,160than any one of us has yet discovered.24400:18:06,119 –> 00:18:08,060The full wonder of Jesus Christ is24500:18:08,060 –> 00:18:09,439still to be made known.24600:18:11,520 –> 00:18:13,719There’s more peace for you to enjoy24700:18:13,719 –> 00:18:15,520in him than you have yet enjoyed24800:18:15,520 –> 00:18:17,380more hope for you to discover more24900:18:17,380 –> 00:18:19,579love for you to experience more25000:18:19,579 –> 00:18:22,660comfort for you to savor more joy.25100:18:24,680 –> 00:18:26,420John speaks about this he says to25200:18:26,420 –> 00:18:29,939believers we are now God’s children25300:18:30,800 –> 00:18:33,939but what we will be has not yet25400:18:33,939 –> 00:18:38,000been made known but we do know this25500:18:38,000 –> 00:18:40,859that when he appears we will be like25600:18:40,859 –> 00:18:43,619him for we shall see him as he is.25700:18:44,119 –> 00:18:47,180God has begun a good work in you25800:18:47,180 –> 00:18:49,500you may feel a long way form Godliness25900:18:50,500 –> 00:18:52,579but the work that he has began he26000:18:52,579 –> 00:18:54,420will bring to completion and there26100:18:54,420 –> 00:18:56,800will forever and forever be a26200:18:56,800 –> 00:18:59,780perfect reflection of the beauty and26300:18:59,780 –> 00:19:02,680the godliness of Jesus Christ in you26400:19:02,760 –> 00:19:07,160by his grace and how great will be26500:19:07,160 –> 00:19:08,920your joy when that work he has26600:19:08,920 –> 00:19:11,199already begun in you is brought to26700:19:11,219 –> 00:19:14,180completion. And so we are not only26800:19:14,180 –> 00:19:16,619to receive Jesus but receiving Jesus26900:19:16,619 –> 00:19:18,339by believing in his name, we are to27000:19:18,339 –> 00:19:20,660hope in him we are to know that there27100:19:20,660 –> 00:19:22,859is more of him more grace in him that27200:19:22,859 –> 00:19:25,219we are yet to discover and that there27300:19:25,219 –> 00:19:27,660is more that he will accomplish than27400:19:27,660 –> 00:19:31,859we have yet dared to dream. And then27500:19:31,859 –> 00:19:33,760lastly we have to confess Christ27600:19:33,760 –> 00:19:37,180great indeed we confess is the27700:19:37,180 –> 00:19:40,180mystery of godliness, the great task27800:19:40,280 –> 00:19:41,920given to the church, the great27900:19:41,920 –> 00:19:44,140privilege that we have together and28000:19:44,140 –> 00:19:47,839individually is that we confess Jesus28100:19:47,839 –> 00:19:51,640Christ we confess him manifested in the28200:19:51,640 –> 00:19:54,579flesh vendicated by the Spirit seen by28300:19:54,579 –> 00:19:56,619angels proclaimed among the nation’s28400:19:56,619 –> 00:19:59,380believed on in the world and taken up28500:19:59,380 –> 00:20:02,739into glory and great is this mystery of28600:20:02,739 –> 00:20:06,359all that is in Jesus Christ Jesus Christ28700:20:06,359 –> 00:20:09,839and all that is in him is the greatest28800:20:09,859 –> 00:20:12,000good news that this world has ever heard28900:20:12,000 –> 00:20:15,660and it is trusted to us who confess his29000:20:15,660 –> 00:20:21,180name we are to receive him we are to29100:20:21,180 –> 00:20:27,099hope in him we are to confess him and we29200:20:27,099 –> 00:20:29,920do so with joy for the glory of God29300:20:29,920 –> 00:20:31,319let’s pray together29400:20:31,920 –> 00:20:33,859Father we pray29500:20:34,000 –> 00:20:36,819that this Christmas season may not pass29600:20:36,920 –> 00:20:41,199with simple busyness but that it may be29700:20:41,199 –> 00:20:43,800a season in which in a fresh way we29800:20:43,800 –> 00:20:48,079catch a glimpse of the greatness and29900:20:48,079 –> 00:20:50,800glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and30000:20:50,800 –> 00:20:55,420seeing his greatness and glory come to30100:20:55,420 –> 00:20:59,479be changed increasingly into his30200:20:59,479 –> 00:21:03,079likeness bring us to a place where we30300:21:03,079 –> 00:21:06,319love you more that we may serve you30400:21:06,520 –> 00:21:09,880better in anticipation of the day when30500:21:09,880 –> 00:21:13,260the full wonder of all that is ours in30600:21:13,260 –> 00:21:16,699Jesus Christ is disclosed and we shall30700:21:16,699 –> 00:21:20,719rejoice in you and with you forever and30800:21:20,719 –> 00:21:23,640forever and we pray these things in30900:21:23,640 –> 00:21:26,239Jesus name31000:21:26,920 –> 00:21:30,439amen to that and thank you Colin you’ve31100:21:30,439 –> 00:21:32,180been listening to open the Bible with31200:21:32,180 –> 00:21:34,099Pastor Colin Smith and a message called31300:21:34,140 –> 00:21:37,239The open secret of a godly life and it’s31400:21:37,239 –> 00:21:39,680part of our series simply called Jesus31500:21:39,680 –> 00:21:42,180and if you’ve missed any of the series31600:21:42,180 –> 00:21:43,939to date or if you want to catch up and31700:21:43,939 –> 00:21:46,020listen again you can do that by coming31800:21:46,020 –> 00:21:49,000online to our website openthebible.org31900:21:49,000 –> 00:21:51,420.uk and there you’ll find all the32000:21:51,420 –> 00:21:53,339messages that have already gone out on32100:21:53,339 –> 00:21:55,459air you can also find them as a podcast32200:21:55,459 –> 00:21:57,339if that’s a better way for you to keep32300:21:57,339 –> 00:21:59,060up with Pastor Colin’s teaching and32400:21:59,060 –> 00:22:00,900those are available on all the main32500:22:00,900 –> 00:22:03,219podcast sites, search for Open the Bible32600:22:03,339 –> 00:22:05,800U.K and subscribe to receive regular32700:22:05,800 –> 00:22:08,260updates also on our website and32800:22:08,260 –> 00:22:10,839available as a podcast is Open the Bible32900:22:10,839 –> 00:22:13,219Daily and that’s a series of short33000:22:13,219 –> 00:22:15,500two to three minute daily reflections33100:22:15,500 –> 00:22:17,619based on Pastor Colin’s teaching and33200:22:17,619 –> 00:22:20,459read in the UK by Sue McLeish there’s a33300:22:20,459 –> 00:22:22,459new one on the website every day and33400:22:22,459 –> 00:22:24,579many questions find it’s a great way to33500:22:24,579 –> 00:22:26,719start the day so I’d encourage you to33600:22:26,719 –> 00:22:29,739look up Open the Bible Daily at Open the33700:22:29,739 –> 00:22:31,459Bible we welcome contact with our33800:22:31,780 –> 00:22:33,380If you’ve been blessed by33900:22:33,380 –> 00:22:35,760Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching and you’d34000:22:35,760 –> 00:22:37,540like to reach out to us there are34100:22:37,540 –> 00:22:39,560several ways you can do that you can34200:22:39,560 –> 00:22:43,760write to us at open the Bible PO Box 142034300:22:43,760 –> 00:22:49,420Cheltenham GL 50 9PG or you can34400:22:49,420 –> 00:22:55,780phone us on 0330 335 808934500:22:55,780 –> 00:22:57,520If we’re not34600:22:57,520 –> 00:22:59,640available when you call leave a message34700:22:59,800 –> 00:23:02,199for us and we’ll return your call and you34800:23:02,199 –> 00:23:04,079can find all those contact details on34900:23:04,079 –> 00:23:07,920our website open the Bible org.uk35000:23:07,920 –> 00:23:10,479Open the Bible is able to stay on this35100:23:10,479 –> 00:23:12,859station and on our website and as a35200:23:12,859 –> 00:23:15,479podcast because of the generous gifts of35300:23:15,479 –> 00:23:17,719our listeners so thank you if you35400:23:17,719 –> 00:23:20,319already give to support our work if35500:23:20,319 –> 00:23:21,920you’re thinking about beginning to35600:23:21,920 –> 00:23:24,000support us in that way in the future and35700:23:24,000 –> 00:23:26,920you’re able to set up a new direct debit35800:23:26,979 –> 00:23:29,219in the amount of five pounds per month35900:23:29,219 –> 00:23:31,959or more or a one-off gift of fifty36000:23:31,959 –> 00:23:34,239pounds or more we’d love to say thank36100:23:34,239 –> 00:23:36,880you by sending you three copies of the36200:23:36,880 –> 00:23:38,800Gospel of John to give away to your36300:23:38,800 –> 00:23:40,920family and friends and perhaps to read36400:23:40,920 –> 00:23:43,420with them. Colin what’s behind the idea36500:23:43,420 –> 00:23:45,459of offering a book of the Bible?36600:23:45,459 –> 00:23:47,680Well I’m assuming that the vast number36700:23:47,680 –> 00:23:49,560of people listening to us right now36800:23:49,560 –> 00:23:52,560already have a copy of the Bible but you36900:23:52,560 –> 00:23:55,680know you have someone in your life who37000:23:56,160 –> 00:23:57,640to know the God of the Bible and37100:24:00,959 –> 00:24:03,239And if that’s the case the best37200:24:03,239 –> 00:24:05,719place for them to start may be the37300:24:05,719 –> 00:24:07,319Gospel of John37400:24:07,319 –> 00:24:09,640Why shouldn’t you be the person to give37500:24:09,640 –> 00:24:12,640a copy of John’s Gospel to someone you37600:24:12,640 –> 00:24:15,040know and love who needs to know the God37700:24:15,040 –> 00:24:16,719of the Bible? And that’s why we’re37800:24:16,719 –> 00:24:18,719offering not one but three copies of37900:24:18,719 –> 00:24:20,880John’s Gospel. Here’s the challenge38000:24:20,880 –> 00:24:24,000can you think and pray over this season38100:24:24,260 –> 00:24:26,900about who in your life needs to know the38200:24:26,900 –> 00:24:29,459God of the Bible and then ask that God38300:24:29,459 –> 00:24:31,979would open an opportunity for you to38400:24:31,979 –> 00:24:34,780give them a copy of John’s Gospel and38500:24:34,780 –> 00:24:37,500offer to read it with them. If you can38600:24:37,500 –> 00:24:39,959open up a conversation around the Word38700:24:39,959 –> 00:24:42,420of God, well then you’re getting the38800:24:42,420 –> 00:24:46,079living seed into a person’s life and38900:24:46,079 –> 00:24:47,780when the living seed of the Word of God39000:24:47,780 –> 00:24:49,859gets into a person’s life, you’ve got39100:24:49,859 –> 00:24:51,699hope of seeing something very wonderful39200:24:51,699 –> 00:24:52,520happening.39300:24:52,540 –> 00:24:54,540Well we want to help you to get that39400:24:54,540 –> 00:24:56,619living Word of God into your life and39500:24:56,619 –> 00:24:58,880into the lives of those you come into39600:24:58,880 –> 00:25:01,180contact with, your family and friends.39700:25:01,180 –> 00:25:03,760Full details of this offer are on our39800:25:03,760 –> 00:25:07,739website openthebible.org.uk and that39900:25:07,739 –> 00:25:09,319you can also give online40000:25:10,000 –> 00:25:11,859For Open the Bible, I’m Pastor Colin40100:25:11,859 –> 00:25:13,839Smith, I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll40200:25:13,859 –> 00:25:15,800be able to join us again next time.40300:25:16,680 –> 00:25:19,020You can become a more godly person40400:25:19,040 –> 00:25:21,800through the Christmas Story find out40500:25:21,800 –> 00:25:24,739how, next time on Open the Bible