100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:03,880With David Pick200:00:03,880 –> 00:00:10,140All success is a gift from his hand, without him, none of us can succeed.300:00:10,140 –> 00:00:16,799As I learn that I will grow in humility.400:00:16,799 –> 00:00:19,940Look up into the face of God, as you can right now500:00:19,940 –> 00:00:24,580and say by faith, Lord, whatever success you have placed into my hands,600:00:24,580 –> 00:00:26,920it’s a gift from you.700:00:26,920 –> 00:00:29,299Welcome to Open the Bible with pastor Colin Smith.800:00:29,299 –> 00:00:30,440I’m David Pick.900:00:30,440 –> 00:00:31,760Glad you could be with us.1000:00:31,760 –> 00:00:35,080And Colin, many of us I think in prayer are quick to ask God,1100:00:35,080 –> 00:00:36,619give us this or that.1200:00:36,619 –> 00:00:38,939Will you answer my prayer this way?1300:00:38,939 –> 00:00:42,060But perhaps we’re not quite enough to say, thank you.1400:00:42,060 –> 00:00:46,139And it’s a reminder that every good and perfect gift comes from God.1500:00:46,139 –> 00:00:50,720Yeah, and that’s true particularly in relation to working life and family life.1600:00:50,720 –> 00:00:52,619And we have that in Psalm 127.1700:00:52,619 –> 00:00:55,259It’s a beautiful psalm that we’re looking at today.1800:00:55,419 –> 00:00:58,160And unless the Lord builds the house,1900:00:58,160 –> 00:01:01,220the builders are going to be laboring in vein.2000:01:01,220 –> 00:01:06,360So this speaks directly to the work of a mother, a father,2100:01:06,360 –> 00:01:07,540speaks to home life.2200:01:07,540 –> 00:01:09,160It speaks to working life.2300:01:09,160 –> 00:01:11,839Speaks especially to the person who’s feeling frustrated.2400:01:11,839 –> 00:01:16,000Here’s a mother with young children and you’re saying,2500:01:16,000 –> 00:01:17,980does what I’m doing matter?2600:01:17,980 –> 00:01:19,599Is it getting anywhere?2700:01:19,599 –> 00:01:21,440Am I doing it right?2800:01:21,440 –> 00:01:24,559We’re going to lift up our eyes to God who builds the house.2900:01:24,559 –> 00:01:27,919God who nurtures his children, God who protects,3000:01:27,919 –> 00:01:31,360and what it means to try and reflect his great work3100:01:31,360 –> 00:01:33,639as we seek to be fellow workers with him.3200:01:33,639 –> 00:01:36,980So join us today if you can in Psalm 127.3300:01:36,980 –> 00:01:37,839Here’s Colin.3400:01:37,839 –> 00:01:41,360Well I invite you to open your Bibles at Psalm 1273500:01:41,360 –> 00:01:48,360and Psalm 128, two Psalms of exquisite beauty,3600:01:48,360 –> 00:01:53,360wonderful encouragement, and deeply searching truth.3700:01:53,360 –> 00:01:55,959You’ll notice that the first was written by Solomon.3800:01:55,959 –> 00:01:57,419We’ll come back to the significance3900:01:57,419 –> 00:01:58,800of that a little later.4000:01:58,800 –> 00:02:00,760Solomon of course was the son of David,4100:02:00,760 –> 00:02:03,940king of Israel, he wrote two Psalms.4200:02:03,940 –> 00:02:07,639This one and Psalm 72 both bear his name,4300:02:07,639 –> 00:02:09,679then of course the book of Proverbs,4400:02:09,679 –> 00:02:13,139Ecclesiastes, and the song of Solomon.4500:02:13,139 –> 00:02:15,240These books of the Bible are sometimes called4600:02:15,240 –> 00:02:18,880wisdom books because they deal with4700:02:18,880 –> 00:02:22,240the very practical issues of how to put your life together.4800:02:23,220 –> 00:02:27,020They speak a lot about work and about family4900:02:27,020 –> 00:02:29,800and about what a successful life looks like5000:02:29,800 –> 00:02:31,880and these two Psalms, one written by Solomon5100:02:31,880 –> 00:02:35,300and the other one, we’re not giving the authorship off,5200:02:35,300 –> 00:02:38,300both fit right in to that theme.5300:02:38,300 –> 00:02:42,059So let us hear the word of God from Psalm 1275400:02:42,059 –> 00:02:44,160and then 128.5500:02:44,160 –> 00:02:46,479Again, notice the title with all of these Psalms5600:02:46,479 –> 00:02:48,539we’re looking at on Sunday mornings,5700:02:48,539 –> 00:02:53,539A Song of Ascents, and this one Psalm 127 of Solomon.5800:02:56,279 –> 00:02:59,899Unless the Lord builds the house,5900:02:59,899 –> 00:03:02,179its builders labor in vain.6000:03:03,259 –> 00:03:06,679Unless the Lord watches over the city,6100:03:06,679 –> 00:03:09,179the watchman stands guard in vain.6200:03:10,679 –> 00:03:13,619In vain you rise early and stay up late6300:03:13,619 –> 00:03:16,179toiling for food to eat,6400:03:16,199 –> 00:03:20,399for He grants sleep to those He loves.6500:03:21,779 –> 00:03:24,839Sons are a heritage from the Lord,6600:03:24,839 –> 00:03:28,240children a reward from Him.6700:03:28,240 –> 00:03:30,919Like arrows in the hands of a warrior6800:03:30,919 –> 00:03:33,300are sons born in one’s youth.6900:03:34,399 –> 00:03:38,559Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.7000:03:38,559 –> 00:03:40,460They will not be put to shame7100:03:40,460 –> 00:03:43,520when they contend with their enemies in the gate.7200:03:44,220 –> 00:03:46,880Blessed are all who fear the Lord,7300:03:46,880 –> 00:03:49,160who walk in His ways.7400:03:49,160 –> 00:03:51,479You will eat the fruit of your labor,7500:03:51,479 –> 00:03:54,500blessings and prosperity will be yours.7600:03:55,419 –> 00:04:00,419Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house.7700:04:00,919 –> 00:04:05,119Your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.7800:04:05,119 –> 00:04:09,940Thus is the man blessed who fears the Lord.7900:04:10,839 –> 00:04:15,100May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life.8000:04:15,100 –> 00:04:18,040May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem8100:04:18,940 –> 00:04:22,260and may you live to see your children’s children.8200:04:23,399 –> 00:04:28,399Peace be upon Israel, this is the word of God.8300:04:30,420 –> 00:04:33,119Now these two Psalms obviously belong together.8400:04:33,119 –> 00:04:34,779Both of them talk about work.8500:04:34,779 –> 00:04:36,820Both of them talk about family.8600:04:36,820 –> 00:04:39,459But having said that, they are very different.8700:04:39,459 –> 00:04:44,459Psalm 127 begins with a picture of frustration8800:04:44,540 –> 00:04:49,260and Psalm 128 ends with a portrait of fulfillment.8900:04:49,260 –> 00:04:50,899Let’s look at these together.9000:04:50,899 –> 00:04:54,940First a picture of frustration in Psalm 127,9100:04:54,940 –> 00:04:57,540unless the Lord builds the house,9200:04:57,540 –> 00:05:00,739its builders labor in vain.9300:05:00,739 –> 00:05:03,019Now think about what that would mean.9400:05:03,019 –> 00:05:05,459To labor in vain.9500:05:06,320 –> 00:05:11,160To labor means to work to the point of exhaustion.9600:05:12,760 –> 00:05:14,959To labor in vain would mean,9700:05:14,959 –> 00:05:18,100to work to the point of exhaustion9800:05:18,100 –> 00:05:21,779and to achieve nothing of lasting significance out of it.9900:05:23,380 –> 00:05:25,820Now nobody wants to do that.10000:05:25,820 –> 00:05:29,140The watchman, his work is to protect the city,10100:05:29,140 –> 00:05:31,799but if the city is overrun by enemies,10200:05:31,799 –> 00:05:34,700what was the point in all he did all these nights?10300:05:35,839 –> 00:05:38,079The builder’s purpose is to put up houses,10400:05:38,079 –> 00:05:40,239but if enemies come in and tear them down,10500:05:40,239 –> 00:05:42,000what was the point of all the detail10600:05:42,000 –> 00:05:43,320that he put into the woodwork10700:05:43,320 –> 00:05:45,399and the structure and the finish?10800:05:47,040 –> 00:05:49,019Nobody wants to labor in vain.10900:05:50,239 –> 00:05:52,140Some of us of course, have gone through11000:05:52,140 –> 00:05:54,619at least part of that experience.11100:05:54,619 –> 00:05:56,920It can happen in a business,11200:05:56,920 –> 00:05:58,640it can happen in a ministry,11300:05:58,640 –> 00:06:00,519it can happen in a relationship.11400:06:00,519 –> 00:06:02,700You put yourself into something11500:06:03,380 –> 00:06:05,799and then when it comes tumbling down11600:06:05,799 –> 00:06:06,720for some reason,11700:06:06,720 –> 00:06:09,459you feel that something of your very self11800:06:09,459 –> 00:06:12,239has been destroyed because what you built11900:06:12,239 –> 00:06:15,260has been torn down.12000:06:15,260 –> 00:06:16,619That’s a terrible picture,12100:06:16,619 –> 00:06:18,119an awful experience.12200:06:19,359 –> 00:06:21,119And it’s Psalm 127,12300:06:21,119 –> 00:06:23,660the beginning, a picture of frustration.12400:06:24,660 –> 00:06:27,140Now notice the end of Psalm 12812500:06:27,140 –> 00:06:28,820is precisely the opposite,12600:06:28,820 –> 00:06:31,140it is a portrait of fulfillment.12700:06:31,140 –> 00:06:32,459This is five and six.12800:06:32,459 –> 00:06:34,299May the Lord bless you from Zion12900:06:34,299 –> 00:06:35,820all the days of your life.13000:06:35,820 –> 00:06:38,100May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem13100:06:38,100 –> 00:06:41,299and may you live to see your children’s children13200:06:41,299 –> 00:06:43,940peace be upon Israel.13300:06:43,940 –> 00:06:46,279So here is someone who sees God’s blessing13400:06:46,279 –> 00:06:49,359following them all the days of their life.13500:06:49,359 –> 00:06:51,459They experienced peace,13600:06:51,459 –> 00:06:53,619they see the fruit of their own lives,13700:06:53,619 –> 00:06:54,799not only in their children,13800:06:54,799 –> 00:06:56,600but in their children’s children.13900:06:56,600 –> 00:06:58,459It is a picture of great beauty,14000:06:58,459 –> 00:07:01,480it is a portrait of fulfillment.14100:07:02,619 –> 00:07:04,540So the question that obviously arises14200:07:04,540 –> 00:07:06,399from these two Psalms is,14300:07:06,399 –> 00:07:11,399how do you move from frustration to fulfillment?14400:07:13,140 –> 00:07:17,100See, all of us experience some frustration14500:07:17,100 –> 00:07:19,760in the areas of work and family.14600:07:20,679 –> 00:07:22,239That is simply part of life.14700:07:22,239 –> 00:07:23,839When Adam and Eve sinned,14800:07:23,839 –> 00:07:26,079there were two direct consequences14900:07:26,119 –> 00:07:28,880of that first sin that entered into the world.15000:07:28,880 –> 00:07:32,200One was that there was frustration at work.15100:07:32,200 –> 00:07:35,200Adam worked the ground by the sweat of his brow.15200:07:35,200 –> 00:07:36,600Frustration at work.15300:07:36,600 –> 00:07:38,640And the other was that there was pain in the family.15400:07:38,640 –> 00:07:40,440Eve gave birth to children15500:07:40,440 –> 00:07:43,100in great pain and with great struggle.15600:07:44,000 –> 00:07:46,679And you find this pattern that is there in Genesis15700:07:46,679 –> 00:07:48,799right throughout human experience.15800:07:48,799 –> 00:07:52,279There is no work without some frustration.15900:07:52,279 –> 00:07:55,959There are no families without some pain.16000:07:55,959 –> 00:07:58,760But God has given tremendous dignity,16100:07:58,760 –> 00:08:01,480both to work and to family life.16200:08:01,480 –> 00:08:03,119And these Psalms remind us16300:08:03,119 –> 00:08:06,839that God wants to enter into your work.16400:08:06,839 –> 00:08:09,820God wants to enter into your family.16500:08:10,739 –> 00:08:14,179And he wants, graciously, to move you along this path16600:08:14,179 –> 00:08:18,239from frustration to fulfillment.16700:08:18,239 –> 00:08:19,760It’s a wonderful thing.16800:08:19,760 –> 00:08:22,359Now notice just briefly what we learn here16900:08:22,359 –> 00:08:25,899about the blessing and the dignity of work.17000:08:26,040 –> 00:08:27,339Three things.17100:08:27,339 –> 00:08:30,440Number one, God builds,17200:08:30,440 –> 00:08:34,719and so when you build, you reflect his character.17300:08:34,719 –> 00:08:38,640Verse one, unless the Lord builds the house,17400:08:38,640 –> 00:08:40,719it’s builder’s labor in vain.17500:08:40,719 –> 00:08:44,559Think of that, God builds.17600:08:44,559 –> 00:08:45,840Now, I think that’s wonderful.17700:08:45,840 –> 00:08:48,760Sometimes we get too narrow a view17800:08:48,760 –> 00:08:51,679and imagine that God is only interested17900:08:51,679 –> 00:08:55,559in what we call the spiritual areas of life.18000:08:56,840 –> 00:09:00,200God is spirit, and so we conclude from that18100:09:00,200 –> 00:09:04,380that he is only interested in this narrow segment.18200:09:05,640 –> 00:09:07,239And you see, here’s the problem.18300:09:08,179 –> 00:09:09,679God is also the creator.18400:09:10,679 –> 00:09:14,739He’s the creator of this entire physical world18500:09:14,739 –> 00:09:17,200and everything that is in it.18600:09:17,200 –> 00:09:20,000The raw materials that are used in construction18700:09:20,000 –> 00:09:22,000are all part of the creation of God.18800:09:22,000 –> 00:09:25,359And so when engineers and scientists and architects18900:09:25,359 –> 00:09:28,500and builders work together to develop new products,19000:09:28,500 –> 00:09:30,840invent new processes, solve new problems,19100:09:30,840 –> 00:09:34,460they are reflecting the character of God.19200:09:35,960 –> 00:09:37,440Jesus was a carpenter.19300:09:38,760 –> 00:09:42,559He took the raw materials made by his own hand19400:09:42,559 –> 00:09:45,219and crafted them with his flesh.19500:09:46,719 –> 00:09:48,919Now, there certainly are spiritual applications19600:09:49,640 –> 00:09:50,460of this verse.19700:09:50,460 –> 00:09:51,500But when Solomon wrote about building a house,19800:09:51,500 –> 00:09:54,219he was talking in the first place about construction.19900:09:54,219 –> 00:09:57,039And so, here is a word of encouragement20000:09:57,039 –> 00:10:00,119for all of those who are involved in the trades20100:10:00,119 –> 00:10:01,840or any kind of construction.20200:10:01,840 –> 00:10:03,919God builds.20300:10:03,919 –> 00:10:05,760And so when you build something,20400:10:05,760 –> 00:10:07,960you are reflecting his character.20500:10:07,960 –> 00:10:10,599Wonderful, great dignity in that.20600:10:10,599 –> 00:10:13,440Second, God protects.20700:10:13,440 –> 00:10:16,640So when you protect, you reflect his character.20800:10:16,640 –> 00:10:19,559Verse two, unless the Lord watches over the city,20900:10:19,559 –> 00:10:22,239the watchman stand guard in vain.21000:10:22,239 –> 00:10:24,739So now, we’re being told that God watches.21100:10:24,739 –> 00:10:28,479We’ve already remembered that from Psalm 121.21200:10:28,479 –> 00:10:32,219Watchmen have the job of protecting others.21300:10:32,219 –> 00:10:34,320So, here is another wonderful area of work21400:10:34,320 –> 00:10:36,200in which many of us in this congregation,21500:10:36,200 –> 00:10:38,520again, are involved in one way or another21600:10:38,520 –> 00:10:40,400that reflects the character of God21700:10:40,400 –> 00:10:42,840to protect other people.21800:10:43,619 –> 00:10:47,299Thank God for those who work in the emergency services.21900:10:47,299 –> 00:10:52,299The police, fire, ambulance, paramedics,22000:10:52,679 –> 00:10:55,380doctors, lawyers.22100:10:55,380 –> 00:10:58,719Those who serve in the military, national security.22200:10:58,719 –> 00:11:01,239People who work in the area of insurance,22300:11:01,239 –> 00:11:03,659counselors, crisis intervention,22400:11:03,659 –> 00:11:05,880ushers for large crowds of people,22500:11:05,880 –> 00:11:08,739security guards, night watchman.22600:11:08,739 –> 00:11:10,619God protects.22700:11:11,179 –> 00:11:15,580And when you protect, you reflect his character.22800:11:16,760 –> 00:11:19,460Third, God nurtures.22900:11:19,460 –> 00:11:22,340So when you nurture you reflect his character.23000:11:22,340 –> 00:11:25,359Verse three, sons are a heritage from the Lord.23100:11:25,359 –> 00:11:28,080Children are a reward from him.23200:11:28,080 –> 00:11:31,280Now of course there is a great mystery isn’t there23300:11:31,280 –> 00:11:32,640in the gift of children.23400:11:33,780 –> 00:11:38,280Why do some people have children and others not?23500:11:38,619 –> 00:11:42,340Why is it that some children seem relatively easy to raise23600:11:42,340 –> 00:11:43,900while others just seem to move23700:11:43,900 –> 00:11:46,580from one particular difficulty to another?23800:11:47,780 –> 00:11:49,979Why is it that out of all of the children23900:11:49,979 –> 00:11:52,320who could possibly be born from two parents24000:11:52,320 –> 00:11:55,020coming together over a period of time24100:11:55,020 –> 00:11:58,700that the particular children born to particular parents24200:11:58,700 –> 00:12:01,659came to be with all their unique characteristics24300:12:01,659 –> 00:12:03,559drawn from the father and from the mother24400:12:03,559 –> 00:12:05,500and then with some special abilities24500:12:05,500 –> 00:12:07,419that you can’t trace to either parent24600:12:07,460 –> 00:12:09,599and some special problems24700:12:09,599 –> 00:12:11,619that you could not predict either?24800:12:11,619 –> 00:12:12,880There’s a mystery in this.24900:12:14,419 –> 00:12:15,799But the psalmist’s telling us25000:12:15,799 –> 00:12:18,479that the hand of God is in this too.25100:12:19,900 –> 00:12:23,020If children are a trust and a heritage from God25200:12:23,020 –> 00:12:26,640then there’s great dignity in the work of raising them.25300:12:27,780 –> 00:12:31,340So here is a word of encouragement for everyone of us25400:12:31,340 –> 00:12:35,580who in some way is involved in the work of nurturing.25500:12:35,580 –> 00:12:36,880For mothers,25600:12:38,020 –> 00:12:39,320for fathers,25700:12:40,219 –> 00:12:44,299for teachers, for trainers, for coaches, for mentors,25800:12:44,299 –> 00:12:45,500for everyone25900:12:46,919 –> 00:12:50,380who contributes to the growth and development of a child,26000:12:51,539 –> 00:12:55,419whatever her or his special needs26100:12:55,419 –> 00:12:56,520or abilities.26200:12:57,619 –> 00:13:00,059God nurtures.26300:13:01,059 –> 00:13:02,179And when you nurture,26400:13:03,299 –> 00:13:06,960you reflect his character.26500:13:06,960 –> 00:13:08,299You’re listening to Open The Bible26600:13:08,299 –> 00:13:09,580with Pastor Colin Smith26700:13:09,580 –> 00:13:13,119and The Message called From Frustration to Fulfillment,26800:13:13,119 –> 00:13:15,960part of our series, Moving in the Right Direction,26900:13:15,960 –> 00:13:18,080in which we look at the Psalms of Ascent,27000:13:18,080 –> 00:13:21,200Psalms 120 to 134.27100:13:21,200 –> 00:13:22,640If you’ve missed any of the series,27200:13:22,640 –> 00:13:24,940don’t forget you can always come to our website,27300:13:24,940 –> 00:13:27,440OpenTheBible.org.uk27400:13:27,440 –> 00:13:30,219and catch up or go back and listen again.27500:13:30,219 –> 00:13:33,380Back to The Message now, here again is Colin.27600:13:33,380 –> 00:13:34,840Now I want to approach these Psalms27700:13:34,840 –> 00:13:36,880through two very simple questions.27800:13:37,299 –> 00:13:40,719The first is, where does success come from?27900:13:40,719 –> 00:13:44,580And the second, what does success look like?28000:13:44,580 –> 00:13:48,159First then, where does success come from?28100:13:48,159 –> 00:13:52,080What is it that makes a person successful in life?28200:13:52,080 –> 00:13:53,440Is it talent?28300:13:54,820 –> 00:13:56,179Is it opportunity?28400:13:57,539 –> 00:13:59,960Is it sheer hard work?28500:14:01,080 –> 00:14:03,039Is it simply a matter of luck?28600:14:04,119 –> 00:14:05,799Is it some sort of combination28700:14:05,799 –> 00:14:07,260of all of the above?28800:14:08,239 –> 00:14:10,679What makes a person successful?28900:14:11,599 –> 00:14:12,760Where does it come from?29000:14:13,679 –> 00:14:17,559I was browsing through Barnes & Noble29100:14:17,559 –> 00:14:19,659earlier this week one evening29200:14:19,659 –> 00:14:22,760and just looking through the vast array29300:14:22,760 –> 00:14:26,679of books that are dedicated to this subject,29400:14:26,679 –> 00:14:29,099What Is the Secret of Success?29500:14:30,760 –> 00:14:32,900I tell you, the sheer number of titles29600:14:32,900 –> 00:14:34,580makes it very obvious, at least to me,29700:14:34,679 –> 00:14:37,239that there’s no one easy answer to this question.29800:14:38,479 –> 00:14:42,799Psalm 127 wants to tell us something very significant29900:14:42,799 –> 00:14:44,140and it is simply this,30000:14:45,119 –> 00:14:49,200that success in any area of life30100:14:49,200 –> 00:14:52,000is a gift from the hand of God.30200:14:53,520 –> 00:14:54,880Now I have to tell you, I looked at30300:14:54,880 –> 00:14:57,299at least half a dozen books in Barnes & Noble30400:14:57,299 –> 00:15:00,520all on this subject of The Secret of Success this week30500:15:00,520 –> 00:15:01,760and as I browsed through them,30600:15:01,840 –> 00:15:05,000I could not find any trace of this theme at all.30700:15:06,440 –> 00:15:08,320But it’s here in Psalm 127.30800:15:10,280 –> 00:15:11,859Notice that it’s put in two ways.30900:15:11,859 –> 00:15:16,520First, without the Lord, you cannot succeed.31000:15:16,520 –> 00:15:17,760That’s verse one.31100:15:17,760 –> 00:15:19,539Unless the Lord builds the house,31200:15:19,539 –> 00:15:22,280its builders labor in vain.31300:15:23,520 –> 00:15:26,179It’s not just effort, in other words.31400:15:26,179 –> 00:15:28,820It is God who gives success to the builders,31500:15:28,820 –> 00:15:31,280it is God who gives success to the defenders31600:15:31,280 –> 00:15:34,140and it is God who gives success to the nurturers.31700:15:34,140 –> 00:15:37,260All success is a gift from his hand.31800:15:37,260 –> 00:15:40,359Without him, none of us can succeed.31900:15:41,559 –> 00:15:46,559And as I learn that, I will grow in humility.32000:15:48,299 –> 00:15:51,539So look up into the face of God as you can right now32100:15:51,539 –> 00:15:52,880and say by faith, Lord,32200:15:52,880 –> 00:15:56,619whatever success you have placed into my hands,32300:15:56,619 –> 00:15:57,780it’s a gift from you.32400:15:58,940 –> 00:15:59,780Humility.32500:16:01,580 –> 00:16:03,479Without the Lord, you cannot succeed.32600:16:04,880 –> 00:16:08,719Then verse two flips it around and gives us the same truth,32700:16:08,719 –> 00:16:10,919but this way in a positive form.32800:16:10,919 –> 00:16:14,380With the Lord, you will not fail.32900:16:15,280 –> 00:16:16,359Look at verse two.33000:16:16,359 –> 00:16:19,559In vain you rise up early and stay up late,33100:16:19,559 –> 00:16:20,840toiling for food to eat,33200:16:20,840 –> 00:16:25,840for he grants sleep to those he loves.33300:16:26,840 –> 00:16:30,500Now this is not the favorite verse of Insomniacs.33400:16:31,400 –> 00:16:34,280He grants sleep to those he loves.33500:16:34,280 –> 00:16:36,460And certainly, on a number of occasions,33600:16:36,460 –> 00:16:38,840I’ve found, as many other pastors, I’m sure have found,33700:16:38,840 –> 00:16:40,679that people have questions about this.33800:16:40,679 –> 00:16:42,500If he grants sleep to those he loves,33900:16:42,500 –> 00:16:44,119does that mean he doesn’t love me34000:16:44,119 –> 00:16:48,799because I find it very difficult to sleep at night?34100:16:48,799 –> 00:16:51,539Well notice that the NIV gives us a footnote34200:16:51,539 –> 00:16:54,599showing an alternative reading or translation34300:16:54,619 –> 00:16:57,280that I think fits right into the context here34400:16:57,280 –> 00:17:00,880and will help us to understand what these words mean.34500:17:00,880 –> 00:17:03,599If you look at the footnote, if you have the NIV,34600:17:03,599 –> 00:17:06,219it puts it this way, in vain you rise up early34700:17:06,219 –> 00:17:08,099and stay up late, toiling for food to eat.34800:17:08,099 –> 00:17:13,099For while they sleep, God provides for those he loves.34900:17:15,199 –> 00:17:16,979Now let’s think this through together.35000:17:16,979 –> 00:17:21,719Verse two is talking about toiling for food to eat.35100:17:22,719 –> 00:17:25,339So we’re in the world of the farmer here.35200:17:26,280 –> 00:17:28,119Now there’s plenty of work for the farmer35300:17:28,119 –> 00:17:30,959to do in the fields during the day.35400:17:30,959 –> 00:17:33,280But there isn’t much that the farmer can do35500:17:33,280 –> 00:17:35,319in the fields at night.35600:17:36,239 –> 00:17:39,199Certainly in ancient times without electric light35700:17:39,199 –> 00:17:41,640and without any machinery, there was nothing35800:17:41,640 –> 00:17:43,439that you could do in the fields35900:17:43,439 –> 00:17:45,359during the hours of darkness,36000:17:45,359 –> 00:17:47,599so you might as well go to sleep36100:17:47,599 –> 00:17:51,920and wait until God causes the sun to rise in the morning.36200:17:52,839 –> 00:17:54,359Now, the wonderful thing, of course,36300:17:54,359 –> 00:17:59,359is that while the farmer is sleeping,36400:17:59,579 –> 00:18:03,079God is making his crops grow.36500:18:03,079 –> 00:18:05,719And that’s the point of this verse.36600:18:05,719 –> 00:18:08,900There is no need for you to stay up all night36700:18:08,900 –> 00:18:12,359worrying about the fields, go to sleep,36800:18:12,359 –> 00:18:14,900and while you are sleeping God will make36900:18:14,900 –> 00:18:17,040your crops grow.37000:18:17,040 –> 00:18:19,380Remember Jesus told a parable about this,37100:18:19,380 –> 00:18:21,859one of the shortest parables in the New Testament.37200:18:21,859 –> 00:18:25,079You’ll find it in Mark chapter four in verse 26.37300:18:25,079 –> 00:18:27,900Jesus said, a man scatters seed on the ground37400:18:27,900 –> 00:18:31,780and it grows whether he sleeps or whether he gets up.37500:18:31,780 –> 00:18:33,939That’s it, that’s the end of the parable.37600:18:33,939 –> 00:18:35,060It doesn’t make any difference37700:18:35,060 –> 00:18:36,660whether you’re up or down at night.37800:18:36,660 –> 00:18:38,699It is God who makes the seed grow37900:18:38,699 –> 00:18:39,819and once you’ve planted it,38000:18:39,819 –> 00:18:41,319it’s growth is in the hand of God.38100:18:41,319 –> 00:18:42,900It’s not in your hand at all.38200:18:43,939 –> 00:18:46,780Paul makes the same point about ministry.38300:18:46,800 –> 00:18:48,140This is how it is he says,38400:18:48,140 –> 00:18:52,359I planted, Apollo’s watered,38500:18:52,359 –> 00:18:56,800but it is God who makes things grow.38600:18:56,800 –> 00:19:00,599Now that is the point of Psalm 127 verse two.38700:19:00,599 –> 00:19:04,359In vain you rise up early and stay up late,38800:19:04,359 –> 00:19:06,680toiling for food to eat,38900:19:06,680 –> 00:19:10,819for while they sleep, God provides39000:19:10,819 –> 00:19:14,040for those he loves.39100:19:14,040 –> 00:19:15,359So verse one is telling us39200:19:15,359 –> 00:19:18,160that without the Lord, you cannot succeed,39300:19:18,160 –> 00:19:19,660verse two is telling us39400:19:19,660 –> 00:19:22,800that with the Lord you will not fail.39500:19:22,800 –> 00:19:25,439If the first teaches me humility,39600:19:25,439 –> 00:19:28,699the second will teach me gratitude.39700:19:29,839 –> 00:19:30,939Think about this.39800:19:32,359 –> 00:19:37,359You do not have to work or to worry all night,39900:19:38,660 –> 00:19:42,060because God is working even when you can’t.40000:19:42,959 –> 00:19:47,300God makes things grow even when you’re asleep.40100:19:47,300 –> 00:19:49,959So when it comes to your business or your ministry40200:19:49,959 –> 00:19:51,839or the issues of your family40300:19:51,839 –> 00:19:54,000that are causing you great concern,40400:19:54,000 –> 00:19:58,160then do what you have to do during the day.40500:19:58,160 –> 00:20:03,060But then place the outcome of it all into his hand.40600:20:03,060 –> 00:20:06,339God will be working even while you’re sleeping.40700:20:06,339 –> 00:20:10,599So staying up to worry about it doesn’t achieve a thing.40800:20:11,060 –> 00:20:16,060Do your work, but then release it into the hands of God.40900:20:18,380 –> 00:20:23,380Get some rest, give yourself a break, don’t sweat it.41000:20:24,780 –> 00:20:27,260Because without him you cannot succeed41100:20:27,260 –> 00:20:30,640and with him you will not fail.41200:20:31,800 –> 00:20:35,859That’s Psalm 127 verses one and two.41300:20:35,859 –> 00:20:37,439Where does success come from?41400:20:38,739 –> 00:20:40,560It comes from the hand of God.41500:20:41,500 –> 00:20:44,459When I see that and learn it deeply in my life41600:20:44,459 –> 00:20:48,760I will grow in humility and I’ll grow in gratitude.41700:20:50,260 –> 00:20:53,780Now here’s the second thing that comes out of these psalms.41800:20:53,780 –> 00:20:56,739Not only where success comes from,41900:20:56,739 –> 00:20:59,459but what success looks like.42000:20:59,459 –> 00:21:00,819Now here’s a huge question.42100:21:01,979 –> 00:21:05,619How do you measure success?42200:21:07,479 –> 00:21:09,420Now it is a huge question42300:21:09,520 –> 00:21:13,400because the measures you use for success42400:21:13,400 –> 00:21:15,800will be the primary drivers of your life.42500:21:17,280 –> 00:21:18,839They will be the things42600:21:18,839 –> 00:21:22,640that you primarily pursue and give yourself to.42700:21:24,260 –> 00:21:27,859So what’s your measure of success?42800:21:30,319 –> 00:21:34,699Now I found that the teaching of these two psalms42900:21:34,699 –> 00:21:38,660is deeply searching, profoundly challenging,43000:21:39,699 –> 00:21:41,060and wonderfully encouraging.43100:21:42,699 –> 00:21:43,839I want you to see here43200:21:43,839 –> 00:21:45,699that God in these two Psalms43300:21:45,699 –> 00:21:49,859gives three dimensions of success.43400:21:51,500 –> 00:21:54,219And I wonder if you were asked to write them down43500:21:54,219 –> 00:21:55,479before reading the Psalm,43600:21:55,479 –> 00:21:57,280if you would write them down at all.43700:21:58,979 –> 00:21:59,859Number one,43800:22:00,979 –> 00:22:03,479that your wife should flourish.43900:22:05,079 –> 00:22:06,880Number two,44000:22:06,880 –> 00:22:09,099that your children should live with honour.44100:22:10,380 –> 00:22:11,319Number three,44200:22:12,400 –> 00:22:15,199that God’s kingdom should prosper.44300:22:15,199 –> 00:22:16,560Before hearing today’s message44400:22:16,560 –> 00:22:19,319maybe we wouldn’t have answered those questions44500:22:19,319 –> 00:22:20,680in quite that way44600:22:20,680 –> 00:22:22,719but that is true success.44700:22:22,719 –> 00:22:24,479You’ve been listening to Open The Bible44800:22:24,479 –> 00:22:26,640with Pastor Colin Smith.44900:22:26,640 –> 00:22:29,040Open The Bible is able to stay on the radio45000:22:29,040 –> 00:22:30,319and on the internet45100:22:30,319 –> 00:22:32,680because of the very generous donations45200:22:32,680 –> 00:22:34,119made by our listeners.45300:22:34,119 –> 00:22:37,040So if you already give to support Open The Bible,45400:22:37,040 –> 00:22:38,540thank you so much.45500:22:38,540 –> 00:22:39,400If that’s something45600:22:39,400 –> 00:22:41,640that you’ve been concerning doing in the future,45700:22:41,640 –> 00:22:44,800each month we aim to offer a special gift45800:22:44,800 –> 00:22:46,319in return for setting up45900:22:46,319 –> 00:22:49,119a new support payment for Open The Bible.46000:22:49,119 –> 00:22:51,900If you are able to set up a new monthly direct debit46100:22:51,900 –> 00:22:54,420of 5 pounds per month or more46200:22:54,420 –> 00:22:57,180or a one off gift of 50 pounds or more46300:22:57,180 –> 00:22:58,959we’d love to say thank you46400:22:58,959 –> 00:23:01,459by sending you a copy of Colin Smith’s book,46500:23:01,579 –> 00:23:03,140Fly Through The Bible.46600:23:03,140 –> 00:23:05,819Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham46700:23:05,819 –> 00:23:07,160to talk about the book46800:23:07,160 –> 00:23:09,719and also about some other exciting resources46900:23:09,719 –> 00:23:12,040which are free for everyone to receive.47000:23:12,040 –> 00:23:13,219Thanks David.47100:23:13,219 –> 00:23:14,939Well, if you’ve been listening for a while,47200:23:14,939 –> 00:23:17,180you’ll know that we love to give away47300:23:17,180 –> 00:23:19,760a free book each month when you donate47400:23:19,760 –> 00:23:22,260either a one off gift of 50 pounds or more47500:23:22,260 –> 00:23:24,300or by setting up a new direct debit47600:23:24,300 –> 00:23:26,260of at least 5 pounds.47700:23:26,260 –> 00:23:27,819But this July and August47800:23:27,819 –> 00:23:30,180we’re doing something extra special.47900:23:30,239 –> 00:23:33,339We’ve launched a campaign full of free resources48000:23:33,339 –> 00:23:36,119to help you open the bible with others48100:23:36,119 –> 00:23:38,339because we know that can be hard48200:23:38,339 –> 00:23:40,180and we want to equip you.48300:23:40,180 –> 00:23:42,439So yes, you’ll still get a free copy48400:23:42,439 –> 00:23:44,780of Fly Through the Bible when you donate48500:23:44,780 –> 00:23:49,780but anyone can now access a whole set of free tools.48600:23:50,060 –> 00:23:52,739We’ve got a video series where Colin Smith48700:23:52,739 –> 00:23:54,420walks through each session48800:23:54,420 –> 00:23:57,680of the Fly Through The Bible course on our website.48900:23:57,680 –> 00:23:58,819There’s a free app.49000:23:58,819 –> 00:24:02,420Just search Fly Through the Bible in your app store.49100:24:02,420 –> 00:24:05,339And if you’re a church leader thinking ahead to September,49200:24:05,339 –> 00:24:10,339head to OpenTheBible.org.uk forward slash fly49300:24:10,400 –> 00:24:14,000and download our free small group discussion guide.49400:24:14,000 –> 00:24:16,699We really pray these resources bless you49500:24:16,699 –> 00:24:20,199and those around you as you open the Bible together49600:24:20,199 –> 00:24:22,040and what better place to start49700:24:22,040 –> 00:24:24,739than a journey through the Bible’s story.49800:24:24,739 –> 00:24:25,900Thanks Amanda.49900:24:25,900 –> 00:24:28,000You can access these free resources50000:24:28,439 –> 00:24:32,160at our website, OpenTheBible.org.uk50100:24:32,160 –> 00:24:34,719and you can download the fly app50200:24:34,719 –> 00:24:36,119at the Apple app store50300:24:36,119 –> 00:24:37,800or Google Play.50400:24:37,800 –> 00:24:40,099Our offer to send you a copy of Colin’s book,50500:24:40,099 –> 00:24:41,640Fly Through the Bible,50600:24:41,640 –> 00:24:43,439is available all this month.50700:24:43,439 –> 00:24:45,739If you would like to receive this free gift,50800:24:45,739 –> 00:24:49,420select the monthly giveaway under project fund50900:24:49,420 –> 00:24:52,040and please do not give anonymously51000:24:52,040 –> 00:24:53,520as we can only send a book51100:24:53,520 –> 00:24:55,680if we have your address details.51200:24:55,699 –> 00:24:59,219Full details, terms and conditions are on our website51300:24:59,219 –> 00:25:01,599OpenTheBible.org.uk51400:25:01,599 –> 00:25:03,459and you can give online.51500:25:03,459 –> 00:25:05,939For Open The Bible, Pastor Colin Smith,51600:25:05,939 –> 00:25:07,180I’m David Pick51700:25:07,180 –> 00:25:09,420and I hope you’ll join us again next time.51800:25:16,119 –> 00:25:17,439We all want to be successful51900:25:17,439 –> 00:25:19,420and there’s nothing wrong with that52000:25:19,420 –> 00:25:22,619but are we using the right definition of success?52100:25:22,619 –> 00:25:23,760If you get this wrong,52200:25:23,760 –> 00:25:26,140it will lead to a stressful life.52300:25:26,140 –> 00:25:27,959Find out what God’s Word says52400:25:27,959 –> 00:25:30,359next time on Open The Bible.