100:00:00,240 –> 00:00:03,540The Myths Of The Holy Ghost200:00:03,540 –> 00:00:06,280Here is the amazing thing about being a Christian.300:00:06,280 –> 00:00:09,340It’s not just that we will see the glory of Jesus400:00:09,340 –> 00:00:12,880it is that we will share the glory of Jesus.500:00:13,080 –> 00:00:16,500It’s not just that His glory will be revealed to us.600:00:16,500 –> 00:00:20,459The Bible says His glory will be revealed in us.700:00:20,459 –> 00:00:22,700When we see Him800:00:22,700 –> 00:00:25,700we will be like Him.900:00:25,700 –> 00:00:28,740Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.1000:00:28,740 –> 00:00:29,580I’m David Pick1100:00:29,620 –> 00:00:32,160glad you could be with us today and Colin1200:00:32,160 –> 00:00:34,619we might well have trouble grasping that idea1300:00:34,619 –> 00:00:37,419that we will one day be like Jesus.1400:00:37,419 –> 00:00:38,419Actually, like Jesus.1500:00:38,419 –> 00:00:40,299When we see Him, we will be like Him.1600:00:40,299 –> 00:00:41,840It sounds a bit out there doesn’t it?1700:00:41,840 –> 00:00:44,040You know, we’re going to be in heaven, it’s very hard to imagine1800:00:44,040 –> 00:00:45,200we’re going to be like Jesus.1900:00:45,200 –> 00:00:46,580We’re going to sin no more.2000:00:46,840 –> 00:00:50,799And yet it’s the most practical and the most encouraging truth2100:00:50,799 –> 00:00:52,380when we really get hold of it.2200:00:52,380 –> 00:00:55,000Think about this, that one day all the sin2300:00:55,000 –> 00:00:57,720that grieves you and all the battles2400:00:57,720 –> 00:00:59,299that are in your own flesh2500:00:59,299 –> 00:01:00,599they’re going to be over2600:01:00,599 –> 00:01:04,279and you are really going to reflect the beauty of Christ2700:01:04,279 –> 00:01:05,879and every other Christian you know2800:01:05,879 –> 00:01:07,820even the ones that get on your nerves.2900:01:07,820 –> 00:01:09,400C.S. Lewis said on one occasion,3000:01:09,400 –> 00:01:10,879Every person you ever meet3100:01:10,879 –> 00:01:14,160will either become an everlasting splendour3200:01:14,160 –> 00:01:15,779or an everlasting horror.3300:01:15,779 –> 00:01:19,199There are no ordinary people is something that he said.3400:01:19,199 –> 00:01:22,400And so we’re all on the way to becoming either3500:01:22,400 –> 00:01:26,300beautifully a reflection of Jesus Christ3600:01:26,400 –> 00:01:30,099or else this awful perversion3700:01:30,099 –> 00:01:32,559that comes from being bent in on ourselves3800:01:32,559 –> 00:01:33,680forever and forever.3900:01:33,680 –> 00:01:35,360Well, what a marvellous thing to be moving4000:01:35,360 –> 00:01:37,099towards being like Christ.4100:01:37,099 –> 00:01:38,720Absolutely and the great thing is4200:01:38,720 –> 00:01:41,260as we began to hear about last time,4300:01:41,260 –> 00:01:43,260as you begin the relationship with Christ,4400:01:43,260 –> 00:01:46,900you are holy and that’s what our series is all about.4500:01:46,900 –> 00:01:48,580It’s about yourself.4600:01:48,580 –> 00:01:52,339So let’s get into this wherein John chapter 174700:01:52,339 –> 00:01:53,900as we continue the message.4800:01:53,900 –> 00:01:55,459Here’s Collin.4900:01:55,500 –> 00:01:59,720You are more than all the world to Jesus.5000:02:01,059 –> 00:02:06,059You are the gift, the gift of the Father to him.5100:02:08,779 –> 00:02:11,679And that is the first dimension of your holiness.5200:02:11,679 –> 00:02:13,419Oh boy, when you’re sitting there saying,5300:02:13,419 –> 00:02:14,779oh, am I really anything?5400:02:14,779 –> 00:02:16,860I count for nothing in this world,5500:02:16,860 –> 00:02:18,580feed your soul on that.5600:02:18,580 –> 00:02:22,339You are the gift of the Father to his son,5700:02:22,339 –> 00:02:24,399the fruit of his suffering.5800:02:26,100 –> 00:02:28,559He’d rather have you than all the world.5900:02:31,339 –> 00:02:34,179Not only are you given to the Father,6000:02:34,179 –> 00:02:36,820so you’re in an entirely new position in Christ,6100:02:36,820 –> 00:02:38,419given by the Father to the son.6200:02:39,960 –> 00:02:42,820But secondly, you’re glorified,6300:02:42,820 –> 00:02:45,899you share in Jesus’ glory.6400:02:47,119 –> 00:02:50,059Now, this, if it’s possible,6500:02:50,059 –> 00:02:51,559is even more staggering.6600:02:52,360 –> 00:02:53,639Look at verse 22.6700:02:54,860 –> 00:02:59,160I have given them, that’s the disciples and therefore us,6800:02:59,160 –> 00:03:04,160I have given them the glory that you gave me.6900:03:07,899 –> 00:03:09,320You could spend a thousand years7000:03:09,320 –> 00:03:11,080trying to let that one sink in.7100:03:11,919 –> 00:03:16,759I have given them the glory that you gave me.7200:03:18,160 –> 00:03:19,380Now, some of you will know the name7300:03:19,399 –> 00:03:22,259of Donald Graham Barnhouse.7400:03:22,259 –> 00:03:24,059Barnhouse was, for many years,7500:03:24,059 –> 00:03:28,419the pastor of the 10th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia,7600:03:28,419 –> 00:03:30,500very famous church.7700:03:30,500 –> 00:03:34,139And over the years of his ministry as a pastor,7800:03:34,139 –> 00:03:37,059Barnhouse conducted many weddings.7900:03:37,059 –> 00:03:40,660But he never took any money for doing them.8000:03:40,660 –> 00:03:43,979And this is what he says, and I quote,8100:03:43,979 –> 00:03:47,860for many years, he says, it has been my custom8200:03:47,880 –> 00:03:50,500whenever I married anybody8300:03:50,500 –> 00:03:54,619that when the bridegroom hands me an envelope,8400:03:54,619 –> 00:03:57,820I go straight to the bride and say,8500:03:57,820 –> 00:04:02,059here is my wedding present to you.8600:04:02,059 –> 00:04:05,779If he has been generous to the preacher,8700:04:05,779 –> 00:04:08,699he has been generous to you.8800:04:09,639 –> 00:04:12,600Now, I rather like that, I think it’s a nice touch.8900:04:12,600 –> 00:04:15,940Now, look again at verse 22,9000:04:16,739 –> 00:04:19,299Jesus says to the father,9100:04:19,299 –> 00:04:24,299I have given them the glory that you gave me.9200:04:26,260 –> 00:04:30,579We get the glory that the father gave to the son,9300:04:30,579 –> 00:04:31,579that’s what he’s saying.9400:04:31,579 –> 00:04:33,779How much glory is that?9500:04:35,619 –> 00:04:38,559The glory that you gave me says Jesus,9600:04:38,559 –> 00:04:40,519I’m taking it and I’m giving it to them.9700:04:41,299 –> 00:04:44,019I have given it to them.9800:04:44,019 –> 00:04:46,359Here is the amazing thing about being a Christian,9900:04:46,359 –> 00:04:49,480it’s not just that we will see the glory of Jesus,10000:04:49,480 –> 00:04:53,200it is that we will share the glory of Jesus.10100:04:53,200 –> 00:04:56,519It’s not just that is glory will be revealed to us,10200:04:56,519 –> 00:05:00,720the Bible says his glory will be revealed in us.10300:05:00,720 –> 00:05:05,600When we see him, we will be like him.10400:05:06,839 –> 00:05:09,279Now most of us are familiar with the Bible’s teaching10500:05:09,279 –> 00:05:11,200that we will be glorified,10600:05:11,200 –> 00:05:13,359but notice that Jesus speaks here of it10700:05:13,359 –> 00:05:14,959as something that has already happened.10800:05:14,959 –> 00:05:18,660I have given them this glory.10900:05:20,119 –> 00:05:23,119It’s hidden within us,11000:05:23,119 –> 00:05:28,119but it is a true expression of who you are in Jesus Christ.11100:05:30,959 –> 00:05:34,559It’s why John says in his letter later in the New Testament,11200:05:34,559 –> 00:05:39,160now we are the children of God11300:05:39,160 –> 00:05:42,200and what we will be has not yet been made known.11400:05:43,440 –> 00:05:44,880When you’re sitting around and saying,11500:05:44,880 –> 00:05:46,480do I really matter for anything?11600:05:46,480 –> 00:05:48,480Have I got anything to contribute to this world?11700:05:48,480 –> 00:05:50,179Do I really matter?11800:05:50,179 –> 00:05:51,500Get hold of this,11900:05:51,500 –> 00:05:53,540you’re not a nothing or a nobody12000:05:53,540 –> 00:05:55,959drifting through the history of time.12100:05:57,399 –> 00:06:01,959You are a child of God in Jesus Christ12200:06:01,959 –> 00:06:04,839and what you will be has not yet been made known.12300:06:05,839 –> 00:06:07,600As Paul puts it,12400:06:07,600 –> 00:06:12,179your life is hidden with Christ in God12500:06:12,179 –> 00:06:14,279and when Christ, who is your life, appears,12600:06:14,279 –> 00:06:16,739you will appear with Him in glory.12700:06:18,559 –> 00:06:21,619I was just trying to think about this yesterday.12800:06:23,799 –> 00:06:25,779Looked out the window of my study at home12900:06:25,779 –> 00:06:30,480and there’s the trees that have been bare all winter13000:06:30,480 –> 00:06:32,399and just the beginnings13100:06:32,640 –> 00:06:34,980of some red buds beginning to show.13200:06:36,359 –> 00:06:38,679Soon, they are going to be transformed.13300:06:38,679 –> 00:06:40,239They are going to flourish.13400:06:41,239 –> 00:06:43,820They are going to look entirely different.13500:06:43,820 –> 00:06:46,059The life has been in them.13600:06:46,059 –> 00:06:48,880The life has been in them throughout all of the winter.13700:06:48,880 –> 00:06:50,019It’s in them now.13800:06:51,059 –> 00:06:54,859But what they will be is something yet to behold.13900:06:56,160 –> 00:06:57,799That’s a picture of you.14000:06:58,700 –> 00:07:01,480Christ has given you His life.14100:07:01,559 –> 00:07:04,920His life is within you, His for eternity.14200:07:04,920 –> 00:07:07,880What you will be has not yet been made known.14300:07:09,480 –> 00:07:13,059He shares His glory with you, so be who you are.14400:07:14,559 –> 00:07:16,399If you wander through life thinking,14500:07:16,399 –> 00:07:19,600ah, I’m nobody, I’m nothing special, I don’t really matter.14600:07:19,600 –> 00:07:20,899That’s how you’ll live.14700:07:22,160 –> 00:07:24,820You come to see the truth that the Bible tells you14800:07:24,820 –> 00:07:29,000that you are the gift of the Father to His Son.14900:07:29,000 –> 00:07:31,339You are the fruit of His suffering.15000:07:32,040 –> 00:07:35,000You are the one He shares His own glory with,15100:07:35,000 –> 00:07:37,640even although it is not yet seen in its splendor,15200:07:37,640 –> 00:07:39,299it is in you already.15300:07:40,700 –> 00:07:42,720Do you ever question again15400:07:42,720 –> 00:07:46,359the significance of the position15500:07:46,359 –> 00:07:49,640in which you have been put in Jesus Christ?15600:07:49,640 –> 00:07:54,119You’re holy, you’re not like mass of humanity.15700:07:55,660 –> 00:07:57,399Called.15800:07:57,399 –> 00:07:58,799You’re in Christ.15900:07:59,760 –> 00:08:00,600Holy.16000:08:02,320 –> 00:08:06,739Third, we are called.16100:08:06,739 –> 00:08:09,019First dimension, we’re given.16200:08:09,019 –> 00:08:11,119Second, we’re glorified.16300:08:11,119 –> 00:08:14,119Third, we’re called.16400:08:14,119 –> 00:08:16,000And perhaps the best way to express this16500:08:16,000 –> 00:08:17,440is in the well-known phrase16600:08:17,440 –> 00:08:21,640you are in the world, but not of it.16700:08:21,640 –> 00:08:23,480I was really brought up with that phrase.16800:08:23,480 –> 00:08:25,239I guess many of us are very familiar with it.16900:08:25,239 –> 00:08:28,160It’s good phrase that summarizes17000:08:28,160 –> 00:08:29,519our relationship with the world.17100:08:29,519 –> 00:08:31,279That Christians are called to be in the world,17200:08:31,480 –> 00:08:32,299but not of it.17300:08:32,299 –> 00:08:34,020And that phrase of course comes directly17400:08:34,020 –> 00:08:36,400from John and Chapter 17,17500:08:36,400 –> 00:08:37,760see the two parts of it here.17600:08:37,760 –> 00:08:40,979First in verse 14, Jesus says of his disciples,17700:08:40,979 –> 00:08:42,619they are not of the world17800:08:42,619 –> 00:08:45,219any more than I am of the world.17900:08:45,219 –> 00:08:48,200He repeats it again for emphasis in verse 16,18000:08:48,200 –> 00:08:50,880they are not of the world18100:08:50,880 –> 00:08:52,719any more than I am of it.18200:08:52,719 –> 00:08:54,440You’re not of the world.18300:08:54,440 –> 00:08:55,539But at the same time,18400:08:55,539 –> 00:08:58,119it is obviously true that you are in the world,18500:08:58,460 –> 00:09:01,780and Jesus states that equally in verse 11,18600:09:01,780 –> 00:09:04,500still in the world, he says,18700:09:04,500 –> 00:09:05,840and then in verse 15,18800:09:05,840 –> 00:09:08,659my prayer is not that you take them out of the world.18900:09:08,659 –> 00:09:09,760It’s very important.19000:09:11,059 –> 00:09:13,840We are in the world for a purpose.19100:09:14,760 –> 00:09:17,719By the way, the purpose is not to get ready for heaven.19200:09:17,719 –> 00:09:19,099You’ll be no more ready for heaven19300:09:19,099 –> 00:09:20,140the day that you die19400:09:20,140 –> 00:09:23,000than you would be one second after you trusted in Christ,19500:09:23,000 –> 00:09:24,320because your entrance into heaven19600:09:24,320 –> 00:09:25,760depends on what he has done for you19700:09:25,760 –> 00:09:27,599through your justification by faith.19800:09:28,599 –> 00:09:30,919So the purpose of the Christian life,19900:09:30,919 –> 00:09:32,239the purpose of your remaining in the world20000:09:32,239 –> 00:09:33,840is not to get ready for heaven.20100:09:33,840 –> 00:09:35,179The purpose of being in the world20200:09:35,179 –> 00:09:36,979is that he’s got work for you to do.20300:09:38,260 –> 00:09:40,640No other reason God could take us immediately there,20400:09:40,640 –> 00:09:42,780but he’s called us to be in the world20500:09:42,780 –> 00:09:45,039though we are not off the world.20600:09:46,460 –> 00:09:49,960It isn’t easy to be in the world when we’re not off it.20700:09:49,960 –> 00:09:54,320And yet that is our distinct calling from God.20800:09:55,440 –> 00:09:56,280Thinking about this,20900:09:56,299 –> 00:09:59,280my mind went back to a particular soccer game.21000:09:59,280 –> 00:10:01,080I’ll probably lapse into calling it football,21100:10:01,080 –> 00:10:02,219but I said soccer once,21200:10:02,219 –> 00:10:04,719so you do know what I’m talking about here,21300:10:04,719 –> 00:10:07,500that I went to a number of years ago in London.21400:10:07,500 –> 00:10:11,719In North London, there is an intense rivalry21500:10:11,719 –> 00:10:13,440between two teams.21600:10:13,440 –> 00:10:15,039One known as The Arsenal,21700:10:15,039 –> 00:10:18,559the other Spurs or Tottenham Hotspur.21800:10:18,559 –> 00:10:21,239Now when I say intense, I mean intense.21900:10:21,239 –> 00:10:24,599You take the Cubs in the Sox, ratchet it up 25 times22000:10:24,599 –> 00:10:26,859and you’ve got the general idea.22100:10:26,859 –> 00:10:31,159And one thing that makes the rivalry very intense22200:10:31,159 –> 00:10:36,159is that the fans regularly wear the team colours.22300:10:36,359 –> 00:10:39,659None of your foam fingers and this kind of stuff.22400:10:39,659 –> 00:10:42,979I mean, we actually get the team colours there22500:10:42,979 –> 00:10:45,900and tickets are allocated22600:10:45,900 –> 00:10:49,000according to which team you are supporting.22700:10:49,000 –> 00:10:52,679So for this local game that was a major,22800:10:52,719 –> 00:10:55,840major event every year, Arsenal against Spurs.22900:10:55,840 –> 00:10:58,840When it was at Arsenal you would have 80 percent23000:10:58,840 –> 00:11:02,280of the ground covered in red23100:11:02,280 –> 00:11:05,400and 20 percent of the ground down the other far end23200:11:05,400 –> 00:11:07,119that would be covered in blue.23300:11:07,119 –> 00:11:09,320And the usual thing that folks would do23400:11:09,320 –> 00:11:11,760would be to bring their scarves, you see.23500:11:11,760 –> 00:11:15,940And when things were going well you get the scarf up.23600:11:15,940 –> 00:11:17,679And this was before they spoiled it23700:11:17,679 –> 00:11:19,280by bringing in all seaters stadiums,23800:11:19,280 –> 00:11:21,039we just packed in like that.23900:11:21,419 –> 00:11:22,880And you’d sort of swing with the scarf24000:11:22,880 –> 00:11:24,979which would get this massive color24100:11:24,979 –> 00:11:27,239that covered the whole of one end of the ground24200:11:27,239 –> 00:11:32,099and sing songs mainly directed against the opposing fans24300:11:32,099 –> 00:11:36,359in their languishing defeat and in their pathetic choices24400:11:36,359 –> 00:11:40,219of support in life and so forth and so on.24500:11:41,340 –> 00:11:44,900Well one day a friend of mine, a church in London,24600:11:44,900 –> 00:11:46,979phoned me up, he said, hey Colin,24700:11:46,979 –> 00:11:50,020got a spare ticket for the big game, do you want to come?24800:11:50,820 –> 00:11:52,320Well now we’ve always been Spurs fans24900:11:52,320 –> 00:11:53,520so I immediately said to him,25000:11:53,520 –> 00:11:55,979oh which end of the ground is it for?25100:11:55,979 –> 00:11:57,020Arsenal he said.25200:11:58,179 –> 00:12:01,359I said well I’m not very sure I’m going to fit in there.25300:12:01,359 –> 00:12:02,200He said, oh come on.25400:12:02,200 –> 00:12:04,179He said, leave your scarf at home.25500:12:04,179 –> 00:12:06,260He said, just come we’ll be fine.25600:12:06,260 –> 00:12:07,979We’ll have a great time.25700:12:07,979 –> 00:12:11,359Well, I did and I have to tell you25800:12:11,359 –> 00:12:13,840it was the strangest experience.25900:12:14,940 –> 00:12:18,380I mean here we were, pressed into this swarming mass26000:12:18,419 –> 00:12:21,260of humanity covered in red,26100:12:22,780 –> 00:12:26,380covered in red to which I did not belong.26200:12:27,619 –> 00:12:30,400And here’s me in that swarming mass of humanity26300:12:30,400 –> 00:12:33,880looking down the length of the field26400:12:33,880 –> 00:12:37,880at a smaller mass of humanity covered in blue26500:12:37,880 –> 00:12:39,299to which I did belong.26600:12:40,700 –> 00:12:42,179And as the game went on26700:12:42,179 –> 00:12:43,820the whole thing got more and more strange26800:12:43,820 –> 00:12:47,460because when they got really excited and cheered26900:12:47,460 –> 00:12:49,859I was holding my head in my hands.27000:12:50,739 –> 00:12:54,080And when they were wracked with despair27100:12:54,080 –> 00:12:57,460I found myself overwhelmed with joy.27200:12:57,460 –> 00:12:59,820Now, it’s hard to be different27300:12:59,820 –> 00:13:03,340and I kind of tried not to make it too obvious.27400:13:04,219 –> 00:13:07,299Now, is this not precisely our position?27500:13:07,299 –> 00:13:09,380You see we come here on Sunday morning27600:13:09,380 –> 00:13:11,179and we talk about holiness27700:13:11,179 –> 00:13:12,739and we’re here with a group of people27800:13:12,739 –> 00:13:15,179who are all under the same color.27900:13:15,179 –> 00:13:16,760It’s like cheering when you’re surrounded28000:13:16,799 –> 00:13:18,059by the home team.28100:13:18,979 –> 00:13:21,359But tomorrow, you find yourself28200:13:21,359 –> 00:13:23,880at the other end of the ground.28300:13:23,880 –> 00:13:26,140You find yourself in the middle of a large crowd28400:13:26,140 –> 00:13:29,479who are cheering for the opposite thing.28500:13:29,479 –> 00:13:30,359You find yourself saying,28600:13:30,359 –> 00:13:32,559this is a very strange experience for me.28700:13:32,559 –> 00:13:34,919I am working with all these people,28800:13:34,919 –> 00:13:37,320I’m doing the same job, but I’m not like them.28900:13:37,320 –> 00:13:39,640I’m among them, but I’m not one of them.29000:13:39,640 –> 00:13:42,539I’m operating with a completely different set of values.29100:13:42,539 –> 00:13:46,039I perceive myself to be in an entirely different position.29200:13:46,059 –> 00:13:48,539It is a very, very strange experience.29300:13:50,280 –> 00:13:52,820I have to tell you that Spurs won the game.29400:13:52,820 –> 00:13:57,179And it was a strange experience actually29500:13:57,179 –> 00:14:01,119to be in this great crowd of dejected people29600:14:01,119 –> 00:14:02,500walking out the ground.29700:14:03,460 –> 00:14:05,580My face was covered with glory.29800:14:09,799 –> 00:14:13,039You know, when the final whistle blows,29900:14:14,000 –> 00:14:16,200the home team is going down.30000:14:17,599 –> 00:14:20,140Those who have sought to live without God30100:14:20,140 –> 00:14:24,080and without truth will leave the field of play30200:14:24,080 –> 00:14:25,380with their heads hanging.30300:14:26,619 –> 00:14:30,280But that’s not where it’s going to end with you.30400:14:31,780 –> 00:14:35,979You are in the world, but you’re not off it.30500:14:37,280 –> 00:14:40,960You have been given by the Father to the Son.30600:14:41,919 –> 00:14:43,919You will be covered with his glory.30700:14:45,299 –> 00:14:48,140You will share in his triumph.30800:14:49,099 –> 00:14:50,440You’re listening to Open The Bible30900:14:50,440 –> 00:14:54,400with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called You Are Holy,31000:14:54,400 –> 00:14:56,700part of our series Be Yourself.31100:14:56,700 –> 00:14:59,140And if you’ve missed any of the series to date31200:14:59,140 –> 00:15:01,280or if you want to go back and listen again,31300:15:01,280 –> 00:15:04,320you can always do that by coming online to our website,31400:15:04,320 –> 00:15:07,179openthebible.org.uk.31500:15:07,179 –> 00:15:08,679There you’ll find all the messages31600:15:08,679 –> 00:15:10,559which have already been broadcast.31700:15:10,799 –> 00:15:14,159And you can also find Pastor Colin’s teaching online31800:15:14,159 –> 00:15:16,159as a podcast, and those are available31900:15:16,159 –> 00:15:18,000on all the main podcast sites.32000:15:18,000 –> 00:15:20,299Search for OpenTheBibleUK32100:15:20,299 –> 00:15:24,340and subscribe if you want to receive regular reminders.32200:15:24,340 –> 00:15:27,479Open The Bible is supported entirely by our listeners.32300:15:27,479 –> 00:15:30,179And this month, if you’re considering starting32400:15:30,179 –> 00:15:33,119to support Open The Bible financially,32500:15:33,119 –> 00:15:34,280we’d love to thank you32600:15:34,280 –> 00:15:37,960by sending you a copy of Pilgrim’s Progress.32700:15:37,960 –> 00:15:40,520That’s the classic book by John Bunyan32800:15:40,880 –> 00:15:44,119as well as a specially printed Open The Bible bookmark32900:15:44,119 –> 00:15:46,460and an Open The Bible pen.33000:15:46,460 –> 00:15:48,260Full details, terms, and conditions33100:15:48,260 –> 00:15:52,559on our website, OpenTheBible.org.UK.33200:15:52,559 –> 00:15:55,599Back to the message now, here’s Colin.33300:15:55,599 –> 00:15:57,059And though here’s the last thing,33400:15:57,059 –> 00:15:58,760and it’s very important that we hear these two things33500:15:58,760 –> 00:16:01,000together, that you’re sent.33600:16:01,000 –> 00:16:04,799This is part of our new position in Jesus Christ.33700:16:04,799 –> 00:16:06,679You see, it’s not enough for us to say,33800:16:06,679 –> 00:16:08,500well, you know, the world’s going its own way33900:16:08,500 –> 00:16:10,440but we are destined for everlasting life34000:16:10,599 –> 00:16:12,039and to eternal glory.34100:16:12,039 –> 00:16:13,500There’s more to it than that.34200:16:13,500 –> 00:16:14,900The Lord cares about the world and the way in which34300:16:14,900 –> 00:16:16,900he expresses that care is that he sends us.34400:16:16,900 –> 00:16:20,080You are sent to the world, and that is part34500:16:20,080 –> 00:16:22,200of the holiness of our calling.34600:16:22,200 –> 00:16:26,239We are set apart for this, to be sent into the world.34700:16:26,239 –> 00:16:28,739Notice how Jesus puts it as you send me34800:16:28,739 –> 00:16:30,880into the world, he says to the Father,34900:16:30,880 –> 00:16:35,880I have sent them into the world.35000:16:37,460 –> 00:16:40,200And then he continues, for them, I sanctify35100:16:40,940 –> 00:16:45,780myself that they too may be truly sanctified.35200:16:45,780 –> 00:16:48,859Now notice that phrase, when Jesus says,35300:16:48,859 –> 00:16:52,440I sanctify myself he’s obviously not35400:16:52,440 –> 00:16:54,619talking about a gradual growth in holiness.35500:16:54,619 –> 00:16:56,200There, is he?35600:16:56,200 –> 00:16:59,719I mean he is the holy one, and there was never35700:16:59,719 –> 00:17:02,640a moment in his life when he fell short of his calling.35800:17:02,640 –> 00:17:05,099Never a moment where he strayed from the path.35900:17:05,099 –> 00:17:07,439Never in his entire life was he short36000:17:07,439 –> 00:17:09,199of what God called him to do.36100:17:09,199 –> 00:17:11,260There’s no question of somehow growing36200:17:11,260 –> 00:17:13,380to be brighter in Jesus.36300:17:13,380 –> 00:17:16,260He’s not talking about a process that’s going on here.36400:17:16,260 –> 00:17:18,459He’s clearly using it in the other sense36500:17:18,459 –> 00:17:19,900that we’re focusing on today.36600:17:19,900 –> 00:17:24,160He’s talking about setting himself apart for a task,36700:17:24,160 –> 00:17:29,160for them I sanctify myself, I set myself apart.36800:17:29,239 –> 00:17:32,660And, of course, the task that he’s setting himself apart for36900:17:33,719 –> 00:17:35,939is the unique calling of bearing the cross.37000:17:36,859 –> 00:17:39,660Remember, this is the night he was betrayed.37100:17:40,579 –> 00:17:43,420He’s coming to the climax of his own prayer.37200:17:44,459 –> 00:17:47,979Remember that Matthew, Mark, and Luke37300:17:47,979 –> 00:17:52,180all record the story of how Jesus wrestled37400:17:52,180 –> 00:17:54,780with the agony that he would face37500:17:54,780 –> 00:17:57,859in enduring the cross in the garden of Gethsemane.37600:17:59,260 –> 00:18:03,260He said, if it be possible, let this cup be taken from me,37700:18:03,260 –> 00:18:04,819and then he said, nevertheless,37800:18:05,420 –> 00:18:07,939not My will, but yours be done,37900:18:07,939 –> 00:18:10,520and he gave himself to that task.38000:18:11,380 –> 00:18:12,619Have you ever noticed that John38100:18:12,619 –> 00:18:15,339does not record the story of the garden of Gethsemane?38200:18:16,260 –> 00:18:17,880He goes straight from chapter 1738300:18:17,880 –> 00:18:20,020and chapter 18 to the arrest.38400:18:21,180 –> 00:18:25,640This is John’s Gethsemane.38500:18:27,819 –> 00:18:32,099Right here, Jesus says, I sanctify myself.38600:18:32,099 –> 00:18:35,739I give myself with all that that will mean38700:18:36,900 –> 00:18:40,599to the work that the Father has given me to do.38800:18:42,140 –> 00:18:43,760And notice that in the same breath,38900:18:43,760 –> 00:18:46,599Jesus calls us to do precisely the same thing.39000:18:46,599 –> 00:18:50,339I sanctify myself, I give myself to my calling39100:18:50,339 –> 00:18:52,859so that they too may be sanctified,39200:18:52,859 –> 00:18:55,939so that they may give themselves to their calling,39300:18:55,939 –> 00:18:59,260and he’s praying for this.39400:18:59,260 –> 00:19:01,339At the very moment in the presence of the Father39500:19:01,339 –> 00:19:03,619that he gives himself39600:19:03,619 –> 00:19:06,219to all that will be involved in the cross,39700:19:06,219 –> 00:19:09,400he prays that we will give ourselves39800:19:09,400 –> 00:19:11,160to all that’s involved in our calling,39900:19:11,160 –> 00:19:13,119which is not to hang on the cross,40000:19:13,119 –> 00:19:16,760but it is to go into the world.40100:19:16,760 –> 00:19:19,800So he says, as the Father has sent me,40200:19:19,800 –> 00:19:21,920so I am sending you.40300:19:23,900 –> 00:19:28,900So when Christ sees a high school in all its need,40400:19:29,500 –> 00:19:34,500and kids who’re lost, what does he do?40500:19:36,560 –> 00:19:38,800He sends you.40600:19:40,300 –> 00:19:43,839When Christ sees the world of business, cold,40700:19:45,479 –> 00:19:47,599people cutting each other up,40800:19:48,880 –> 00:19:50,979the triumph of self,40900:19:52,099 –> 00:19:53,680what does Jesus do?41000:19:53,680 –> 00:19:56,619He sends you.41100:19:56,939 –> 00:19:59,739When Jesus sees someone who is cold41200:19:59,739 –> 00:20:03,599and hungry or has AIDS,41300:20:05,060 –> 00:20:07,199what does Jesus do?41400:20:08,819 –> 00:20:10,699He sends you.41500:20:11,920 –> 00:20:14,880He doesn’t send all of us to every place,41600:20:14,880 –> 00:20:17,699but he does send each of us to someplace.41700:20:19,199 –> 00:20:21,739He doesn’t make us all responsible for every need,41800:20:21,739 –> 00:20:24,300but he does make us all responsible for some need.41900:20:24,300 –> 00:20:29,300And as he gives himself to his work,42000:20:30,040 –> 00:20:32,839I sanctify myself, his prayer is42100:20:32,839 –> 00:20:35,579that we will give ourselves to our work.42200:20:35,579 –> 00:20:39,339You are sent.42300:20:40,599 –> 00:20:45,300You see why it’s so critical that we should be who we are.42400:20:47,119 –> 00:20:48,060Jesus said,42500:20:48,060 –> 00:20:50,699You are the light of the world.42600:20:50,699 –> 00:20:53,680You are the light of the world, he said to his disciples.42700:20:53,699 –> 00:20:56,500You are the light of that school.42800:20:57,479 –> 00:20:59,640You are the light of that office.42900:21:00,800 –> 00:21:03,099You are the light of that family.43000:21:04,439 –> 00:21:06,660You are the light of those children.43100:21:08,040 –> 00:21:10,459And if the light becomes darkness,43200:21:10,459 –> 00:21:12,300then how great is the darkness?43300:21:12,300 –> 00:21:14,500If the light in you is not shining,43400:21:14,500 –> 00:21:17,300where will the light come from in this broken world?43500:21:18,540 –> 00:21:19,900You are the light.43600:21:21,599 –> 00:21:23,640Be who you are.43700:21:24,260 –> 00:21:29,260Now how can anyone who is in the Lord Jesus Christ43800:21:29,420 –> 00:21:34,140question the significance of their life?43900:21:35,839 –> 00:21:38,500Do you see your holiness in Christ?44000:21:40,180 –> 00:21:42,739You are holy!44100:21:44,280 –> 00:21:47,520You are given to Christ.44200:21:48,540 –> 00:21:51,859You are glorified in Christ.44300:21:52,819 –> 00:21:55,239You are called through Christ44400:21:56,239 –> 00:21:58,760and you are sent by Christ.44500:22:00,819 –> 00:22:05,119Be who you are!44600:22:06,020 –> 00:22:08,660You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin Smith on Open the Bible44700:22:08,959 –> 00:22:11,199with a message called You Are Holy44800:22:11,260 –> 00:22:14,079and it’s part of our series Be Yourself.44900:22:14,699 –> 00:22:16,599If you’ve missed any of the series to date45000:22:16,640 –> 00:22:18,260or if you want to go back and listen again45100:22:18,439 –> 00:22:20,680you can do that by coming online to our website45200:22:20,920 –> 00:22:21,719OpenTheBible.com45300:22:21,880 –> 00:22:23,540or Open subt.org.uk45400:22:23,819 –> 00:22:25,260There you can find all messages45500:22:25,380 –> 00:22:27,160which have already gone out on air.45600:22:27,819 –> 00:22:29,560You can also find us as a podcast45700:22:29,579 –> 00:22:31,660and those are on all the main podcast sites.45800:22:31,819 –> 00:22:33,599Search OpentheBible.com45900:22:33,760 –> 00:22:36,939and subscribe if you want to receive regular updates.46000:22:37,739 –> 00:22:40,160Also on our website and available as a podcast46100:22:40,160 –> 00:22:41,619is Open the Bible Daily46200:22:41,859 –> 00:22:43,520and that’s a series of short46300:22:43,599 –> 00:22:45,819two to three minute daily reflections46400:22:46,140 –> 00:22:47,900based on Pastor Colin’s teaching46500:22:48,199 –> 00:22:50,540and read in the U.K. by Sue MacLish.46600:22:51,500 –> 00:22:54,420At Open the Bible, we welcome contact with our listeners.46700:22:54,719 –> 00:22:57,660If you’ve been blessed by Pastor Colin Smith’s teaching46800:22:57,839 –> 00:22:59,540and you’d like to reach out to us,46900:22:59,760 –> 00:23:01,400there are several ways you can do that.47000:23:01,599 –> 00:23:04,239You can write to us at Open the Bible47100:23:04,439 –> 00:23:11,020PO Box 1420 Cheltenham, GL-50, 9pg47200:23:11,339 –> 00:23:18,780Or you can phone us on 0330-335-808947300:23:19,359 –> 00:23:21,439If we’re not available when you call,47400:23:21,599 –> 00:23:24,079leave a message for us and we’ll return your call.47500:23:24,260 –> 00:23:27,500And you can find all those contact details on our website47600:23:27,660 –> 00:23:30,599openthebible.org.uk47700:23:31,079 –> 00:23:34,180Colin, today’s message might be an encouragement to many.47800:23:34,420 –> 00:23:36,939Some might be the only Christian in a family47900:23:37,040 –> 00:23:39,780or they might be the only Christian in their workplace.48000:23:40,060 –> 00:23:43,099Oh, yeah, and I want to give you an encouragement,48100:23:43,219 –> 00:23:45,140especially today if that’s your situation.48200:23:45,239 –> 00:23:48,599If you are the ONLY Christian in your family,48300:23:49,000 –> 00:23:50,199and you say, well, I’m the only one.48400:23:50,199 –> 00:23:51,660There’s only one little light.48500:23:51,939 –> 00:23:54,260I want to say thank God for you.48600:23:54,979 –> 00:23:58,739God has lit a lamp in your life48700:23:58,880 –> 00:24:02,140and placed that light in your family.48800:24:02,560 –> 00:24:05,979Don’t underestimate what God is doing in this regard.48900:24:06,119 –> 00:24:08,880See what a remarkable thing this is.49000:24:09,119 –> 00:24:12,520You are the first Christian in your family.49100:24:12,780 –> 00:24:15,660This is the first fruit of Christ’s redeeming work.49200:24:15,959 –> 00:24:18,500It begins with you who knows where49300:24:18,520 –> 00:24:19,520it finishes.49400:24:19,839 –> 00:24:21,619And if you’re feeling like you’re working in49500:24:21,619 –> 00:24:23,900a very dark place and perhaps you’re the only49600:24:23,900 –> 00:24:25,719believer in your office or in your company49700:24:26,500 –> 00:24:28,579or even in your classroom,49800:24:29,140 –> 00:24:31,880thank God that he has allowed49900:24:31,880 –> 00:24:33,319you to be in that situation50000:24:34,520 –> 00:24:36,619because there is light in you50100:24:36,739 –> 00:24:38,719and you are light in the Lord.50200:24:38,719 –> 00:24:39,579If you’re a Christian.50300:24:39,599 –> 00:24:41,300That’s what it says in Ephesians.50400:24:41,839 –> 00:24:43,900So praise God. He puts his brightest lights50500:24:44,199 –> 00:24:45,400in the darkest places.50600:24:45,459 –> 00:24:47,319And if you’re the only light today,50700:24:47,560 –> 00:24:48,520be encouraged.50800:24:48,880 –> 00:24:50,280You’re not there by accident.50900:24:50,359 –> 00:24:52,079It’s the grace of God that has lit the51000:24:52,099 –> 00:24:53,900light in you and placed you51100:24:54,099 –> 00:24:55,099where you are.51200:24:55,300 –> 00:24:57,760Colin, thanks for that word of encouragement51300:24:57,760 –> 00:24:58,760for many.51400:25:00,260 –> 00:25:01,920For Open the Bible and for Pastor Colin51500:25:02,319 –> 00:25:04,300Smith, I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll51600:25:04,300 –> 00:25:06,459be able to join us again next time on51700:25:06,560 –> 00:25:07,560Open the Bible.51800:25:13,780 –> 00:25:15,800Christian faith is more than forgiveness51900:25:15,800 –> 00:25:18,319for the past and security for your future.52000:25:18,839 –> 00:25:20,859Find out what God intends for you52100:25:21,140 –> 00:25:22,880next time on Open the Bible.