100:00:00,960 –> 00:00:07,840Sin is not your master. It is your enemy, but it is not your master.200:00:07,840 –> 00:00:13,080And that is the first thing that you need to know about yourself if you are to enter300:00:13,080 –> 00:00:19,080into and live the freedom that is yours in Jesus Christ.400:00:19,080 –> 00:00:23,760Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick,500:00:23,760 –> 00:00:27,400and we’re continuing our message today, You Are Free.600:00:27,559 –> 00:00:32,439Last time we heard that sin is still our enemy but it’s no longer our master.700:00:32,439 –> 00:00:37,400Once we’re in Christ Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit and we can begin to battle against sin800:00:37,400 –> 00:00:43,639and triumph over it. So, today, Colin, we’ll hear about how we actually go about doing that.900:00:43,639 –> 00:00:48,360Yes, and most importantly, for us to understand who we are.1000:00:48,360 –> 00:00:54,360You know, if you still in your heart of hearts believe that sin is much stronger than you are,1100:00:54,919 –> 00:00:58,200you’re never going to make much progress in fighting against it.1200:00:58,200 –> 00:01:03,240I mean, who’s got any energy for a fight that you believe you can only lose.1300:01:03,240 –> 00:01:09,160Now, when a person comes to know Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God comes to live in that person,1400:01:09,800 –> 00:01:15,000well then, power and strength has been given in order to engage in a battle.1500:01:15,000 –> 00:01:19,559And sure, we have defeats and sure, we have our failures, that’s true of every Christian.1600:01:19,559 –> 00:01:24,040But we do have both the desire and the power to engage in the battle with sin1700:01:24,120 –> 00:01:26,599and that’s fundamental to living the Christian life.1800:01:26,599 –> 00:01:30,440And because of that, there’s a great freedom that goes along with it1900:01:30,440 –> 00:01:32,360and that’s what we’ll hear about today.2000:01:32,360 –> 00:01:38,680So join us, if you can, in Romans chapter 6 as we continue the message, You Are Free.2100:01:38,680 –> 00:01:39,400Here’s Colin.2200:01:40,120 –> 00:01:46,120There is all the difference in the world between sin being your enemy and sin being your master.2300:01:47,160 –> 00:01:50,919There’s all the difference in the world between the soldier who’s a hostage2400:01:50,919 –> 00:01:55,320and who is held up behind closed doors and he’s bound and he’s gagged.2500:01:55,320 –> 00:01:58,360There’s all the difference in the world between the soldier who’s a hostage2600:01:58,360 –> 00:02:00,760and the soldier who’s in the open field of battle,2700:02:00,760 –> 00:02:02,519who’s engaged with the enemy.2800:02:02,519 –> 00:02:06,599In the one position, he is unable to act.2900:02:08,119 –> 00:02:12,199In the other position, he is released and equipped to fight.3000:02:12,919 –> 00:02:14,600We’re not saying that the struggle is over.3100:02:14,600 –> 00:02:18,279We’re saying that you fight from an entirely new position.3200:02:19,160 –> 00:02:21,639You’re not only in a new position in relation to God,3300:02:21,639 –> 00:02:24,759but you are in a new position in relation to sin.3400:02:24,759 –> 00:02:26,440Sin is not your master.3500:02:26,440 –> 00:02:29,399It is your enemy, but it is not your master.3600:02:30,919 –> 00:02:33,960And that is the first thing that you need to know about yourself3700:02:33,960 –> 00:02:41,000if you are to enter into and live the freedom that is yours in Jesus Christ.3800:02:42,520 –> 00:02:44,520Now, here’s the second thing I want us to grasp.3900:02:46,199 –> 00:02:48,199Not only is sin not your master,4000:02:49,240 –> 00:02:54,679but secondly I want us to see that it is Christ who has set you free.4100:02:55,720 –> 00:02:58,600Our core verse from 1 Corinthians 1.30.4200:02:59,720 –> 00:03:03,000Christ is our redemption.4300:03:04,360 –> 00:03:06,679Christ is our redemption.4400:03:07,960 –> 00:03:12,119You died to sin, Romans 6, in Christ.4500:03:13,320 –> 00:03:16,679You have been crucified with Christ.4600:03:17,559 –> 00:03:21,960The new position rests entirely on Christ4700:03:21,960 –> 00:03:26,279and we enter into it by our union with Him.4800:03:27,240 –> 00:03:30,919Now that should not surprise us, the Lord Jesus Christ4900:03:30,919 –> 00:03:36,039is central to everything that is truly Christian.5000:03:37,559 –> 00:03:40,360Now, this is so important for us today5100:03:41,800 –> 00:03:44,360because what it’s telling us is5200:03:44,360 –> 00:03:46,839that the way in which you become free5300:03:48,360 –> 00:03:50,119is not through a technique,5400:03:51,639 –> 00:03:53,000but it is through a person.5500:03:55,000 –> 00:03:57,559Christ is our Redemption.5600:03:58,360 –> 00:04:00,679A lot of people want to substitute something else5700:04:00,679 –> 00:04:02,919in place of Christ as a way of getting free.5800:04:04,279 –> 00:04:05,240But the Bible says,5900:04:05,240 –> 00:04:07,080Christ is our redemption,6000:04:07,080 –> 00:04:10,919if the son shall set you free, you will be free indeed.6100:04:11,000 –> 00:04:13,800Now the Apostle Paul gives us another description6200:04:13,800 –> 00:04:16,200of the man in the cage in Romans chapter seven,6300:04:16,200 –> 00:04:18,279which some of us are very familiar with.6400:04:19,079 –> 00:04:21,160Remember that he describes in Romans seven,6500:04:21,160 –> 00:04:22,920the man who is overwhelmed6600:04:22,920 –> 00:04:25,399by the compulsive power of sinful habits.6700:04:27,000 –> 00:04:30,519This man says that he is a prisoner to the law of sin.6800:04:31,160 –> 00:04:33,239The fact that he calls himself a prisoner6900:04:33,239 –> 00:04:36,519indicates quite clearly that he is in the cage.7000:04:37,079 –> 00:04:40,440He describes how he is unable to do what he wants to do.7100:04:40,440 –> 00:04:41,720He’s a prisoner7200:04:41,720 –> 00:04:44,440and he always ends up doing what he doesn’t want to do7300:04:44,440 –> 00:04:46,679because sin keeps telling him to do it.7400:04:47,559 –> 00:04:49,640Finally, he says in Romans chapter seven,7500:04:49,640 –> 00:04:51,000in verse 24,7600:04:51,000 –> 00:04:53,559what a wretched man I am.7700:04:54,119 –> 00:04:55,239There’s always a wonderful verse7800:04:55,239 –> 00:04:57,959for practising the rolling of an R that one.7900:04:58,679 –> 00:05:01,799What a wretched man I am.8000:05:02,359 –> 00:05:03,160Now,8100:05:03,640 –> 00:05:04,140Now,8200:05:04,839 –> 00:05:08,040if you’ve felt that experience of the frustration,8300:05:08,600 –> 00:05:13,399the wretchedness of repeated failure,8400:05:13,399 –> 00:05:15,399of compulsive behaviour.8500:05:17,640 –> 00:05:19,480What a wretched man I am.8600:05:22,040 –> 00:05:25,160Notice the question that the apostle Paul then asks.8700:05:25,799 –> 00:05:29,959Who will rescue me from this body of death?8800:05:29,959 –> 00:05:32,040That’s Romans seven, verse 24.8900:05:32,040 –> 00:05:33,320Now, notice the question!9000:05:35,720 –> 00:05:40,279The question in his wretchedness and his compulsive behaviour9100:05:40,279 –> 00:05:40,839is not,9200:05:41,720 –> 00:05:43,799What will deliver me?9300:05:45,320 –> 00:05:46,440The question is,9400:05:47,160 –> 00:05:49,720Who will deliver me?9500:05:51,239 –> 00:05:55,480Now, it seems to me that many people9600:05:56,679 –> 00:05:59,959who are struggling with problems of compulsive behaviour9700:05:59,959 –> 00:06:03,239are asking the wrong primary question.9800:06:05,399 –> 00:06:07,399If you ask the question,9900:06:07,399 –> 00:06:08,920What will deliver me?10000:06:09,720 –> 00:06:12,519There are all kinds of answers on offer10100:06:12,519 –> 00:06:14,760in the spiritual and psychological market.10200:06:16,440 –> 00:06:18,279What will deliver me?10300:06:18,839 –> 00:06:19,959Spiritual disciplines,10400:06:22,600 –> 00:06:23,480Accountability,10500:06:25,880 –> 00:06:26,519Counselling10600:06:28,200 –> 00:06:29,799Getting involved in a ministry.10700:06:30,600 –> 00:06:32,359Making Christian friends.10800:06:32,839 –> 00:06:35,079We instinctively go down the list.10900:06:35,079 –> 00:06:38,440What’s going to be the thing that fixes the problem?11000:06:39,079 –> 00:06:39,480What?11100:06:41,559 –> 00:06:44,600Now hear me carefully all of these things11200:06:44,600 –> 00:06:46,119may be very helpful,11300:06:48,040 –> 00:06:49,640but none of them in themselves11400:06:50,119 –> 00:06:52,119have the power to get you out the cage.11500:06:54,279 –> 00:06:56,839Spiritual disciplines can’t deliver you11600:06:56,839 –> 00:06:58,040from sin’s power.11700:07:00,119 –> 00:07:03,239Accountability can’t deliver you from sin’s power.11800:07:03,239 –> 00:07:05,880Ministry, getting involved won’t deliver you11900:07:05,880 –> 00:07:07,239from sin’s power.12000:07:07,239 –> 00:07:08,920You can pray in the cage,12100:07:10,040 –> 00:07:11,799you can be accountable in the cage,12200:07:13,000 –> 00:07:15,160you can get involved in ministry in the cage,12300:07:15,720 –> 00:07:17,559but at the end of the day you’re still in the cage.12400:07:18,760 –> 00:07:20,359The biblical question12500:07:20,359 –> 00:07:23,079is never what will deliver me.12600:07:24,440 –> 00:07:26,679The biblical question is always12700:07:27,320 –> 00:07:29,959who will deliver me?12800:07:30,920 –> 00:07:33,239Because if we’re thinking christianly,12900:07:33,239 –> 00:07:36,359we always have to begin with Christ.13000:07:37,799 –> 00:07:41,239That is why the answer to Paul’s question13100:07:41,239 –> 00:07:42,679that goes to the very heart13200:07:42,679 –> 00:07:44,839of the issues of compulsive behavior,13300:07:45,399 –> 00:07:46,760who shall deliver me,13400:07:46,760 –> 00:07:49,559is in Romans 7, verse 25,13500:07:49,559 –> 00:07:54,600thanks be to God Jesus Christ our Lord.13600:07:54,600 –> 00:08:00,040The Lord sets prisoners free.13700:08:02,600 –> 00:08:05,399Now some of the stories of the war in Iraq13800:08:05,399 –> 00:08:07,079are beginning to come out these days.13900:08:07,079 –> 00:08:08,760I saw a fascinating interview14000:08:08,760 –> 00:08:10,519or at least just a clip of it14100:08:10,519 –> 00:08:12,760with a soldier who had been taken14200:08:12,760 –> 00:08:16,040prisoner of war, I think it was nazaria.14300:08:16,040 –> 00:08:17,880I saw this interview on CNN14400:08:17,880 –> 00:08:21,079and the part that I saw absolutely compelling.14500:08:21,079 –> 00:08:23,640He described the moment of his liberation.14600:08:24,760 –> 00:08:27,320He’d been sitting there in14700:08:27,320 –> 00:08:32,039some center behind seal doors14800:08:32,039 –> 00:08:35,400and bound and he said14900:08:36,520 –> 00:08:39,640they came in like professionals15000:08:39,640 –> 00:08:43,400just as they’d been trained to do.15100:08:43,400 –> 00:08:45,559And then he said it was beautiful.15200:08:46,760 –> 00:08:48,440It happened in a moment15300:08:48,440 –> 00:08:50,599and they had us out of there.15400:08:51,559 –> 00:08:52,440And he broke down15500:08:52,440 –> 00:08:53,799understandably in tears.15600:08:53,799 –> 00:08:55,479He just couldn’t describe it anymore.15700:08:57,159 –> 00:08:58,280You see that’s the picture.15800:08:59,799 –> 00:09:03,080The Lord sets prisoners free.15900:09:04,359 –> 00:09:05,479The man in the cage doesn’t16000:09:05,479 –> 00:09:06,760get out of the cage by some16100:09:06,760 –> 00:09:08,119technique in which he manages16200:09:08,119 –> 00:09:09,159to work his way out.16300:09:11,239 –> 00:09:12,599The man in the cage gets out16400:09:12,599 –> 00:09:13,880of the cage because by16500:09:13,880 –> 00:09:15,640his union with Christ16600:09:15,640 –> 00:09:17,000the old person dies and16700:09:17,000 –> 00:09:17,799he’s brought through16800:09:17,799 –> 00:09:19,239a death and resurrection16900:09:19,239 –> 00:09:20,359into a new being,17000:09:20,359 –> 00:09:22,119a new creation and begins17100:09:22,119 –> 00:09:23,719a new life in the field17200:09:23,719 –> 00:09:25,799in Jesus Christ.17300:09:26,760 –> 00:09:28,200Christ sets you free.17400:09:28,840 –> 00:09:30,119You are a new person17500:09:30,119 –> 00:09:31,559in Christ.17600:09:31,559 –> 00:09:33,159If the son sets you free17700:09:33,159 –> 00:09:34,359you will be free indeed.17800:09:35,640 –> 00:09:36,679And it’s because of what17900:09:36,679 –> 00:09:37,559he does,18000:09:37,559 –> 00:09:38,520what it means to be18100:09:38,520 –> 00:09:39,799in Christ that18200:09:39,799 –> 00:09:40,760sin will no longer18300:09:40,760 –> 00:09:41,719be your master.18400:09:41,719 –> 00:09:42,679If you’re in Christ18500:09:42,679 –> 00:09:43,799and he is your master18600:09:43,799 –> 00:09:45,559how can sin be your master?18700:09:45,559 –> 00:09:46,599You died to that!18800:09:47,719 –> 00:09:48,520That’s what it is to18900:09:48,520 –> 00:09:49,799be a Christian.19000:09:49,799 –> 00:09:52,119Christ is our redemption.19100:09:52,119 –> 00:09:52,919You see some of us19200:09:52,919 –> 00:09:54,440have understood19300:09:54,440 –> 00:09:55,719that he’s our righteousness.19400:09:55,719 –> 00:09:56,599We understand about19500:09:56,599 –> 00:09:57,799forgiveness but we’ve19600:09:57,799 –> 00:09:59,400never really understood19700:10:00,119 –> 00:10:02,359that he is our redemption.19800:10:03,719 –> 00:10:04,520And we’re not19900:10:04,520 –> 00:10:06,520in the cage,20000:10:07,400 –> 00:10:08,359we’re in the field.20100:10:10,440 –> 00:10:11,320Maybe for some of us20200:10:11,320 –> 00:10:11,880we need to make20300:10:11,880 –> 00:10:12,760the promise of God20400:10:12,760 –> 00:10:13,719more specific.20500:10:13,719 –> 00:10:14,919Sin shall no longer20600:10:14,919 –> 00:10:15,880be your master.20700:10:17,400 –> 00:10:18,520Well, why not take20800:10:18,520 –> 00:10:19,880the specific area20900:10:19,880 –> 00:10:21,159of sin and temptation21000:10:21,159 –> 00:10:22,119and put it right into21100:10:22,119 –> 00:10:23,400that statement and make21200:10:23,400 –> 00:10:24,359that promise yours21300:10:24,359 –> 00:10:25,159and hear it as the21400:10:25,159 –> 00:10:26,039very word of God21500:10:26,039 –> 00:10:26,599which it is.21600:10:27,559 –> 00:10:31,479Drink shall no longer21700:10:31,479 –> 00:10:33,000be your master.21800:10:35,640 –> 00:10:39,080Money shall no longer21900:10:39,080 –> 00:10:40,200be your master.22000:10:42,840 –> 00:10:45,400Sex shall no longer22100:10:45,400 –> 00:10:46,280be your master.22200:10:46,840 –> 00:10:49,400Pride shall no longer22300:10:49,400 –> 00:10:50,440be your master.22400:10:50,440 –> 00:10:51,400You’re free.22500:10:53,400 –> 00:10:54,919You stand in a whole22600:10:54,919 –> 00:10:56,599new relationship to sin.22700:10:56,599 –> 00:10:58,039You still fight the battles.22800:10:58,039 –> 00:10:59,479You still fight the struggles.22900:10:59,479 –> 00:11:01,799But sin is not your23000:11:01,799 –> 00:11:03,479master like it used to be.23100:11:04,919 –> 00:11:06,280You may still fall back23200:11:06,280 –> 00:11:08,039into some of the things23300:11:08,039 –> 00:11:08,840you once did.23400:11:09,719 –> 00:11:11,080You may do them out of habit.23500:11:12,119 –> 00:11:13,479You may do them out of weakness.23600:11:14,520 –> 00:11:15,719You may do them out of23700:11:15,719 –> 00:11:19,239surely. You may do them out of choice.23800:11:19,239 –> 00:11:23,400But you don’t have to do them now.23900:11:25,479 –> 00:11:27,239Sin is not your master.24000:11:28,760 –> 00:11:31,479Christ set you free.24100:11:32,679 –> 00:11:33,559One of the truths24200:11:33,559 –> 00:11:34,520that when we start24300:11:34,520 –> 00:11:35,559to follow Jesus,24400:11:35,559 –> 00:11:37,719He is in us and we learn24500:11:37,719 –> 00:11:39,719what it means to be ourselves24600:11:39,719 –> 00:11:41,080and to live in the truth24700:11:41,080 –> 00:11:43,320of that new identity.24800:11:43,320 –> 00:11:44,760You’re listening to Open The Bible24900:11:44,760 –> 00:11:46,200with Pastor Colin Smith25000:11:46,200 –> 00:11:47,239and a message called25100:11:47,239 –> 00:11:48,599You Are Free.25200:11:48,599 –> 00:11:49,880It’s part of the series25300:11:49,880 –> 00:11:51,080Be Yourself25400:11:51,080 –> 00:11:51,960and if you’ve missed25500:11:51,960 –> 00:11:53,239any of the series so far25600:11:53,239 –> 00:11:54,280or if you want to go back25700:11:54,280 –> 00:11:55,000and listen to this25800:11:55,000 –> 00:11:56,679or any of the earlier messages25900:11:56,679 –> 00:11:58,359you can do that by coming online26000:11:58,359 –> 00:11:59,559to our website26100:11:59,559 –> 00:12:02,280openthebible.org.uk26200:12:02,280 –> 00:12:03,080or by going26300:12:03,080 –> 00:12:04,760to your favourite podcast site26400:12:04,760 –> 00:12:05,880and searching for26500:12:05,880 –> 00:12:07,239Open The Bible UK26600:12:07,239 –> 00:12:08,280and there you’ll find26700:12:08,280 –> 00:12:09,080all the messages26800:12:09,080 –> 00:12:10,679which we have already broadcasted.26900:12:11,559 –> 00:12:12,359Open the Bible27000:12:12,359 –> 00:12:13,880is supported by our listeners27100:12:13,960 –> 00:12:16,520and if you’re already doing that27200:12:16,520 –> 00:12:17,799we want to really say27300:12:17,799 –> 00:12:18,679a big thank you.27400:12:19,239 –> 00:12:19,880If that’s something27500:12:19,880 –> 00:12:21,400you’re considering doing27600:12:21,400 –> 00:12:22,440then this month27700:12:22,440 –> 00:12:24,039we have an offer for you.27800:12:24,039 –> 00:12:25,159If you’re able to begin27900:12:25,159 –> 00:12:26,280a new direct debit28000:12:26,280 –> 00:12:27,000in the amount of28100:12:27,000 –> 00:12:28,599five pounds per month or more28200:12:28,599 –> 00:12:29,799or a one-off gift28300:12:29,799 –> 00:12:31,479of 50 pounds or more28400:12:31,479 –> 00:12:33,000we’d love to say thank you28500:12:33,000 –> 00:12:35,400by sending you a free copy28600:12:35,400 –> 00:12:37,400of John Bunyan’s book28700:12:37,400 –> 00:12:38,840Pilgrim’s Progress.28800:12:38,840 –> 00:12:41,000It’s a classic allegorical story28900:12:41,000 –> 00:12:42,200about the Christian life29000:12:42,200 –> 00:12:43,320and many people29100:12:43,400 –> 00:12:44,200over the years29200:12:44,200 –> 00:12:45,320have greatly enjoyed29300:12:45,320 –> 00:12:47,000and been blessed by it.29400:12:47,000 –> 00:12:48,520I’ll be talking more to Colin29500:12:48,520 –> 00:12:49,799about that offer29600:12:49,799 –> 00:12:51,000later on in the program29700:12:51,000 –> 00:12:52,599so I hope you’ll stay with us.29800:12:52,599 –> 00:12:54,200Back to the message now29900:12:54,200 –> 00:12:56,280where in Romans in chapter six30000:12:56,280 –> 00:12:57,000here’s Colin.30100:12:57,719 –> 00:12:58,760The fundamental truth30200:12:58,760 –> 00:12:59,400that you need to know30300:12:59,400 –> 00:13:00,039about yourself30400:13:00,039 –> 00:13:01,559in relation to sin’s guilt30500:13:02,520 –> 00:13:03,400is that you’re clean.30600:13:04,840 –> 00:13:06,200The fundamental truth30700:13:06,200 –> 00:13:06,840that you need to know30800:13:06,840 –> 00:13:07,479about yourself30900:13:07,479 –> 00:13:09,479in relation to sin’s power31000:13:10,520 –> 00:13:11,719is that you’re free.31100:13:14,200 –> 00:13:15,080Now let’s just bring this31200:13:15,080 –> 00:13:16,359to a practical application31300:13:16,359 –> 00:13:17,479in these last moments31400:13:18,039 –> 00:13:19,000as we come to the heart31500:13:19,000 –> 00:13:19,960of our whole series31600:13:20,760 –> 00:13:22,280Be Who You Are.31700:13:23,640 –> 00:13:24,440See maybe you’re thinking31800:13:24,440 –> 00:13:25,640well it’s all very well31900:13:25,640 –> 00:13:26,679to tell me I’m free32000:13:26,679 –> 00:13:28,039but I don’t feel free.32100:13:28,679 –> 00:13:30,039In fact I sometimes feel32200:13:30,039 –> 00:13:31,080totally defeated32300:13:31,080 –> 00:13:33,479well that’s not too surprising.32400:13:35,159 –> 00:13:36,840You know when slavery32500:13:36,840 –> 00:13:38,359was abolished in this country32600:13:38,359 –> 00:13:39,559after the civil war32700:13:39,559 –> 00:13:41,000there were many stories32800:13:41,000 –> 00:13:42,280of folks who had spent32900:13:42,280 –> 00:13:43,320years as slaves33000:13:44,200 –> 00:13:45,559who found it very difficult33100:13:45,559 –> 00:13:46,679to enter into33200:13:46,679 –> 00:13:48,119and live in their freedom.33300:13:48,119 –> 00:13:49,479They were legally free33400:13:50,919 –> 00:13:52,440but they found great difficulty33500:13:52,440 –> 00:13:53,000some of them33600:13:53,000 –> 00:13:54,039in actually leaving33700:13:54,039 –> 00:13:54,919the environment33800:13:54,919 –> 00:13:55,559to which they had33900:13:55,559 –> 00:13:56,520become accustomed34000:13:57,479 –> 00:13:58,119They were free34100:13:58,119 –> 00:13:58,919but they didn’t live34200:13:58,919 –> 00:13:59,640in their freedom34300:14:01,479 –> 00:14:03,880and if you have been a slave34400:14:03,880 –> 00:14:05,239to some compulsive habit34500:14:05,239 –> 00:14:07,080for 10, 20 or 30 years34600:14:07,080 –> 00:14:07,799and you hear34700:14:07,799 –> 00:14:09,400Christ has redeemed me34800:14:09,880 –> 00:14:10,200You know34900:14:12,919 –> 00:14:13,719It’s not surprising35000:14:13,719 –> 00:14:15,080that you don’t immediately35100:14:15,080 –> 00:14:16,280feel redeemed35200:14:18,200 –> 00:14:19,960You’ve been thinking of yourself35300:14:19,960 –> 00:14:21,400as if you were in the cage35400:14:21,400 –> 00:14:22,840for a long time35500:14:22,840 –> 00:14:24,840You need to open up your mind35600:14:24,840 –> 00:14:26,359to God’s truth35700:14:26,359 –> 00:14:27,640and think of yourself35800:14:27,640 –> 00:14:29,479as the new person you are35900:14:30,840 –> 00:14:32,840Discover your identity in Jesus36000:14:34,280 –> 00:14:35,960So, here’s three very simple36100:14:35,960 –> 00:14:37,080and practical strategies36200:14:37,080 –> 00:14:39,400Number one, tell yourself the truth36300:14:39,400 –> 00:14:41,479Just keep feeding this truth36400:14:41,479 –> 00:14:43,080of God’s word to your soul36500:14:43,080 –> 00:14:44,919Tell yourself the truth36600:14:45,799 –> 00:14:46,520and I think that’s the36700:14:46,520 –> 00:14:47,719point of verse eleven36800:14:47,719 –> 00:14:49,880Count yourselves dead towards sin36900:14:49,880 –> 00:14:51,880but alive to God in Jesus Christ37000:14:52,679 –> 00:14:54,760You know the biggest cause37100:14:54,760 –> 00:14:56,359of defeat in the Christian life37200:14:56,359 –> 00:14:57,400I believe is that we keep37300:14:57,400 –> 00:14:59,960telling ourselves the devil’s lies37400:14:59,960 –> 00:15:01,640We speak his lies for him37500:15:03,000 –> 00:15:04,520We say within our own minds37600:15:04,520 –> 00:15:06,919Oh I can’t overcome this temptation37700:15:07,960 –> 00:15:09,479and we’re listening to his voice37800:15:10,599 –> 00:15:12,520We’re not acting in faith37900:15:12,520 –> 00:15:14,760in what God has told us about ourselves38000:15:14,760 –> 00:15:16,840Stop talking defeat38100:15:16,840 –> 00:15:19,559Start telling yourself the truth38200:15:20,280 –> 00:15:23,080Sin is no longer your master38300:15:23,080 –> 00:15:24,119You’ve died to sin38400:15:24,119 –> 00:15:25,880You’re not in the cage38500:15:25,880 –> 00:15:28,840You may feel the pull of temptation38600:15:28,840 –> 00:15:30,359You don’t have to go there38700:15:30,359 –> 00:15:33,159Sin is not your master38800:15:33,159 –> 00:15:34,760Christ has set you free38900:15:34,760 –> 00:15:35,559Count on it39000:15:36,119 –> 00:15:40,440Tell yourself the truth39100:15:41,000 –> 00:15:42,039I was speaking to a friend39200:15:42,039 –> 00:15:43,159just yesterday on the phone39300:15:43,719 –> 00:15:45,080He lives in California39400:15:45,960 –> 00:15:47,479and he’s just come back39500:15:47,479 –> 00:15:50,200from three weeks in Eastern Europe39600:15:50,200 –> 00:15:52,039which means that the day before yesterday39700:15:52,039 –> 00:15:55,080he crossed nine different time zones39800:15:56,200 –> 00:15:56,840So I asked him39900:15:56,840 –> 00:15:57,640how he was doing40000:15:57,640 –> 00:15:58,520and he said40100:15:58,520 –> 00:16:00,280It’s what he said on the phone yesterday40200:16:00,280 –> 00:16:01,799I’m glad to be back40300:16:01,799 –> 00:16:02,200He said40400:16:02,200 –> 00:16:04,919but my body hasn’t caught up yet40500:16:05,880 –> 00:16:07,159Well now anyone who’s traveled40600:16:07,159 –> 00:16:08,520any distance around the world40700:16:08,520 –> 00:16:09,479knows what he means40800:16:10,599 –> 00:16:11,640You have moved40900:16:12,679 –> 00:16:14,440from one time zone to another41000:16:15,640 –> 00:16:18,760but it takes time for your body to adjust41100:16:20,119 –> 00:16:21,799The impulses of your body41200:16:21,799 –> 00:16:23,880contradict the new reality41300:16:23,880 –> 00:16:24,760it’s crazy41400:16:25,880 –> 00:16:27,080It’s time to get up41500:16:27,080 –> 00:16:28,599and your body wants to go to sleep41600:16:29,400 –> 00:16:30,280It’s time to sleep41700:16:30,280 –> 00:16:31,159and your body tells you41800:16:31,159 –> 00:16:31,960it’s time to get up41900:16:32,919 –> 00:16:34,599And there is this tension42000:16:34,599 –> 00:16:36,200between the reality42100:16:36,200 –> 00:16:38,440in which you now find yourself42200:16:38,440 –> 00:16:39,640in a new time zone42300:16:40,599 –> 00:16:42,599and the feelings of your body42400:16:42,599 –> 00:16:43,880that keep wanting to act42500:16:43,880 –> 00:16:45,239as if you were in the old one42600:16:46,280 –> 00:16:47,239So what are you going to do?42700:16:48,440 –> 00:16:49,559I guess you’ve got two choices42800:16:50,119 –> 00:16:52,039Either you go with what your body tells you42900:16:53,239 –> 00:16:55,159in which case you’ll be up all night43000:16:55,159 –> 00:16:55,880and asleep all day43100:16:55,880 –> 00:16:56,840for the rest of your life43200:16:57,719 –> 00:17:03,159or, you go with the new reality43300:17:03,159 –> 00:17:04,119in which case there’ll be43400:17:04,119 –> 00:17:05,400a struggle for your body43500:17:06,520 –> 00:17:07,719you’ll find a bit of a struggle43600:17:07,719 –> 00:17:09,000to keep yourself awake during the day43700:17:09,000 –> 00:17:10,119and go to sleep at night43800:17:11,239 –> 00:17:13,719But gradually as you do43900:17:13,719 –> 00:17:17,079your body will conform increasingly44000:17:17,079 –> 00:17:18,760to the new reality44100:17:18,760 –> 00:17:20,680and be at ease in it44200:17:22,280 –> 00:17:23,560So tell yourself the truth44300:17:25,160 –> 00:17:26,040Live as if you were still44400:17:26,040 –> 00:17:27,160in the old time zone44500:17:28,359 –> 00:17:29,719when you’ve been brought into the new44600:17:31,640 –> 00:17:32,280and that means44700:17:32,280 –> 00:17:33,479secondly put up a fight44800:17:33,479 –> 00:17:34,680verse 1244900:17:34,680 –> 00:17:36,760Therefore, do not let sin reign45000:17:36,760 –> 00:17:37,959in your mortal body45100:17:37,959 –> 00:17:39,800so that you obey its evil desires45200:17:39,800 –> 00:17:40,920Sin’s not your master45300:17:40,920 –> 00:17:41,959so don’t do what it says45400:17:42,839 –> 00:17:43,959Put up a fight45500:17:43,959 –> 00:17:44,760You’re not in the cage45600:17:44,760 –> 00:17:45,719You’re in the field45700:17:45,719 –> 00:17:47,000You’re not the hostage45800:17:47,000 –> 00:17:49,400You’re now the equipped soldier45900:17:49,400 –> 00:17:50,680on the field of battle46000:17:50,680 –> 00:17:51,400Put up a fight46100:17:51,400 –> 00:17:52,839Don’t sit there simpering46200:17:53,800 –> 00:17:54,520a hostage46300:17:56,199 –> 00:17:57,640When you’re faced with temptation46400:17:57,640 –> 00:17:59,319that a little voice in your head says46500:17:59,319 –> 00:18:01,160you can’t overcome this46600:18:01,160 –> 00:18:02,199Just say the little voice46700:18:02,199 –> 00:18:04,119Hey, you’re talking to the wrong guy46800:18:04,119 –> 00:18:04,680He’s dead46900:18:05,319 –> 00:18:06,119I’m in the field47000:18:07,160 –> 00:18:08,199and I’m up for a fight47100:18:09,800 –> 00:18:12,839You will find that by the power of the spirit of God within you47200:18:12,839 –> 00:18:14,439As you tell yourself the truth47300:18:14,439 –> 00:18:16,199and you give yourself to the fight47400:18:17,640 –> 00:18:19,319you will begin to know victories47500:18:19,319 –> 00:18:20,839You never knew before47600:18:20,839 –> 00:18:22,760and here’s the third thing very practically47700:18:22,760 –> 00:18:24,199Offer yourself to God47800:18:24,199 –> 00:18:25,319Verse 1347900:18:25,319 –> 00:18:29,560Offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life48000:18:29,560 –> 00:18:31,880God’s given you this new life48100:18:32,920 –> 00:18:34,439He’s brought you into the field48200:18:34,439 –> 00:18:34,760Why?48300:18:36,040 –> 00:18:38,359So that you can live for Him48400:18:38,359 –> 00:18:42,520and fulfil the purpose for which He has brought you into the world48500:18:43,560 –> 00:18:45,239How many Christians have this sense?48600:18:45,239 –> 00:18:46,839Oh, I’m so messed up48700:18:46,839 –> 00:18:48,920I’ve got nothing to offer God48800:18:49,400 –> 00:18:54,520But if you’re alive in Christ, you have the life He’s given you to offer to Him48900:18:55,400 –> 00:18:58,760Offer yourself to God as one who has been brought49000:18:58,760 –> 00:19:00,599out of the cage and into the field49100:19:00,599 –> 00:19:03,719brought from death to life49200:19:03,719 –> 00:19:06,040because that’s who you are49300:19:08,040 –> 00:19:09,079One story, and then we’re through49400:19:10,680 –> 00:19:15,719There’s a wonderful line that I discovered in Victor Hugo’s great book49500:19:15,719 –> 00:19:17,640You know, Les Miserables49600:19:17,640 –> 00:19:20,439Les Miserables, great story49700:19:21,239 –> 00:19:23,560And beautifully and wonderfully written49800:19:24,119 –> 00:19:27,560For those who don’t know it, it is the story of Jean Valjean49900:19:28,760 –> 00:19:30,359A heartless criminal50000:19:31,560 –> 00:19:35,160And Jean Valjean is shown great kindness by a bishop50100:19:35,959 –> 00:19:37,560And it changes his life50200:19:39,000 –> 00:19:43,319But later in the story, Jean Valjean’s past gets the better of him50300:19:44,199 –> 00:19:50,199And in one incident where he kind of reverts to his previous pattern of behavior50400:19:50,199 –> 00:19:54,680He heartlessly steals a coin from a small boy50500:19:54,680 –> 00:19:59,319The boy drops the coin and Jean Valjean puts his foot on it, and takes it from the boy50600:20:00,520 –> 00:20:04,680Now this is what Victor Hugo writes about Jean Valjean50700:20:06,599 –> 00:20:11,959Let us say simply it was not he who robbed50800:20:12,119 –> 00:20:14,280It was not the man50900:20:15,400 –> 00:20:19,400But the brute beast that through habit and instinct51000:20:19,400 –> 00:20:22,199Stupidly placed its foot on the coin51100:20:23,959 –> 00:20:25,959When the intellect awoke51200:20:26,760 –> 00:20:28,839And saw this brutish action51300:20:29,959 –> 00:20:32,920Jean Valjean recoiled with agony51400:20:33,640 –> 00:20:35,880And uttered a cry of horror51500:20:37,000 –> 00:20:37,959Then Hugo says51600:20:38,760 –> 00:20:41,239It was a curious phenomenon51700:20:42,199 –> 00:20:45,560And one only possible in the situation he was in51800:20:46,680 –> 00:20:49,400That in robbing the boy of that money51900:20:50,680 –> 00:20:56,119He committed a deed of which he was no longer capable52000:20:57,160 –> 00:20:58,839Now that is a brilliant line52100:21:00,439 –> 00:21:06,599He committed a deed of which he was no longer capable52200:21:06,599 –> 00:21:14,280Zhang Val Zhuang, that’s not who you are52300:21:16,359 –> 00:21:21,959It’s who you were, but it is not who you are52400:21:23,479 –> 00:21:28,760You are not a thief, you are not a bruit beast52500:21:30,040 –> 00:21:33,079You have been redeemed by grace52600:21:33,079 –> 00:21:38,920Be who you are52700:21:39,719 –> 00:21:40,920Have you been redeemed?52800:21:43,239 –> 00:21:47,800Be who you are52900:21:49,800 –> 00:21:54,439How great to be reminded that if we are in Christ we are a new creation53000:21:54,439 –> 00:22:00,599No longer subject to the power of sin and death and free to be who we were always meant to be53100:22:01,400 –> 00:22:05,560You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called53200:22:05,560 –> 00:22:10,040You are free part of a series called Be Yourself53300:22:10,680 –> 00:22:15,400And if you’ve missed any of the message today or if you want to go back and listen to it53400:22:15,400 –> 00:22:20,839or any of the earlier messages in the series you can do that by coming online to our website53500:22:23,959 –> 00:22:26,920You’ll find all the messages which have already been broadcast53600:22:26,920 –> 00:22:31,239or find us as a podcast and those are on all the main podcast sites53700:22:31,239 –> 00:22:35,079Go to your favourite podcast site search for Openthebibleuk53800:22:35,079 –> 00:22:39,400and subscribe if you want to be regularly reminded of those messages53900:22:39,400 –> 00:22:43,160and you can also find a link to the podcasts on our website54000:22:43,800 –> 00:22:46,599Also on our website you’ll find Open the Bible Dailly54100:22:46,599 –> 00:22:50,680and can I encourage you to have a look at that if you haven’t already heard it54200:22:50,680 –> 00:22:54,199It’s a series of two to three minute daily reflections54300:22:54,199 –> 00:22:58,439based on Pastor Colin’s teaching and read in the UK by Sue MacLeish54400:22:58,439 –> 00:23:00,040it’s a great way to start the day54500:23:00,920 –> 00:23:04,280Open the Bible is supported financially by our listeners54600:23:04,280 –> 00:23:06,280We do depend on people like you to54700:23:06,280 –> 00:23:10,199keep pastor Colin smith’s messages on the radio and online54800:23:10,760 –> 00:23:14,760So if you already support us in that way, thank you so much54900:23:15,479 –> 00:23:18,839if that’s something you’re considering beginning to do this month55000:23:18,839 –> 00:23:21,800if you’re able to set up a new direct debit55100:23:22,040 –> 00:23:25,800£5 per month or more or a one-off gift of £5055200:23:26,599 –> 00:23:31,719We’d love to say thank you by sending you a copy of pilgrim’s progress55300:23:31,719 –> 00:23:35,319John Bunyan’s classic allegory of the christian life55400:23:35,319 –> 00:23:39,000which so many have enjoyed and benefited by reading55500:23:39,000 –> 00:23:44,359along with a specially printed open the bible bookmark and an open the bible pen55600:23:45,079 –> 00:23:47,880Colin, many people may have heard of this book55700:23:47,880 –> 00:23:50,040but not really know what it’s all about55800:23:50,119 –> 00:23:54,760Oh, well Pilgrims’ Progress is a classic of christian literature55900:23:54,760 –> 00:23:58,599that was written by John Bunyan in the 17th century56000:23:58,599 –> 00:24:00,839Bunyan’s one of my heroes of the faith56100:24:00,839 –> 00:24:02,439he was a preacher of the gospel56200:24:02,439 –> 00:24:05,560and he was arrested for preaching the gospel56300:24:05,560 –> 00:24:10,359during a time when there were real restrictions on believers in england56400:24:10,359 –> 00:24:12,599and during his time in prison56500:24:12,599 –> 00:24:15,800he wrote this christian classic that is a story56600:24:15,800 –> 00:24:20,119about a man who takes a journey from a city called destruction56700:24:20,119 –> 00:24:23,800to the Celestial city which is his way of speaking about heaven56800:24:23,800 –> 00:24:29,239and it is full of profound insight into the christian life56900:24:29,239 –> 00:24:34,760it’s so easy to read and it is so rich in what we can learn from it57000:24:34,760 –> 00:24:37,959well we’d love to send you a copy of Pilgrims’ Progress57100:24:37,959 –> 00:24:41,719as our way of saying thank you for supporting Open The Bible financially57200:24:42,520 –> 00:24:44,920Full terms and conditions on our website57300:24:44,920 –> 00:24:47,479at openthebible.org.uk57400:24:48,680 –> 00:24:52,119For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith I’m David Pick57500:24:52,119 –> 00:24:56,439Thank you for joining us and I hope we’ll see you again soon57600:24:59,160 –> 00:25:01,000do you think you are holy?57700:25:01,800 –> 00:25:03,719God says you are if you’re a christian57800:25:04,359 –> 00:25:10,839discover what he means by that next time on Open The Bible