100:00:00,580 –> 00:00:09,500If we never aspire to do more than we know and feel we can do already, then we are not200:00:09,500 –> 00:00:16,540living by faith. Faith means asking God to do something in us and for us and through300:00:16,540 –> 00:00:20,940us that we know we cannot do by ourselves.400:00:20,940 –> 00:00:25,260Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. Glad you could join500:00:25,260 –> 00:00:30,240us today. And Colin I think maybe there’s some many listening who would say there’s600:00:30,240 –> 00:00:35,240something that God wanted me to do in the past or maybe something possibly that God700:00:35,240 –> 00:00:41,959wants me to do today, but it’s actually beyond me. I can’t do it. But it sounds like you’re800:00:41,959 –> 00:00:46,080saying I just need to ask God to give me what I need.900:00:46,080 –> 00:00:52,119Yeah that’s exactly right. And I think more than that, that if we wait until we feel able,1000:00:52,980 –> 00:00:56,500to do what God is calling us to do, we’ll never actually get round to doing1100:00:56,500 –> 00:01:01,919it. You know, I often have conversations as a pastor with someone who says, well I feel1200:01:01,919 –> 00:01:06,760that God may be calling me to do this but I don’t feel ready. And I often say well1300:01:06,760 –> 00:01:11,860if you wait until you feel ready you’ll never get to the point of doing it. And the whole1400:01:11,860 –> 00:01:17,860point of serving the Lord Jesus Christ is that it is a venture of faith. He calls us1500:01:17,860 –> 00:01:24,779out beyond our own capacity, beyond our own depth as it were, launch out into the deep.1600:01:24,779 –> 00:01:31,379And when we find ourselves faced with a huge challenge that’s the time to ask Lord increase1700:01:31,379 –> 00:01:37,260my faith. You know, I’m very struck by a question that Jesus once asked and I think it’s one1800:01:37,260 –> 00:01:43,699of the hardest ones to answer. He asked of his disciples once, what do you want me to1900:01:43,699 –> 00:01:49,000do for you. I’ve often thought about that in different situations, so what would I say2000:01:49,000 –> 00:01:57,339to Jesus if face to face he said, now Colin, what do you want me to do for you. Well, you2100:01:57,339 –> 00:02:03,059know we need to be asking of the Lord what it is that we want him to do for us, so that2200:02:03,059 –> 00:02:07,739our faith may be strengthened and we won’t spend the rest of our lives just saying, well2300:02:07,739 –> 00:02:12,860you know this is too hard, too big, too difficult. But rather I can do all things through Christ2400:02:12,940 –> 00:02:18,039who gives me strength. Well that’s exactly what today’s message is all about, the urgency2500:02:18,039 –> 00:02:23,940of having a firm faith. Join us if you can in 1 Thessalonians chapter 3. As we continue2600:02:23,940 –> 00:02:30,860the message here is Pastor Colin. Suffering, great trials and great temptations, will always2700:02:32,059 –> 00:02:42,800expose the foundation of your life. Jesus told a story you remember about two ways in2800:02:42,800 –> 00:02:49,479which people build their lives. And he said for some it’s like building a house on rock2900:02:49,479 –> 00:02:54,779and for other people it’s like a man who builds his house on sand, and then a storm3000:02:54,779 –> 00:03:03,820comes and the storm is suffering. And when that happens for some people the faith that3100:03:03,820 –> 00:03:09,039they talk about so very much and so very lightly just collapses because it really has no3200:03:09,039 –> 00:03:18,899foundation at all. And for others they stand, they stand firm because there is that solid3300:03:18,899 –> 00:03:29,479foundation, they are built upon the rock. When you suffer the idol of comfort is cast3400:03:29,479 –> 00:03:41,619down. It is no longer of any use or any relevance. I want you to notice that when you suffer,3500:03:41,619 –> 00:03:52,419when you face strong temptations, objective number one is simply that you should stand.3600:03:52,419 –> 00:03:57,820It is not more than that, it’s not other than that, it is that you should stand firm in3700:03:57,820 –> 00:04:06,020the Lord when you face great trials and when you endure great temptations. Now I emphasize3800:04:06,020 –> 00:04:12,419that because it seems to me sometimes from looking in my own heart and often in conversations3900:04:12,419 –> 00:04:18,839with others, that somehow we get the idea that God is looking for more than that from4000:04:18,980 –> 00:04:25,980us when we endure trials. It comes out like this. Someone’s been bereaved. They’re devastated.4100:04:28,200 –> 00:04:35,200And they say, pastor I know I should feel joy but I don’t feel joy. Or someone is going4200:04:35,239 –> 00:04:42,239through some extraordinary trauma and they say, you know, I wish I just felt peace. Perfect4300:04:42,679 –> 00:04:49,679peace but I don’t feel perfect peace. I feel so troubled. Now, when Jesus suffered on the4400:04:53,059 –> 00:05:00,059cross He was not singing choruses with a smiling face. Right? In fact, when Jesus suffered4500:05:01,179 –> 00:05:08,179on the cross, He cried out of an agony in His inner being, why? And He says, because4600:05:12,820 –> 00:05:19,820He cried out. But He stood firm as He’d suffered and on that hangs your salvation and mine.4700:05:25,859 –> 00:05:32,859Now, God is not asking more of you than you see in Jesus.4800:05:33,779 –> 00:05:40,779And Paul’s joy about these believers is focused on this, that, when they went through4900:05:41,559 –> 00:05:48,559great trials and when they endured great temptations, they simply stood firm.5000:05:48,940 –> 00:05:55,940That’s the objective. That is the victory. And that is to the eternal praise and glory5100:05:56,559 –> 00:06:02,660of God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Notice the impact, by the way, of the Thessalonians5200:06:02,660 –> 00:06:07,480standing firm. Verse 7. Paul’s talking about his own trouble now. He says,5300:06:07,640 –> 00:06:14,720In all our distress and persecution—the apostle and Timothy and Silas—in all our5400:06:15,040 –> 00:06:20,799trouble, he says we were encouraged about you because of your faith.5500:06:20,799 –> 00:06:27,799Let me speak specifically for a moment now to those of us who at this time are facing5600:06:28,359 –> 00:06:35,359unusual trials and strong temptations. Never, never, never underestimate yourself.5700:06:38,380 –> 00:06:42,239Never estimate the significance of your standing firm in the faith.5800:06:42,239 –> 00:06:46,739In the middle of what you are going through right now.5900:06:46,739 –> 00:06:53,739When you face strong temptations and you stand firm, then others who know you and walk with6000:06:55,140 –> 00:07:02,140you will be strengthened to stand firm in their temptations that they also face.6100:07:03,140 –> 00:07:09,640When you endure great trials and you stand firm, others who know you, love you and watch6200:07:09,640 –> 00:07:16,339you and walk with you, they will be strengthened and encouraged so that they will stand firm6300:07:16,339 –> 00:07:21,839as they face great trials in their time also.6400:07:21,839 –> 00:07:28,440The resilience of true faith under pressure and in the face of temptation is one of the6500:07:28,440 –> 00:07:34,760surest evidences that God has done an authentic work in your life.6600:07:34,760 –> 00:07:42,200The trial of your faith, when it goes through the fire Peter says, proves that your faith6700:07:42,200 –> 00:07:49,700is genuine and it will rebound to the praise and glory of God forever and forever.6800:07:49,700 –> 00:07:57,619So Paul says in verse nine, how can we thank God enough for you for all the joy that we6900:07:57,619 –> 00:08:02,220have in the presence of God because of you.7000:08:02,220 –> 00:08:11,320To see that you would stand under this, is one of the greatest blessings.7100:08:11,320 –> 00:08:16,420One of the greatest evidences of God’s work in your life.7200:08:16,420 –> 00:08:22,299Now here’s an application then of this point this morning.7300:08:22,299 –> 00:08:30,779From what we’re learning here, it follows that those who suffer greatly have one of7400:08:30,779 –> 00:08:41,020the most important ministries in the church as you stand firm and by your standing firm7500:08:41,020 –> 00:08:44,719you strengthen others.7600:08:44,719 –> 00:08:51,700See we’ve got this list here that’s very important of ministry opportunities in the life of the7700:08:51,700 –> 00:09:02,919church and maybe what we should do is put at the bottom standing firm under suffering.7800:09:02,919 –> 00:09:07,880Except I don’t think we’d get anyone to sign up for that right?7900:09:07,880 –> 00:09:11,280But you see that’s what some of you are doing without ever having signed up for it, it’s8000:09:11,280 –> 00:09:13,979just where you’re at.8100:09:13,979 –> 00:09:26,500A special-needs child who makes incredible demands, day and night and day and night and8200:09:26,500 –> 00:09:30,840day and night and day and night.8300:09:30,840 –> 00:09:36,200Devastating bereavement that has torn your life apart.8400:09:36,520 –> 00:09:44,780An illness and the pain that is endured, and you endure it, and you endure it, and yet8500:09:44,780 –> 00:09:48,919you stand in the faith.8600:09:48,919 –> 00:09:56,479Sometimes are gritting your teeth, you are not glazed over with some beatific smile,8700:09:56,479 –> 00:10:03,559but you are standing firm as one who loves Jesus Christ, and trusts Him still, and thank8800:10:03,559 –> 00:10:05,479God for that.8900:10:05,479 –> 00:10:10,299You have a ministry to the rest of us, and you have a ministry to the unseen angelic9000:10:10,299 –> 00:10:17,679and demonic world that demonstrates the reality of authentic faith in Jesus Christ.9100:10:17,679 –> 00:10:19,960Never underestimate it’s importance.9200:10:19,960 –> 00:10:25,700There are so many who live lives that are like a house built on sand, and if that was9300:10:25,700 –> 00:10:28,200you, you would have collapsed long ago.9400:10:28,200 –> 00:10:35,239Thank God for those that bear evidence of a faith that shows you are built on the rock.9500:10:35,280 –> 00:10:41,460And when faith is under fire, it stands firm.9600:10:41,479 –> 00:10:48,640So I think to you, the rest of the congregation today would be saying what Paul says in verse9700:10:48,640 –> 00:10:54,440nine, how can we thank God enough for you?9800:10:54,440 –> 00:10:58,320In return for all the joy that we have in the presence of God because of you?9900:10:58,460 –> 00:10:59,460Not all the joy that you have.10000:10:59,500 –> 00:11:05,539You have it really tough but us seeing your faith, it’s a ministry to everybody else.10100:11:07,820 –> 00:11:09,200It really is.10200:11:09,200 –> 00:11:14,179You’re listening to open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith, and a message called the urgency10300:11:14,179 –> 00:11:16,539of firm faith part of our series, living like there’s no tomorrow.10400:11:19,539 –> 00:11:23,299If you’ve missed any of the series so far, or if you have a want to catch up or go back10500:11:23,299 –> 00:11:26,500and listen again, you can do that by coming to our website.10600:11:26,700 –> 00:11:29,099That’s at openthebible.org.uk.10700:11:29,099 –> 00:11:33,760Alternatively, find us as a podcast on all the main podcast sites.10800:11:33,760 –> 00:11:36,900Search, therefore, OpenTheBibleUK.10900:11:36,900 –> 00:11:38,099Back to the message now.11000:11:38,099 –> 00:11:40,340Here again is Pastor Colin.11100:11:40,340 –> 00:11:42,020Here’s the last thing this morning.11200:11:42,020 –> 00:11:45,020Faith growing strong.11300:11:45,020 –> 00:11:46,340Faith growing strong.11400:11:46,340 –> 00:11:48,119Verse ten.11500:11:48,119 –> 00:11:54,580And I gotta say that when I came to this first, it really took me by surprise.11600:11:54,739 –> 00:12:00,159For night and day, we pray most earnestly that we may see you again.11700:12:00,159 –> 00:12:06,539And supplying what is lacking in your faith.11800:12:06,539 –> 00:12:10,099I hope you can see why that caught me by surprise.11900:12:10,099 –> 00:12:11,780It probably catches you by surprise as well.12000:12:11,780 –> 00:12:15,659He’s just been talking about their faith standing firm and how wonderful that is.12100:12:15,659 –> 00:12:16,659Chapter one and verse eight.12200:12:16,659 –> 00:12:20,320He’s been saying that all over the world, people are speaking about the faith of the12300:12:20,320 –> 00:12:21,320Thessalonians.12400:12:21,380 –> 00:12:25,400So why does he now suddenly come along and say that apparently there is something lacking12500:12:25,400 –> 00:12:26,880in their faith?12600:12:26,880 –> 00:12:34,320Well, the answer surely is that even the strongest faith in this world is a work begun, but not12700:12:34,320 –> 00:12:37,340yet complete.12800:12:37,340 –> 00:12:39,039Your faith needs to grow.12900:12:39,039 –> 00:12:42,039However long you’ve been a Christian, our faith needs to grow.13000:12:42,039 –> 00:12:45,219However mature we are as a church.13100:12:45,219 –> 00:12:50,520Jesus described faith as being like a living seed, like a mustard seed, and anything living13200:12:50,719 –> 00:12:54,239needs to be nourished and to be fed.13300:12:54,239 –> 00:12:59,700Your faith is fed and nourished in the Word, in worship, in prayer and in fellowship.13400:12:59,700 –> 00:13:05,419It is exercised in ministry and in facing great trials and temptations, and it needs13500:13:05,419 –> 00:13:09,979to be applied to the choices that you make in your life personally, and that we make13600:13:09,979 –> 00:13:14,179in our life together.13700:13:14,179 –> 00:13:18,700One of the great joys for me last month was the quality of discussion that we shared as13800:13:18,700 –> 00:13:26,039a congregation as we talked together about the first draft of our ministry plan.13900:13:26,039 –> 00:13:29,960We received many good suggestions, some of which have been incorporated already.14000:13:29,960 –> 00:13:34,580You can see that in the latest version that is on the website if you haven’t picked it14100:13:34,580 –> 00:13:35,840up already.14200:13:35,840 –> 00:13:40,020There were also some great questions asked.14300:13:40,020 –> 00:13:43,219And I think one of the questions that was asked most frequently, certainly one that14400:13:43,219 –> 00:13:47,659I heard most often went like this.14500:13:48,659 –> 00:13:51,900This is great.14600:13:51,900 –> 00:13:54,940But how are we going to do all this?14700:13:56,760 –> 00:14:00,859Now you see that is the most marvelous question.14800:14:00,859 –> 00:14:05,559Because that is precisely where we should be.14900:14:05,559 –> 00:14:11,419If we never aspire to do more than we know and feel we can do already, then we are not15000:14:11,419 –> 00:14:13,739living by faith.15100:14:14,619 –> 00:14:20,080Faith means asking God to do something in us and for us and through us that we know15200:14:20,080 –> 00:14:24,080we cannot do by ourselves.15300:14:24,619 –> 00:14:30,840So, let’s apply what we’re learning here from 1 Thessalonians to our faith.15400:14:30,840 –> 00:14:34,200And remember that Paul is writing this letter not to an individual.15500:14:34,200 –> 00:14:36,919It’s not like the letter to Timothy to one person.15600:14:36,919 –> 00:14:38,679This is to a church.15700:14:38,679 –> 00:14:40,340It’s to a congregation.15800:14:40,340 –> 00:14:45,320This letter is a sort of letter that should be read at a congregational meeting.15900:14:45,320 –> 00:14:47,320It’s about the faith of the church.16000:14:47,320 –> 00:14:52,559It’s about the faith of the people together and Paul sent Timothy to find out about their16100:14:52,559 –> 00:14:54,080faith.16200:14:54,080 –> 00:15:03,719You see, if Paul sent Timothy here to do a study of our faith and make a report back16300:15:03,719 –> 00:15:07,820to the apostle what do you think he would say?16400:15:07,820 –> 00:15:15,099Suppose Timothy was here in our services to sample the spiritual temperature, suppose16500:15:15,099 –> 00:15:22,679he visited the small groups to see if faith and the Word were central.16600:15:22,679 –> 00:15:29,619Suppose he sat in on mealtimes with a number of families to sample the tone of conversation16700:15:29,619 –> 00:15:36,500to see if there is the air of confidence in God about us.16800:15:36,539 –> 00:15:42,039Suppose he sat in on our discussions of what we hope to do in the name of Christ in relation16900:15:42,039 –> 00:15:46,700to ministry together, and suppose he wrote it all up and took it back as a report to17000:15:46,700 –> 00:15:49,179the Apostle Paul what would he say?17100:15:51,500 –> 00:15:59,080Paul, it is good news, these folks have been through some trials, Satan has tempted many,17200:15:59,080 –> 00:16:06,200but the congregation is standing firm in the Lord, they have learned a humility that knows17300:16:06,219 –> 00:16:11,960that apart from God they can do nothing, but they also are marked by a faith and a confidence17400:16:11,960 –> 00:16:15,460in God that expects him to do great things.17500:16:15,460 –> 00:16:17,359Would he say that?17600:16:17,359 –> 00:16:26,799See, I think we need to grow in that kind of faith, the faith that breaks outside of17700:16:26,799 –> 00:16:35,479the little box of what we feel confident we can do, and looks to God for that which only17800:16:35,559 –> 00:16:43,679God can do, and together cast ourselves upon him as we venture forward together.17900:16:43,679 –> 00:16:47,380You say, how does that kind of faith grow?18000:16:47,380 –> 00:16:49,080Where does it come from?18100:16:49,080 –> 00:16:53,599Give me three quick steps to develop it.18200:16:53,599 –> 00:16:55,400And you notice Paul doesn’t do that?18300:16:55,400 –> 00:16:58,039It’s interesting to notice, where does the apostle go?18400:16:58,039 –> 00:17:01,760When he’s got to this point of talking about what is lacking in your faith, where does18500:17:01,760 –> 00:17:02,919he go from there?18600:17:02,919 –> 00:17:03,919He goes to prayer.18700:17:04,880 –> 00:17:07,479That’s the point of verses 12 and 13.18800:17:07,500 –> 00:17:12,880He says, may God the Lord, make your love increase and overflow for each other.18900:17:12,880 –> 00:17:16,979May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be holy and blameless.19000:17:16,979 –> 00:17:21,400See, that kind of faith is a work of God.19100:17:21,400 –> 00:17:28,459You can’t get this kind of faith that’s a solid rock foundation that enables a person19200:17:28,459 –> 00:17:33,839to venture on God and trust him in great trials and in the face of great temptations.19300:17:33,839 –> 00:17:36,439You can’t get that from a pastor.19400:17:36,439 –> 00:17:38,359You can’t get that from a mentor.19500:17:38,359 –> 00:17:40,079You can’t get that from a coach.19600:17:40,079 –> 00:17:43,239You can’t get it from a small group, from any program.19700:17:43,239 –> 00:17:47,739You can’t even get it from an apostle.19800:17:47,739 –> 00:17:53,160This kind of faith comes only from God.19900:17:53,160 –> 00:17:58,319And Paul himself demonstrates this kind of faith when he moves into prayer and he’s saying,20000:17:58,319 –> 00:18:01,119Lord you do it in them.20100:18:01,119 –> 00:18:03,359You give them what’s lacking in their faith.20200:18:03,359 –> 00:18:04,359You do it.20300:18:04,359 –> 00:18:05,359I can’t do it.20400:18:05,359 –> 00:18:06,439I’m an apostle he’s saying.20500:18:06,439 –> 00:18:08,439But only you can do this.20600:18:08,439 –> 00:18:15,000It’s a sovereign work of the spirit of God to lift the level of faith in a Christian20700:18:15,000 –> 00:18:16,400congregation.20800:18:16,400 –> 00:18:19,540Will you join me in asking God for that?20900:18:19,540 –> 00:18:27,900What a great thing it is that we can ask God to increase our faith.21000:18:27,939 –> 00:18:30,819Personally and together.21100:18:30,819 –> 00:18:35,880Lord I need You.21200:18:35,880 –> 00:18:38,579I cannot stand without You.21300:18:38,579 –> 00:18:49,099All the strength I can muster is a puny thing in the face of life and death and eternity.21400:18:49,099 –> 00:18:53,020Give me Your spirit.21500:18:53,060 –> 00:18:59,699Fill me with Your power, cause me to stand firm in the trials I face and the temptations21600:18:59,699 –> 00:19:05,839that bear in on me, to stand firm in the Lord by the power of Your spirit.21700:19:05,839 –> 00:19:08,459You seek Him.21800:19:08,459 –> 00:19:11,979You lay hold of Him.21900:19:11,979 –> 00:19:17,040You ask of Him, you believe in Him.22000:19:17,040 –> 00:19:19,380And you receive from Him.22100:19:20,119 –> 00:19:25,719And as you do that for yourself, will you do that for us?22200:19:25,719 –> 00:19:30,859I’ve told you before, now I want just to close with this.22300:19:30,859 –> 00:19:37,739Some years ago I was assigned by the denomination I served in England to try and strengthen22400:19:37,739 –> 00:19:44,880and encourage pastors and churches in a particularly hard area for the gospel in the north of England,22500:19:44,880 –> 00:19:45,880really tough.22600:19:45,880 –> 00:19:48,319One of the hardest places for gospel work.22700:19:48,319 –> 00:19:51,619All of the churches were small.22800:19:51,619 –> 00:19:54,760Pastors discouraged.22900:19:54,760 –> 00:19:59,959And I spent two weeks a year there for some years.23000:19:59,959 –> 00:20:04,239And visited all of the churches that were part of our denomination, spent time there,23100:20:04,239 –> 00:20:06,099tried to be useful.23200:20:06,099 –> 00:20:10,180Kind of along these lines.23300:20:10,180 –> 00:20:14,119And there was one church that was distinctively different.23400:20:14,199 –> 00:20:18,119Just going in and speaking and being with the people, you could hear in their singing23500:20:18,119 –> 00:20:19,380something different.23600:20:19,380 –> 00:20:23,319You could sense in their praying before the service just half a dozen people, something23700:20:23,319 –> 00:20:24,619different.23800:20:24,619 –> 00:20:32,160You sensed in the faces and conversations with people afterwards something quite distinct.23900:20:32,160 –> 00:20:36,680And I got to know the leading elder very well in that church.24000:20:36,680 –> 00:20:40,359I’ll never forget saying to him on one occasion, you know, really of all the churches in this24100:20:40,359 –> 00:20:45,619town there is something distinct and different about this one.24200:20:45,619 –> 00:20:47,640Tell me about it.24300:20:47,640 –> 00:20:52,719This was on one of the toughest housing estates in the north of England, desperately poor24400:20:52,719 –> 00:20:53,719area.24500:20:53,719 –> 00:20:59,359And he said, this is a hopeless place to live.24600:20:59,359 –> 00:21:04,020And he said the churches tend to reflect that.24700:21:04,119 –> 00:21:12,859And he said, our leadership made a commitment a year ago that every Saturday night we would24800:21:12,859 –> 00:21:17,140ask God for one thing.24900:21:17,140 –> 00:21:27,380And that was that there would be faith in the congregation on Sunday morning.25000:21:27,380 –> 00:21:32,119That people would come with a sense of expectancy to meet with God.25100:21:33,119 –> 00:21:38,780And that God would meet that expectancy.25200:21:38,780 –> 00:21:47,979And I walked in from 300 miles away and knew on the first visit that this was different25300:21:47,979 –> 00:21:53,880from any other church I went to in that area.25400:21:53,880 –> 00:21:57,680God, increase our faith.25500:21:57,680 –> 00:22:00,699God move among us.25600:22:00,760 –> 00:22:09,500God, supply what is lacking for your praise and glory and for the advance of your kingdom.25700:22:10,839 –> 00:22:14,939And all of God’s people together said, Amen.25800:22:15,260 –> 00:22:19,699Just a reminder there of the importance of having a firm faith.25900:22:19,699 –> 00:22:24,199You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smyth on Open the Bible and a message called The26000:22:24,199 –> 00:22:28,859Urgency of Firm Faith, part of the series Living Like there’s No Tomorrow.26100:22:29,400 –> 00:22:33,060If you ever miss one of our programs or if you want to go back and listen again, you26200:22:33,060 –> 00:22:37,359can do that by coming online to our website, openthebible.org.uk.26300:22:38,719 –> 00:22:44,280Or find us as a podcast on all the main podcasts sites, search for open the Bible UK.26400:22:44,359 –> 00:22:46,380While you’re on our website.26500:22:46,380 –> 00:22:48,819Don’t forget about Open the Bible daily.26600:22:48,819 –> 00:22:54,640That’s our series of short 2 to 3 minute daily reflections based on Pastor Colin’s teaching26700:22:54,640 –> 00:22:58,040and read this month in the UK by Sally Workman.26800:22:58,199 –> 00:23:03,459In the run up to Christmas at Open the Bible, we want to provide churches and groups with26900:23:03,479 –> 00:23:05,800great supporting material.27000:23:05,800 –> 00:23:09,459Here is Open the Bible’s executive director, John Martin.27100:23:09,680 –> 00:23:14,579If you are planning events for Christmas and Advent for your church and community then27200:23:14,579 –> 00:23:17,199Open the Bible has resources to help you.27300:23:17,199 –> 00:23:23,300A nativity script you can use outside or indoors, sermon outlines for an Advent sermon series27400:23:23,939 –> 00:23:26,099and it’s all linked to our new little book.27500:23:26,160 –> 00:23:31,140Our new little book, Christmas Stories, five first person narratives.27600:23:31,140 –> 00:23:35,380To find out more go to OpenTheBible.org.uk27700:23:35,380 –> 00:23:41,119Regular listeners will know that Open the Bible is supported by our listeners, and if27800:23:41,119 –> 00:23:45,099you already give to support our work, thank you so much!27900:23:45,099 –> 00:23:49,680If you’d like to become one of our supporters, here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham28000:23:49,680 –> 00:23:51,619to tell you about a special offer.28100:23:51,619 –> 00:23:52,619Thanks, David.28200:23:52,619 –> 00:23:58,619Yes, as we look ahead to Christmas, our book of the month for October is Hallelujah, by28300:23:58,619 –> 00:24:00,819Dave and Sally Gobbit.28400:24:00,819 –> 00:24:06,859This beautiful devotional draws on the timeless music of Handel’s Messiah and the words28500:24:06,859 –> 00:24:10,319of Scripture, to take you through the Christmas story.28600:24:10,319 –> 00:24:15,300Each daily reading includes a short reflection, together with a piece of the Hallelujah chorus28700:24:15,300 –> 00:24:20,560to listen to, helping you to pause and reflect on the wonder of Christ’s coming.28800:24:20,760 –> 00:24:25,239I read this devotional last Advent with my family and I found it a real blessing!28900:24:25,239 –> 00:24:31,579It’s a lovely way to slow down during a busy season and prepare our hearts for Christmas,29000:24:31,579 –> 00:24:34,459and we hope that it will be a blessing to you too.29100:24:34,459 –> 00:24:39,719You can receive a free copy of Hallelujah when you support Open the Bible UK.29200:24:39,719 –> 00:24:46,900Simply donate a one off gift of at least £60 or set up a new direct debit of £5 or more.29300:24:46,900 –> 00:24:51,959And please do remember to leave your name and address when you donate so that we know29400:24:51,959 –> 00:24:53,500where to send your book.29500:24:53,500 –> 00:24:54,500Thanks Amanda.29600:24:54,500 –> 00:25:01,540So our website address, again, is openthebible.org.uk and there you’ll find full terms and conditions29700:25:01,540 –> 00:25:04,099and all the details about this offer.29800:25:04,099 –> 00:25:07,520For Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick.29900:25:07,520 –> 00:25:11,540I’m glad you joined us today, and I hope to see you again next time on Open the Bible.30000:25:17,719 –> 00:25:21,540Confusion about these two things will hamper your battle against sexual sin.30100:25:21,540 –> 00:25:25,099Find out what they are next time on Open the Bible.