100:00:00,200 –> 00:00:07,120I’m increasingly convinced that one of the greatest dangers for Christian believers today200:00:07,120 –> 00:00:14,020is that we look like we’re proclaiming ourselves. We know how to do life. Come with us. Around300:00:14,020 –> 00:00:18,620that’s the kind of arrogance that causes other unbelieving people to blaspheme the400:00:18,620 –> 00:00:19,980name of God.500:00:19,980 –> 00:00:24,520Welcome to open the bible with Pastor Colin Smith. I’m David Pick. Glad you could be600:00:24,520 –> 00:00:29,160with us today and Colin, that’s right, of course we want to be inviting people into700:00:29,200 –> 00:00:33,080the church, but we need to be honest about the body of Christ.800:00:33,080 –> 00:00:38,259That’s right, and the way that we do that is not by pointing to ourselves with a kind900:00:38,259 –> 00:00:43,720of moral superiority. Hey, come with us because we’re better than you. No, the very point1000:00:43,720 –> 00:00:48,919of being a Christian is that a Christian by definition has recognised his own need. To1100:00:48,919 –> 00:00:53,360be a Christian is to say I am not what God has called me to be. That is why I need a1200:00:53,360 –> 00:00:59,400saviour, why I’m following this saviour because all my good is in him. So the church is to1300:00:59,400 –> 00:01:05,160be a community of people that’s not pointing to itself but is pointing to its saviour who1400:01:05,160 –> 00:01:08,660is the hope of the world. So for an ordinary Christian like us in the1500:01:08,660 –> 00:01:12,839church, how should we do that? Well, we’ve got to be in touch with the reality1600:01:12,839 –> 00:01:17,239of our own need. The human problem is not just that I’ve done a few things wrong that1700:01:17,239 –> 00:01:22,000need to be forgiven and then I’m alright. The human problem is much deeper than that.1800:01:22,199 –> 00:01:26,440Sin is more like a cancer in the soul. I need a Redeemer throughout life.1900:01:26,440 –> 00:01:29,879And I’m going to need a Redeemer in death and to bring me into eternity.2000:01:29,879 –> 00:01:34,559And if I lose sight of that then I may get carried away with my own imagined goodness2100:01:34,559 –> 00:01:40,239and then the saviour becomes eclipsed. So that’s one of the reasons we’ve got to2200:01:40,239 –> 00:01:45,639keep Christ first and centre so that we’re humbled and he’s exalted so that people2300:01:45,639 –> 00:01:48,839think more of him and less of us that’s the right way round.2400:01:48,839 –> 00:01:53,040So we’re going to spend some time looking deeper into that today as we continue a message2500:01:53,040 –> 00:01:57,879called Your Struggle with Religion, and you will definitely want to stay tuned to this2600:01:57,879 –> 00:02:03,099because the question we’ll consider is, is there an unforgivable sin? What does that2700:02:03,099 –> 00:02:09,759mean to blaspheme the Spirit? That’s coming up soon. Join us in Exodus 20. Here’s Colin.2800:02:09,759 –> 00:02:17,039God takes this sin personally. It is uniquely personal to him. You would of course do the2900:02:17,039 –> 00:02:22,199same. How would you feel if someone used your name to justify acts of violence, or3000:02:22,199 –> 00:02:27,559empty promises, or used it in a frivolous kind of way for all kinds of stupidity? Of3100:02:27,559 –> 00:02:33,059course, it shouldn’t surprise us that God’s name is misused so much, always has been and3200:02:33,059 –> 00:02:40,860always will be. Anything that is of value will be counterfeited. God speaks about this3300:02:40,860 –> 00:02:46,720in Jeremiah 14 in verse 14. He talks about prophets who prophesy lies in my name. They3400:02:46,720 –> 00:02:52,179get up, they use the name of God, these false prophets. But all they’re doing is they’re3500:02:52,179 –> 00:02:59,380spouting their own ideas, and it’s an offense to me says the Lord. Jesus speaks about this3600:02:59,380 –> 00:03:04,839most powerfully of course, in the sermon on the mount, Matthew chapter 7. Not everybody3700:03:04,839 –> 00:03:09,360who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. Not everyone who uses my name is3800:03:09,360 –> 00:03:14,600going to be in heaven. But only him who does the will of the Father who sent me. There3900:03:14,600 –> 00:03:18,839will be religious kind of people who have made all sorts of claims, but have been abusing4000:03:18,839 –> 00:03:26,300the name of Jesus for their own ends. Don’t expect to see them in heaven, says Jesus. Those4100:03:26,300 –> 00:03:38,919who use God’s name for their own ends end up disowned by the God whose name they misused.4200:03:39,919 –> 00:03:48,440Now, I want you to see how uniquely serious this is. Notice from Exodus chapter 20 and4300:03:48,440 –> 00:03:57,300verse 7 that God puts this sin in a unique category. Notice what he says. You shall not4400:03:57,300 –> 00:04:03,440misuse the name of the Lord your God for and we often forget the second bit, but look at4500:04:03,440 –> 00:04:07,479what it says we can’t skip over it. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your4600:04:07,520 –> 00:04:18,500God for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. This is the only one4700:04:18,559 –> 00:04:27,559of the ten commandments where God speaks like this, but here he specifically speaks of a4800:04:27,640 –> 00:04:36,559lasting guilt. It’s what it says, isn’t it? We didn’t skip over this. Don’t expect4900:04:36,559 –> 00:04:47,179to be forgiven for this one, God says. I will not hold you guiltless over this. Now5000:04:47,380 –> 00:04:57,480you say, whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait a minute, are you saying that there is a sin that is5100:04:57,640 –> 00:05:09,019unforgivable? Well, yes. The Bible speaks very clearly about one sin that cannot be5200:05:09,019 –> 00:05:17,000forgiven, and it concerns the name of God. And the Third Commandment points directly5300:05:17,000 –> 00:05:23,660to it. That is why there is this unique statement at the end of the Third Commandment that should5400:05:23,739 –> 00:05:32,380cause all of us to stop seriously and think. Misusing the name of God, of course, in the5500:05:32,380 –> 00:05:37,579light of all that is revealed in Scripture includes misusing the name of the Father,5600:05:37,579 –> 00:05:44,859and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And the Third Commandment points directly to two5700:05:44,859 –> 00:05:52,200New Testament Scriptures that speak about a sin for which there is no forgiveness.5800:05:52,839 –> 00:06:01,579Now every pastor, sooner or later, gets asked a question about these two passages from the Bible.5900:06:01,660 –> 00:06:05,480So we’re going to look at them together now and you might like to turn to them.6000:06:05,480 –> 00:06:10,000They’re difficult passages, but I want us to see how they connect to the Third Commandment,6100:06:10,000 –> 00:06:15,959and I think that will be helpful to us all. The first of them concerns the name of Jesus,6200:06:16,100 –> 00:06:19,720and this is in Hebrews chapter 6, verses 4-6.6300:06:19,720 –> 00:06:21,720You might like to turn to that.6400:06:22,920 –> 00:06:26,899One of the very important statements about blaspheming the name Jesus,6500:06:28,459 –> 00:06:30,959And here we read these words in Hebrews 6,6600:06:32,980 –> 00:06:34,980So He’s talking about something that’s impossible.6700:06:46,059 –> 00:06:47,959Verses 6 fall away.6800:06:48,820 –> 00:06:51,579It’s impossible for them to be brought back to repentance.6900:06:53,019 –> 00:06:55,019Because to their loss.7000:06:56,720 –> 00:07:01,000They are crucifying the son of God all over again.7100:07:02,260 –> 00:07:06,140AND subjecting Him to public disgrace.7200:07:06,959 –> 00:07:10,559That’s a difficult verse but it is making essentially a simple point.7300:07:11,959 –> 00:07:15,220The book of Hebrews were written to a group of Jewish believers7400:07:15,220 –> 00:07:22,459who after they came to faith in Christ were under intense pressure to renounce Jesus and go back.7500:07:23,239 –> 00:07:28,959The book of Hebrews is written to encourage them to stay the course and to honour the name of Jesus.7600:07:29,480 –> 00:07:32,760The message of the book of Hebrews can be summed up in three words.7700:07:32,760 –> 00:07:34,739Don’t go back.7800:07:35,679 –> 00:07:37,679Because if you renounce Jesus,7900:07:38,679 –> 00:07:42,920there is no other way by which you can be right with God.8000:07:43,779 –> 00:07:47,220And in these verses he’s laying this out.8100:07:47,220 –> 00:07:49,220If you’re turning away from Jesus,8200:07:49,420 –> 00:07:51,980then you turn away from all that’s in Jesus.8300:07:51,980 –> 00:07:53,980You turn away from the Holy Spirit.8400:07:53,980 –> 00:07:55,980You turn away from the heavenly gifts.8500:07:55,980 –> 00:07:57,980You turn away from the goodness of the word.8600:07:57,980 –> 00:07:59,980You turn away from the powers of the coming age.8700:07:59,980 –> 00:08:01,980You turn away from Jesus, you lose everything.8800:08:01,980 –> 00:08:05,320You turn away from Jesus, you’re back in your sins.8900:08:05,320 –> 00:08:08,260You turn away from Jesus, it will be your everlasting loss.9000:08:09,100 –> 00:08:11,100That’s what he’s saying.9100:08:12,079 –> 00:08:18,440The only repentance that is acceptable to God9200:08:18,440 –> 00:08:22,480is repentance in the name of Jesus.9300:08:23,220 –> 00:08:25,799Detach yourself from the name of Jesus9400:08:25,799 –> 00:08:28,799and you detach yourself from the possibility of repentance9500:08:28,799 –> 00:08:31,959because repentance can only be in his name, right?9600:08:34,479 –> 00:08:37,859He is the name given by which you may come to God,9700:08:37,859 –> 00:08:42,039but leave the name, and you leave all that is in it.9800:08:43,960 –> 00:08:46,679There is no forgiveness without his name.9900:08:48,359 –> 00:08:49,659Renounce him10000:08:51,280 –> 00:08:54,539and your guilt remains upon you.10100:08:55,719 –> 00:08:56,919That’s what he’s saying.10200:08:59,780 –> 00:09:02,280Now turn to the second reference10300:09:02,280 –> 00:09:05,000that speaks of this tragic situation.10400:09:05,000 –> 00:09:07,599This is the reference to Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit10500:09:07,599 –> 00:09:10,859in Mark in chapter three and verse 28.10600:09:10,859 –> 00:09:12,179You turn with me.10700:09:12,179 –> 00:09:16,359Another verse that often troubles Christian believers.10800:09:17,960 –> 00:09:19,780Mark chapter three in verse 28,10900:09:19,780 –> 00:09:21,940and again we’ll try and understand the setting11000:09:21,940 –> 00:09:24,419and then hear the words.11100:09:24,419 –> 00:09:25,760What’s happening here is that Jesus11200:09:25,760 –> 00:09:26,859has been healing the sick,11300:09:26,859 –> 00:09:30,799he has been casting our demons and the fascinating thing11400:09:30,799 –> 00:09:32,359is that not a soul could dispute11500:09:32,359 –> 00:09:33,799the authenticity of the miracles.11600:09:33,799 –> 00:09:36,840Everyone who saw them knew that they were real.11700:09:36,840 –> 00:09:38,280So no one said they didn’t happen11800:09:38,280 –> 00:09:40,840because they obviously did, people saw them happen.11900:09:42,280 –> 00:09:44,880So the enemies of Jesus resorted to another tactic.12000:09:44,880 –> 00:09:46,520They suggested that this power,12100:09:46,520 –> 00:09:49,479which was obviously real, was actually the devil’s power12200:09:49,479 –> 00:09:51,159and they said it in verse 22.12300:09:51,159 –> 00:09:54,200He’s possessed by Beelzebub, that means the devil,12400:09:54,200 –> 00:09:57,340by the prince of demons he’s driving out demons.12500:09:57,340 –> 00:09:59,020You see what’s happening here now?12600:09:59,020 –> 00:10:00,859Jesus comes with grace and mercy12700:10:00,859 –> 00:10:03,320and he brings the blessing of God12800:10:04,320 –> 00:10:07,979and here are a group of people who see the blessing of God12900:10:07,979 –> 00:10:11,119poured into people’s lives and they say that’s the devil.13000:10:13,840 –> 00:10:15,359And Jesus is saying to them in effect,13100:10:15,359 –> 00:10:18,440that is the greatest misjudgment you could ever make.13200:10:20,340 –> 00:10:21,580What you have just seen13300:10:21,580 –> 00:10:24,659is the work of the Holy Spirit of God13400:10:25,960 –> 00:10:29,159and if you turn away from the blessing of his work,13500:10:30,159 –> 00:10:31,619there is no hope for you.13600:10:32,500 –> 00:10:36,479So verse 28, I tell you the truth Jesus says,13700:10:36,479 –> 00:10:40,440all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them,13800:10:40,440 –> 00:10:43,400but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit13900:10:43,400 –> 00:10:48,400will never be forgiven for he is guilty of an eternal sin.14000:10:51,200 –> 00:10:54,380See, forgiveness is possible14100:10:54,380 –> 00:10:58,020by embracing the one who forgives.14200:10:58,960 –> 00:11:04,039But if a person will not embrace the one who forgives,14300:11:04,039 –> 00:11:06,400how can that person be forgiven?14400:11:07,919 –> 00:11:10,419If someone turns away from the name of Jesus,14500:11:10,419 –> 00:11:12,520from the work of the Holy Spirit,14600:11:12,520 –> 00:11:15,559and cast this off as being something of darkness14700:11:15,559 –> 00:11:18,799and hardens his or her heart towards it,14800:11:18,799 –> 00:11:22,239if you will not embrace the one who forgives,14900:11:22,239 –> 00:11:24,260how can you be forgiven?15000:11:25,200 –> 00:11:28,239And that’s the whole point of the third commandment.15100:11:28,239 –> 00:11:31,840God will not hold guiltless those who abuse his name.15200:11:31,840 –> 00:11:34,400Apart from the name by which we must be saved,15300:11:34,400 –> 00:11:36,159we remain in our guilt.15400:11:38,760 –> 00:11:40,440The Bible puts this so clearly15500:11:40,440 –> 00:11:42,559in both the Old and the New Testament.15600:11:42,559 –> 00:11:47,200Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.15700:11:47,200 –> 00:11:50,479Notice, calling on the name of the Lord.15800:11:50,679 –> 00:11:53,419Salvation comes, repentance comes15900:11:53,419 –> 00:11:55,840through the name of the Lord.16000:11:57,020 –> 00:11:59,640Notice it’s in the Old Testament and in the New.16100:11:59,640 –> 00:12:02,280In the Old Testament, Joel the prophet says16200:12:02,280 –> 00:12:06,880the way to be saved is to call on the name of Yahweh,16300:12:06,880 –> 00:12:10,340the name we’ve learned that God gave to Moses.16400:12:10,340 –> 00:12:12,080That’s how you’re gonna be saved.16500:12:12,080 –> 00:12:15,260You’re gonna come in humility and in faith and embrace him,16600:12:15,260 –> 00:12:16,539and he will save you.16700:12:16,539 –> 00:12:18,880You’ll be saved by his name.16800:12:20,679 –> 00:12:22,159And Peter, on the day of Pentecost,16900:12:22,159 –> 00:12:24,799takes up that same theme, that same quotation,17000:12:24,799 –> 00:12:27,880and he says now look, this is what that means.17100:12:27,880 –> 00:12:30,940It means you have to embrace the name of Jesus.17200:12:30,940 –> 00:12:33,000You have to call on the name of the Lord Jesus17300:12:33,000 –> 00:12:36,039in order to be saved because Jesus is the one17400:12:36,039 –> 00:12:39,179by whom this God has made himself known.17500:12:39,179 –> 00:12:40,979He is God in the flesh.17600:12:40,979 –> 00:12:43,260He has given his life for us and it’s through him17700:12:43,260 –> 00:12:46,440that we find repentance and salvation.17800:12:47,500 –> 00:12:49,080So hear me clearly.17900:12:50,799 –> 00:12:53,979God offers forgiveness to every person.18000:12:57,760 –> 00:13:00,840God offers forgiveness for every sin,18100:13:02,919 –> 00:13:03,840every sin,18200:13:04,539 –> 00:13:05,380including18300:13:06,880 –> 00:13:08,299denials of Jesus,18400:13:10,140 –> 00:13:13,359blasphemies against the Holy Spirit,18500:13:13,359 –> 00:13:16,320misuse of the name of God,18600:13:16,320 –> 00:13:19,859including the vilest thing that you can conceive of18700:13:19,880 –> 00:13:23,359In your mind, God offers forgiveness for that too18800:13:23,359 –> 00:13:25,419Through the blood of Jesus18900:13:27,539 –> 00:13:30,640There is no sin for which you can not be forgiven19000:13:31,640 –> 00:13:33,640But the only way for you to be forgiven19100:13:33,640 –> 00:13:35,280is to embrace the one who forgives19200:13:35,280 –> 00:13:37,539And if you will not embrace His name,19300:13:38,580 –> 00:13:41,479if you will not call on the name of the Lord,19400:13:41,479 –> 00:13:43,460there is no other way for you to be saved19500:13:43,460 –> 00:13:46,619And in that circumstance, your guilt remains19600:13:47,380 –> 00:13:48,880God gives you grace19700:13:48,880 –> 00:13:51,119Now, this is serious stuff, folks19800:13:52,739 –> 00:13:55,659Because there are some of us who’ve heard it19900:13:56,900 –> 00:14:01,859Again and again and again and again and again20000:14:03,820 –> 00:14:05,179You’ve heard the gospel20100:14:06,500 –> 00:14:08,080And you’ve got used to20200:14:08,080 –> 00:14:10,580sitting in church and pushing it away20300:14:12,320 –> 00:14:13,380You’ve got used to the20400:14:13,380 –> 00:14:16,080I’m alright jack kind of an attitude20500:14:16,880 –> 00:14:18,419and20600:14:18,419 –> 00:14:22,619To this day you’ve not come to the place of saying I’m someone who needs20700:14:22,919 –> 00:14:27,320Jesus Christ to save me and your guilt right now remains20800:14:28,739 –> 00:14:30,739It’s well the third commandment tells you20900:14:31,619 –> 00:14:37,119And it will remain unless and until you call upon his name21000:14:37,599 –> 00:14:39,599Why21100:14:40,260 –> 00:14:45,500Would you having come to the service of worship today go out through these doors with your guilt21200:14:45,880 –> 00:14:48,460Remaining on you when you could embrace21300:14:49,080 –> 00:14:52,619Jesus and be forgiven and begin a new life in him21400:14:55,419 –> 00:14:57,700That’s the invitation of the gospel21500:15:00,340 –> 00:15:02,340But there is no other way21600:15:03,299 –> 00:15:04,340Today21700:15:04,340 –> 00:15:08,679If you hear his voice this time don’t harden your heart21800:15:09,599 –> 00:15:15,580You’re listening to pastor Colin Smith on open the Bible and Colin’s been talking about the struggle and the offense and when we come back21900:15:15,580 –> 00:15:18,659In a moment, we’ll look at the calling our message22000:15:18,659 –> 00:15:22,419Today is called your struggle with religion and it’s part of the series22100:15:22,599 –> 00:15:26,780The ten greatest struggles of your life all about the Ten Commandments22200:15:26,960 –> 00:15:28,320if you ever miss one of the series22300:15:29,260 –> 00:15:29,479of the series22400:15:29,479 –> 00:15:35,419Don’t forget you can always go online and check out our website and there you’ll find all the messages which have already been22500:15:35,559 –> 00:15:41,979Broadcast and they’re also available as a podcast. And those are on all the main podcast sites search for open the Bible22600:15:42,260 –> 00:15:49,580UK back to the message now we’re in Exodus 20 here’s Colin now. We’ve talked about the struggle. We’ve talked about the offense22700:15:50,820 –> 00:15:53,820lastly and very briefly a word about the calling22800:15:53,820 –> 00:15:59,700Because for all of those who have embraced the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in humility and by faith22900:16:00,840 –> 00:16:03,799We have a great calling to live for the honor of his name23000:16:05,719 –> 00:16:12,799And put very simply God’s answer to a world that blasphemes his name is a community of people who honor his name23100:16:14,880 –> 00:16:16,380It’s put very beautifully23200:16:16,719 –> 00:16:23,840In Isaiah chapter 52 in verse 5 where there’s almost an anguished cry that comes out from the heart of God23300:16:24,559 –> 00:16:29,200Isaiah 52 in verse 5 this is what God says all day long23400:16:30,479 –> 00:16:32,479My name is blasphemed23500:16:33,280 –> 00:16:35,280It’s not awful23600:16:35,299 –> 00:16:39,359but the Creator would look down on the face of this earth and23700:16:40,320 –> 00:16:46,359And as he looks at this world, he would say Isaiah 52 verse 5 all day long23800:16:46,719 –> 00:16:48,719My name is blasphemed23900:16:50,719 –> 00:16:52,719That’s the truth24000:16:54,000 –> 00:16:56,000Now what’s the answer24100:16:57,099 –> 00:16:59,479Since what God says immediately in Isaiah chapter24200:17:00,419 –> 00:17:04,83952 and verse 5 and verse 6 all day long My name is blasphemed on the earth24300:17:05,319 –> 00:17:07,319therefore he says24400:17:07,439 –> 00:17:11,439Therefore my people will know my name24500:17:13,920 –> 00:17:15,920See God’s answer24600:17:15,939 –> 00:17:20,359To a world that blasphemes his name is a community of people24700:17:21,359 –> 00:17:29,479Who honor his name and that’s our greatest calling and isn’t it true that that’s our greatest struggle24800:17:29,479 –> 00:17:37,719To honor him in everything we do individually and together24900:17:39,800 –> 00:17:44,680To speak and to think and to act in a way that all things honor him in a world25000:17:45,839 –> 00:17:47,880That so despises his name25100:17:51,359 –> 00:17:53,359That’s our calling25200:17:54,959 –> 00:17:56,959How are we going to do it25300:17:57,280 –> 00:17:59,280It’s a great struggle25400:18:00,260 –> 00:18:05,959Let me suggest just three strategies very briefly in these last moments the first is humility25500:18:06,640 –> 00:18:08,839Lord give us humility to do this25600:18:10,859 –> 00:18:17,180I’m increasingly convinced that one of the greatest dangers for Christian believers today is that we look like we’re proclaiming ourselves25700:18:19,719 –> 00:18:23,800You know, we know how to do life come with us we got it all sorted out25800:18:24,439 –> 00:18:25,640and25900:18:25,640 –> 00:18:31,119That’s the kind of arrogance that causes other unbelieving people to blaspheme the name of God26000:18:32,400 –> 00:18:34,439That’s not what you find in the New Testament26100:18:34,439 –> 00:18:35,300You find a humble26200:18:35,300 –> 00:18:42,160Spirit of people under the Word of God who want to share something of what they found about Jesus come and look at his claims26300:18:42,160 –> 00:18:45,739Come and look at what he did come with us and learn from him26400:18:47,060 –> 00:18:50,780Our task is not to hit the unbelieving World over the head with a two by four26500:18:51,839 –> 00:18:53,839it is to invite people to26600:18:54,180 –> 00:18:55,939to consider26700:18:55,939 –> 00:18:57,939Jesus26800:18:58,459 –> 00:19:00,400Then integrity26900:19:00,400 –> 00:19:03,959If we’re to live to honor his name, it’s going to take not just a humility27000:19:03,959 –> 00:19:08,959It’s going to take a real integrity the deepest impressions that are made on27100:19:09,439 –> 00:19:16,780People regarding the name and the reality of God for many people will probably come from what they see in you and in me27200:19:18,020 –> 00:19:20,020That’s true of any name27300:19:20,780 –> 00:19:22,780Think of a name27400:19:23,000 –> 00:19:24,839Kennedy27500:19:24,839 –> 00:19:26,839Kennedy27600:19:26,900 –> 00:19:30,420They see as soon as you say the name Kennedy a great family name27700:19:31,219 –> 00:19:38,560All kinds of impressions immediately come flooding into all of our minds associated with the name Kennedy and the impressions come27800:19:39,380 –> 00:19:44,859From the actions good and bad of family members who bare that name27900:19:46,500 –> 00:19:49,479Now you bear the name of God28000:19:50,180 –> 00:19:54,579We are the family of God and28100:19:55,439 –> 00:19:58,959the impressions that many people have about God himself28200:19:59,420 –> 00:20:01,040will come from the28300:20:01,040 –> 00:20:03,719actions of those who bear his name28400:20:03,760 –> 00:20:10,099What they see in us what they hear in us and if we’re to live for the honor of his name28500:20:10,119 –> 00:20:12,119It’s going to take not just humility28600:20:12,900 –> 00:20:18,000It’s going to take the active pursuit of integrity. This is the biggest struggle of our lives28700:20:18,920 –> 00:20:22,300to live in such a way that we really commend Jesus28800:20:23,819 –> 00:20:25,979In a world that doesn’t know it28900:20:27,660 –> 00:20:29,880And the last thing that it’ll take of course is love29000:20:31,180 –> 00:20:35,699Because if you love him, you will not misuse his name29100:20:36,819 –> 00:20:43,780And as we cultivate our love for him more, we’ll be more sensitive to living in a way that really honors him29200:20:43,780 –> 00:20:47,000That’s of course the whole point of worship29300:20:47,000 –> 00:20:50,800That’s why worship centers around the name of the Lord Jesus Christ29400:20:50,800 –> 00:20:53,680It’s always its focus on Earth and in Heaven29500:20:53,680 –> 00:20:58,380That’s why so many of our hymns express the beauty of the name of Jesus29600:20:58,380 –> 00:21:02,859How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear29700:21:02,859 –> 00:21:06,739It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds and drives away his fear29800:21:07,400 –> 00:21:11,079Jesus, the name, high over all in Hell or Earth or Sky29900:21:11,520 –> 00:21:15,020Angels, and men before it fall and devils fear and fly30000:21:15,020 –> 00:21:17,479I’ll be happy if with my littlest breath30100:21:17,479 –> 00:21:20,439I could just but gasped that name, preach him to all30200:21:20,439 –> 00:21:24,540And then cry in death, behold, behold the Lamb30300:21:24,540 –> 00:21:27,920Way back in the 12th century, Bernard of Clairvaux30400:21:27,920 –> 00:21:33,280Jesus the thought of thee, with sweetness fills my breast30500:21:33,280 –> 00:21:40,280But greater far thy face to see, and in thy presence rest30600:21:41,640 –> 00:21:46,160We love him because he has first loved us30700:21:46,160 –> 00:21:49,560And if we’re to live to honor him, we need that through worship30800:21:49,560 –> 00:21:56,560the lens of our souls will be opened to take in a greater knowledge30900:21:56,560 –> 00:22:01,339of his glory, his love, and his everlasting life31000:22:01,339 –> 00:22:08,339And as you grow to love him, it will shape the way that you speak about him31100:22:08,819 –> 00:22:15,819so that others will come to see that to you he is so much more than just a name31200:22:20,959 –> 00:22:24,719The name of Jesus is so much more than just a name31300:22:24,719 –> 00:22:29,260And as we learn to love him as Colin was just saying, we will treat that name differently31400:22:29,260 –> 00:22:32,699than any other When we treat it lightly or flippantly, it’s31500:22:32,699 –> 00:22:36,219possibly because we don’t fully understand what it means to love him31600:22:37,180 –> 00:22:40,280You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith31700:22:40,280 –> 00:22:43,380And a message called Your Struggle with Religion31800:22:43,380 –> 00:22:47,060Part of the series The 10 Greatest Struggles of Your Life31900:22:47,060 –> 00:22:50,319all about the 10 commandments And if you’ve missed any of the series, come32000:22:50,319 –> 00:22:54,060online to our website And there you can listen to any of the series32100:22:54,060 –> 00:22:59,880which have already been broadcast Open the Bible is supported by our listeners32200:22:59,880 –> 00:23:04,119people just like you and we’re immensely grateful for your support32300:23:04,219 –> 00:23:08,479If that’s something you haven’t done so far but you’re considering starting to support32400:23:08,479 –> 00:23:11,680Open the Bible we have an offer for you this month32500:23:11,680 –> 00:23:16,540If you’re able to begin a new direct debit to the work of Open the Bible in the32600:23:16,560 –> 00:23:22,560amount of £5 per month or more or a one-off gift of £50 or more32700:23:22,560 –> 00:23:27,439we’d love to thank you by sending you a copy of Pastor Colin’s book Drive Through the32800:23:27,439 –> 00:23:29,680Bible a 30-day journey32900:23:29,680 –> 00:23:33,760Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham to tell you about this offer33000:23:33,760 –> 00:23:40,099Yes it may, we are really excited to be giving away a brand new book by Colin Smith33100:23:40,099 –> 00:23:42,859called Drive Through the Bible33200:23:42,859 –> 00:23:46,839It’s a 30 day journey of just 5 minutes per day33300:23:46,839 –> 00:23:50,680exploring the landscape of the entire Bible story33400:23:50,680 –> 00:23:55,180It brings you into the valleys of the Old Testament with chapters such as Curse33500:23:55,180 –> 00:23:57,000Covenant and Chaos33600:23:57,000 –> 00:24:01,000It then moves on to the peaks of the glory of Jesus, as we look at how he33700:24:01,280 –> 00:24:04,160suffered, rose and is now waiting33800:24:04,160 –> 00:24:08,420and finally the ups and downs of the Christian life with chapters33900:24:08,420 –> 00:24:11,400such as conflict, joy and death34000:24:11,400 –> 00:24:14,319It also includes a short study guide at the back of the book34100:24:14,319 –> 00:24:17,239to help you apply the truths that you’ve learned34200:24:17,239 –> 00:24:21,020which you can use on your own or as part of a study group34300:24:21,020 –> 00:24:23,619We’re giving you this book for free in May34400:24:23,619 –> 00:24:27,339when you set up a new direct debit of at least £534500:24:27,339 –> 00:24:30,380or give a one-off gift of £5034600:24:30,380 –> 00:24:31,560Many thanks Amanda34700:24:31,560 –> 00:24:33,380So that’s our free gift to you34800:24:33,380 –> 00:24:35,619if you’re able to set up a new direct debit34900:24:35,619 –> 00:24:37,380to the work of Open The Bible35000:24:37,380 –> 00:24:39,939in the amount of £5 per month or more35100:24:39,939 –> 00:24:42,959or a one-off gift of £50 or more35200:24:42,979 –> 00:24:45,260It’s Pastor Colin’s new book35300:24:45,260 –> 00:24:46,579DRIVE THROUGH THE BIBLE35400:24:46,579 –> 00:24:48,599A 30 DAY JOURNEY35500:24:48,599 –> 00:24:50,140Full terms and conditions35600:24:50,140 –> 00:24:51,479and to give online35700:24:51,479 –> 00:24:52,479come to our website35800:24:52,479 –> 00:24:56,380openthebible.org.uk35900:24:56,380 –> 00:24:58,660For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith36000:24:58,660 –> 00:24:59,939I’m David Pick36100:25:00,060 –> 00:25:02,079And I hope you’ll join us again next time36200:25:08,979 –> 00:25:12,040How do you decide your priorities?36300:25:12,040 –> 00:25:15,500How do you balance all the responsibilities of life?36400:25:15,500 –> 00:25:17,439Find out what God has to say about this36500:25:17,439 –> 00:25:19,140next time on Open The Bible