100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:07,200Bless those who persecute you .200:00:07,200 –> 00:00:13,560Bless… and do not l et them.300:00:13,560 –> 00:00:17,600Now again, the implicit temptation is obvious.400:00:17,600 –> 00:00:21,200When someone brings pain into your life,500:00:21,200 –> 00:00:24,879your first instinct will not be to wish them well.600:00:24,879 –> 00:00:27,799Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.700:00:28,219 –> 00:00:30,020Glad you could be with us today and Colin,800:00:30,020 –> 00:00:32,639there will be many listening today who have been900:00:32,639 –> 00:00:35,700hurt by other people even by other Christians.1000:00:35,700 –> 00:00:37,820And now, they’re struggling and dealing1100:00:37,820 –> 00:00:39,500with anger, bitterness,1200:00:39,500 –> 00:00:41,459and they want to get to the point where1300:00:41,459 –> 00:00:43,500they can love the person who hurt them.1400:00:43,500 –> 00:00:45,439So this is a message for them.1500:00:45,439 –> 00:00:47,060Right. And let’s be honest.1600:00:47,060 –> 00:00:48,560There’s no way of avoiding this.1700:00:48,560 –> 00:00:51,419We are in a very divided culture and1800:00:51,419 –> 00:00:54,320every Christian is going to experience1900:00:54,500 –> 00:00:57,220the pain of being rebuked,2000:00:57,220 –> 00:00:58,340of being hated,2100:00:58,340 –> 00:01:01,880of being despised by someone who may hate2200:01:01,880 –> 00:01:05,019everything that you stand for as a Christian believer2300:01:05,019 –> 00:01:06,379and how are you,2400:01:06,379 –> 00:01:08,500how are we going to respond to that?2500:01:08,500 –> 00:01:10,059We’re going to look at what I think2600:01:10,059 –> 00:01:12,360is one of the most important scriptures2700:01:12,360 –> 00:01:15,900for us in this divided culture in which we live today.2800:01:15,900 –> 00:01:18,000Romans 12 verse 14,2900:01:18,000 –> 00:01:20,980Bless those who persecute you,3000:01:20,980 –> 00:01:23,379bless and do not curse them.3100:01:23,379 –> 00:01:25,260You know, the two points I think3200:01:25,260 –> 00:01:28,739at which we most need a distinctive Christian witness3300:01:28,739 –> 00:01:30,879is one, Christians who don’t fear3400:01:30,879 –> 00:01:33,639and second, Christians who don’t hate,3500:01:33,639 –> 00:01:36,339and we’re being called to that today.3600:01:36,339 –> 00:01:38,099If we want to be credible3700:01:38,099 –> 00:01:40,739in communicating the gospel of Christ3800:01:40,739 –> 00:01:43,779who loves and who goes to a cross,3900:01:43,779 –> 00:01:45,040we’re gonna have to learn4000:01:45,040 –> 00:01:46,839what we’re looking at in the scripture today.4100:01:46,839 –> 00:01:48,500It’s one of the hardest things in the world.4200:01:48,500 –> 00:01:51,800It’s only possible by the Spirit of Jesus4300:01:51,800 –> 00:01:53,760who exemplifies this to us4400:01:53,760 –> 00:01:54,800and makes it possible4500:01:54,800 –> 00:01:56,760by His Spirit living within His people.4600:01:56,760 –> 00:01:58,559So with that introduction,4700:01:58,559 –> 00:02:00,120let’s get into the message.4800:02:00,120 –> 00:02:01,720It’s from Romans 12,4900:02:01,720 –> 00:02:05,519and it’s entitled Overcoming Evil With Generosity.5000:02:05,519 –> 00:02:06,480Here’s Colin.5100:02:06,480 –> 00:02:09,080The Apostle Paul is giving this exhortation5200:02:09,080 –> 00:02:11,960to Christian believers in Rome,5300:02:13,119 –> 00:02:16,179make sure, he says to Christians,5400:02:16,179 –> 00:02:18,839that you are especially generous5500:02:18,839 –> 00:02:20,979in the use of your home5600:02:21,039 –> 00:02:22,979with regards to other believers,5700:02:22,979 –> 00:02:25,460because no one else will want to open their homes5800:02:25,460 –> 00:02:27,179to other believers.5900:02:27,179 –> 00:02:30,559Only Christians will do this.6000:02:31,539 –> 00:02:33,639Now, obviously the implicit temptation6100:02:33,639 –> 00:02:36,979that comes with this is simply to regard6200:02:36,979 –> 00:02:39,279what God has given to us as our own.6300:02:40,820 –> 00:02:43,259To say, well, it’s my home.6400:02:43,259 –> 00:02:45,820Yeah, well, it’s the home that God has given to you.6500:02:45,820 –> 00:02:47,240Now, how are you gonna use it?6600:02:48,179 –> 00:02:49,699It’s my time.6700:02:49,779 –> 00:02:51,259I’ve got my life mapped out.6800:02:51,259 –> 00:02:52,899I’m gonna have these years doing this,6900:02:52,899 –> 00:02:54,179and then these years doing that.7000:02:54,179 –> 00:02:56,059Well, however much time you have7100:02:56,059 –> 00:02:58,080is time that God gives to you.7200:02:59,139 –> 00:03:01,419How are you going to steward it for his glory?7300:03:02,899 –> 00:03:04,460These are my gifts.7400:03:04,460 –> 00:03:06,839Yeah, well, how are you going to use them?7500:03:06,839 –> 00:03:08,720You have no right to keep gifts7600:03:08,720 –> 00:03:11,220that God has given to you to yourself.7700:03:11,220 –> 00:03:13,259They’ve been given for the building up7800:03:13,259 –> 00:03:14,479of the body of Christ.7900:03:14,479 –> 00:03:17,279How are you gonna use that gift that you’ve been given?8000:03:18,199 –> 00:03:20,119It’s my money.8100:03:20,119 –> 00:03:23,639Well, it’s the money that God in his great kindness8200:03:23,639 –> 00:03:25,479has trustd to you as a steward.8300:03:25,479 –> 00:03:30,619How are you gonna use that effectively, strategically,8400:03:30,619 –> 00:03:35,660for the advance of his work and for the needs of the saints8500:03:35,660 –> 00:03:39,139so that his work gets done in the world?8600:03:39,139 –> 00:03:42,800Now, think about this in relation to the resurrection8700:03:42,800 –> 00:03:45,899and the ascension of our Lord,8800:03:45,899 –> 00:03:47,940because remember everything in this wonderful chapter8900:03:47,940 –> 00:03:49,619is in the light of the mercies of God.9000:03:49,619 –> 00:03:52,000It’s all in the light of what God’s done for us9100:03:52,000 –> 00:03:53,660in Jesus Christ.9200:03:54,860 –> 00:03:58,940What did Jesus do when he ascended to the right hand9300:03:58,940 –> 00:04:00,440of the father in heaven?9400:04:01,240 –> 00:04:02,300Answer9500:04:03,179 –> 00:04:04,800He opened his home.9600:04:06,139 –> 00:04:09,100Heaven is his home and we have no access to it.9700:04:10,360 –> 00:04:13,440But in his resurrection and in his ascension,9800:04:13,440 –> 00:04:15,139he has opened his home.9900:04:16,679 –> 00:04:18,600And to whom has he opened his home?10000:04:18,600 –> 00:04:22,459He’s opened his home to strangers.10100:04:22,459 –> 00:04:24,660To foreigners and exiles like us10200:04:24,660 –> 00:04:26,440who were alienated from God.10300:04:26,440 –> 00:04:29,660And he said you can come in and my home can be your home.10400:04:29,660 –> 00:04:31,779You can become a citizen of heaven,10500:04:31,779 –> 00:04:34,440a member of the family of God.10600:04:35,579 –> 00:04:37,459So in his resurrection and in his ascension,10700:04:37,459 –> 00:04:39,799he opens his home, he welcomes the stranger.10800:04:39,799 –> 00:04:41,420What else does he do?10900:04:41,420 –> 00:04:44,320The Bible says he pours out spiritual gifts.11000:04:45,239 –> 00:04:48,000That’s Ephesians chapter four and verse eight,11100:04:48,000 –> 00:04:53,000when he ascended on high, he gave gifts to men.11200:04:53,519 –> 00:04:57,679This risen Lord Jesus Christ has poured gifts,11300:04:57,679 –> 00:05:02,079spiritual and material, into your life and into mine.11400:05:02,079 –> 00:05:03,279He has blessed us.11500:05:03,279 –> 00:05:07,119We are blessed in every way in Jesus Christ.11600:05:07,119 –> 00:05:08,880Now, look at what he’s done.11700:05:08,880 –> 00:05:10,100He opens his home.11800:05:10,100 –> 00:05:11,359He welcomes strangers.11900:05:11,359 –> 00:05:13,160He pours out lavished gifts.12000:05:13,160 –> 00:05:16,359All of this is what God has done for you in Jesus Christ.12100:05:16,359 –> 00:05:19,079In the light of this, be especially eager,12200:05:19,079 –> 00:05:22,200the apostle is saying, in the light of the mercy of God,12300:05:22,200 –> 00:05:24,899that you should welcome strangers,12400:05:24,899 –> 00:05:29,399that you should open your home as God has opened his to you,12500:05:29,399 –> 00:05:31,000that you should deploy your gifts12600:05:31,000 –> 00:05:33,660and everything that he has trusted into your hands12700:05:33,660 –> 00:05:35,079in his own generosity,12800:05:35,079 –> 00:05:37,480that you should reflect that generosity12900:05:37,480 –> 00:05:42,480as you live as his child in this desperately needy world.13000:05:42,640 –> 00:05:44,959So do you see how this is the second dimension13100:05:44,959 –> 00:05:46,440of a generous life?13200:05:47,559 –> 00:05:50,119The first reflecting the incarnation of Jesus,13300:05:50,119 –> 00:05:52,679not staying at a distance from others13400:05:54,140 –> 00:05:56,359and that’s what we’re to do in regards to each other.13500:05:56,359 –> 00:05:59,239Generosity in regards to the deployment13600:05:59,239 –> 00:06:01,040of all that he’s given to us,13700:06:01,040 –> 00:06:04,119reflecting his opening of his home13800:06:04,119 –> 00:06:05,720and welcoming strangers13900:06:05,720 –> 00:06:07,660through his resurrection and ascension.14000:06:08,839 –> 00:06:10,440And then here’s the third14100:06:10,480 –> 00:06:11,480and I told you that we’re coming14200:06:11,480 –> 00:06:14,000in ascending order of difficulty, right?14300:06:14,000 –> 00:06:15,500So you better take a breath.14400:06:16,920 –> 00:06:18,640We’ve been learning from the incarnation,14500:06:18,640 –> 00:06:23,619we’ve been learning from the resurrection and ascension,14600:06:23,619 –> 00:06:24,459so what’s left?14700:06:24,459 –> 00:06:27,100We got to learn now from the crucifixion.14800:06:27,100 –> 00:06:28,839That’s why this is the hardest.14900:06:28,839 –> 00:06:30,260Okay, number three,15000:06:31,119 –> 00:06:36,040be generous by reflecting the blessing15100:06:37,420 –> 00:06:39,239that God has given to you15200:06:39,239 –> 00:06:41,299in Jesus Christ and here we’re thinking15300:06:41,299 –> 00:06:43,940especially about Jesus Christ on the cross15400:06:43,940 –> 00:06:45,959and we’re looking at verse 1415500:06:47,320 –> 00:06:49,339where we see what he did on the cross.15600:06:49,339 –> 00:06:52,799Bless those who persecute you,15700:06:53,799 –> 00:06:58,459bless and do not curse them.15800:07:00,380 –> 00:07:02,480Now again, the implicit temptation15900:07:02,480 –> 00:07:04,880for us here is very obvious.16000:07:04,880 –> 00:07:07,720When someone brings pain into your life,16100:07:08,100 –> 00:07:12,179your first instinct will not be to wish them well.16200:07:12,179 –> 00:07:13,679If someone is cruel to you,16300:07:13,679 –> 00:07:17,320someone is constantly underlining your feelings,16400:07:17,320 –> 00:07:19,559your weaknesses, assuming the worst about you16500:07:19,559 –> 00:07:21,619and so forth really, really hard for you16600:07:21,619 –> 00:07:24,040truly from the heart to seek their good.16700:07:25,279 –> 00:07:28,519The natural thing is for us to dwell16800:07:28,519 –> 00:07:31,140on the injustice of it all.16900:07:31,140 –> 00:07:34,480How inexcusable it all is to brood over it17000:07:34,480 –> 00:07:37,880like Jonah did when that plant17100:07:37,880 –> 00:07:39,899that gave him shade was taken away17200:07:39,899 –> 00:07:42,299and he got more and more angry towards God,17300:07:42,299 –> 00:07:45,000towards the people of Nineveh and all the rest of it,17400:07:46,339 –> 00:07:47,339and you know how it is17500:07:47,339 –> 00:07:49,920that when that happens, if it happens in your heart,17600:07:49,920 –> 00:07:54,339your heart very quickly becomes hard, hard.17700:07:56,459 –> 00:08:00,040Now, God says, no, don’t let that happen to you.17800:08:01,980 –> 00:08:03,799You are gonna suffer evil in this world,17900:08:03,799 –> 00:08:06,519but do not be overcome by evil.18000:08:06,519 –> 00:08:07,920Here’s what you’ve gotta do,18100:08:07,920 –> 00:08:10,779you’ve gotta overcome evil with good.18200:08:12,059 –> 00:08:13,420And here’s what that looks like,18300:08:13,420 –> 00:08:15,799particularly when someone injures you.18400:08:16,980 –> 00:08:20,140You bless those who persecute you,18500:08:20,140 –> 00:08:23,760and you bless and you do not curse them,18600:08:26,000 –> 00:08:29,739and that surely is an expression of generosity18700:08:29,739 –> 00:08:33,700that goes beyond what is expected.18800:08:33,880 –> 00:08:38,880You give your blessing, that is you seek the good,18900:08:39,780 –> 00:08:43,799you pray for the good of the person who has hurt you.19000:08:44,880 –> 00:08:49,000And God says you give that where it is not deserved,19100:08:49,000 –> 00:08:54,000you give that where it may never, ever, ever be returned,19200:08:54,340 –> 00:08:57,719and the reason you do this is in the light19300:08:57,719 –> 00:08:58,940of the mercies of God.19400:08:58,940 –> 00:09:02,559That is this is how God has treated you.19500:09:03,380 –> 00:09:06,520Now I think that that must be the hardest thing19600:09:06,520 –> 00:09:07,719in all of the world.19700:09:09,239 –> 00:09:11,080So how are we going to do it?19800:09:11,960 –> 00:09:14,440Let me suggest these three things to you very simply.19900:09:14,440 –> 00:09:17,380First, reflect on the example of Jesus.20000:09:18,239 –> 00:09:20,960The soldiers nail him to the cross.20100:09:22,179 –> 00:09:24,000He does not curse them.20200:09:25,280 –> 00:09:27,559When he was reviled, Peter says,20300:09:27,559 –> 00:09:29,059that means when he was insulted20400:09:29,059 –> 00:09:31,280he did not throw insults back,20500:09:33,159 –> 00:09:36,260he did not perpetuate that pattern20600:09:36,260 –> 00:09:37,280that we see in the world20700:09:37,280 –> 00:09:40,099in which one evil provokes an evil response20800:09:40,099 –> 00:09:42,200and another evil and on and on20900:09:42,200 –> 00:09:45,739and we end up in endless recrimination.21000:09:47,140 –> 00:09:52,099No, what he did was he prayed for the good21100:09:53,440 –> 00:09:54,760of the ones who injured him.21200:09:54,760 –> 00:09:56,320They had nailed him to the cross21300:09:56,320 –> 00:10:00,359and he said, father, forgive them.21400:10:00,359 –> 00:10:04,460They do not know what they are doing.21500:10:05,960 –> 00:10:09,320And Peter says that in this,21600:10:09,320 –> 00:10:11,719he was giving us an example21700:10:11,719 –> 00:10:14,859that when we suffer, we may follow in his footsteps.21800:10:16,359 –> 00:10:17,760That takes us to the second thing,21900:10:17,760 –> 00:10:19,880which is to consider the position22000:10:19,880 –> 00:10:21,859of the person who has hurt you.22100:10:21,859 –> 00:10:24,119They do not know what they are doing.22200:10:25,900 –> 00:10:29,179There’s an old writer by the name of Robert Candlish22300:10:29,179 –> 00:10:32,260who makes this point very well.22400:10:32,260 –> 00:10:36,460He says that, I put this in my own words,22500:10:36,460 –> 00:10:39,679that when wrong is done to you,22600:10:39,679 –> 00:10:41,299you can go one of two ways,22700:10:41,299 –> 00:10:43,460you can brood on the evil and the injustice22800:10:43,460 –> 00:10:45,479and your heart will become hard and so forth,22900:10:45,479 –> 00:10:48,659or you can do something else.23000:10:48,659 –> 00:10:49,820And here’s the other way to go.23100:10:49,820 –> 00:10:51,919You can put yourself, he says,23200:10:51,919 –> 00:10:54,859in the shoes of the person23300:10:54,859 –> 00:10:57,099who has brought you pain in your life.23400:10:58,099 –> 00:11:00,659And you can ask yourself this question,23500:11:00,659 –> 00:11:01,979what would I be like23600:11:01,979 –> 00:11:05,840if everything in his or her story had been mine?23700:11:08,260 –> 00:11:11,580If I had experienced everything23800:11:11,580 –> 00:11:14,880that he or she has endured,23900:11:16,919 –> 00:11:20,500how would it be for you if today you suffered24000:11:20,500 –> 00:11:24,039from the same blindness to the glory of the Lord Jesus24100:11:24,039 –> 00:11:25,739that that person suffers from?24200:11:27,659 –> 00:11:31,200How would it be for you if today you had24300:11:31,200 –> 00:11:34,340the same estrangement from the felt knowledge24400:11:34,340 –> 00:11:38,380of the love of God that’s still afflicts him or her?24500:11:40,200 –> 00:11:42,299Remember how God spoke to Jonah24600:11:42,299 –> 00:11:45,340when he was becoming very hard in his own heart24700:11:45,340 –> 00:11:47,260towards the city of Nineveh,24800:11:47,260 –> 00:11:48,739and God said to him,24900:11:48,880 –> 00:11:53,219Should I not pity Nineveh?25000:11:53,219 –> 00:11:56,559Should I not pity Nineveh?25100:11:57,700 –> 00:11:59,039And here is what God said,25200:11:59,039 –> 00:12:02,799now there are 120,000 people in this great city,25300:12:03,780 –> 00:12:07,359and they do not know their right hand from their left,25400:12:08,340 –> 00:12:10,039which was a pictorial way of saying25500:12:10,039 –> 00:12:12,020they don’t know right from wrong.25600:12:13,539 –> 00:12:17,260Like a growing number of people today even in our culture,25700:12:17,260 –> 00:12:19,919they think that what is evil is good,25800:12:19,919 –> 00:12:23,460and they think that what is good is evil.25900:12:23,460 –> 00:12:26,179They have got so far from God26000:12:26,179 –> 00:12:30,460that they cannot any longer even tell the difference26100:12:30,460 –> 00:12:33,260between what is right and what is wrong.26200:12:33,260 –> 00:12:38,260And friends, that plight does not call for our anger.26300:12:41,140 –> 00:12:43,820A city where people no longer know what is right26400:12:43,820 –> 00:12:46,440from what is wrong calls for our compassion.26500:12:48,239 –> 00:12:51,940For our pity, that’s the word that God uses.26600:12:51,940 –> 00:12:53,280You’re listening to Open the Bible26700:12:53,280 –> 00:12:55,619with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called26800:12:55,619 –> 00:12:58,380Overcoming Evil with Generosity,26900:12:58,380 –> 00:13:00,780part of our series, Overcoming Evil.27000:13:00,780 –> 00:13:03,020And don’t forget if you ever miss one of the series,27100:13:03,020 –> 00:13:04,179you can always catch up,27200:13:04,179 –> 00:13:06,200or go back and listen again online27300:13:06,200 –> 00:13:10,179at our website, openthebible.org.uk,27400:13:10,179 –> 00:13:13,840or find us as a podcast, on all the main podcast sites.27500:13:14,700 –> 00:13:17,080Back to the message now, here’s Colin.27600:13:17,820 –> 00:13:20,159I think of a couple dear friends27700:13:20,159 –> 00:13:25,159of ours, good and godly parents,27800:13:25,820 –> 00:13:29,840and their older daughter27900:13:31,219 –> 00:13:34,159broke their hearts with her rebellion.28000:13:35,659 –> 00:13:38,099I guess I’ve seen a lot of kids over the years28100:13:38,099 –> 00:13:40,900who have rebelled, but I think that her rebellion28200:13:40,900 –> 00:13:45,900was as flagrant, and as in your face, so to speak,28300:13:46,059 –> 00:13:47,719as any I have ever seen.28400:13:50,159 –> 00:13:53,919I remember her father, with whom I was very close,28500:13:53,919 –> 00:13:57,020telling me how he was struggling28600:13:57,020 –> 00:13:59,619not only with what she was doing28700:14:00,960 –> 00:14:03,719but with his own reaction to it,28800:14:03,719 –> 00:14:07,520he said to me, Colin, I find myself getting angry.28900:14:08,859 –> 00:14:10,679And he knew that that wasn’t helping.29000:14:12,359 –> 00:14:15,679And then he said to me that there was one verse29100:14:15,679 –> 00:14:20,280in the Bible that had helped him more than any other.29200:14:21,159 –> 00:14:22,880And I’m telling you, if he at that point29300:14:22,880 –> 00:14:24,520had asked me to guess which one it was29400:14:24,520 –> 00:14:25,739and I’d had 50 attempts,29500:14:25,739 –> 00:14:28,020I don’t think I would have guessed the verse.29600:14:28,020 –> 00:14:29,940But here it is, the verse that had helped him29700:14:29,940 –> 00:14:32,820more than any other on this particular issue,29800:14:32,820 –> 00:14:36,1592 Corinthians chapter four and verse four,29900:14:36,159 –> 00:14:39,919the God of this world, that is a reference to Satan,30000:14:39,919 –> 00:14:41,679that’s why it’s small g,30100:14:41,679 –> 00:14:45,799the one who has assumed the position in this world30200:14:45,799 –> 00:14:48,880that does not belong to him, what’s he done?30300:14:48,880 –> 00:14:53,880He has blinded the minds of the unbelievers30400:14:54,400 –> 00:14:56,840to keep them from seeing the light30500:14:56,840 –> 00:15:00,400of the gospel of the glory of Christ,30600:15:00,400 –> 00:15:02,299who is the image of God.30700:15:03,559 –> 00:15:07,400And this father said to me, you know Colin,30800:15:07,479 –> 00:15:09,559it has helped me to grasp30900:15:09,559 –> 00:15:13,559that she really does not see what I see.31000:15:15,000 –> 00:15:18,799I mean, she is blind to the glory of Jesus that I see.31100:15:18,799 –> 00:15:20,380I mean, it’s not just that you won’t look,31200:15:20,380 –> 00:15:23,000it’s that she can’t see,31300:15:25,179 –> 00:15:28,500and when you know that someone can’t see,31400:15:30,320 –> 00:15:31,900you don’t get angry with them,31500:15:33,239 –> 00:15:35,200you feel sorry for them,31600:15:36,200 –> 00:15:38,080you have compassion,31700:15:39,659 –> 00:15:41,299you have pity.31800:15:42,880 –> 00:15:46,119Now friends, if it was not for the Lord’s grace,31900:15:46,119 –> 00:15:50,679you would be blind to the glory of Christ today,32000:15:50,679 –> 00:15:54,080and if you were blind to the glory of Christ today32100:15:54,080 –> 00:15:56,799and had been all of your life,32200:15:56,799 –> 00:15:58,080where would you be today32300:15:58,080 –> 00:15:59,539and what would you be doing today?32400:15:59,539 –> 00:16:00,880You have no way of knowing.32500:16:01,820 –> 00:16:04,020It is the sheer mercy and grace32600:16:04,020 –> 00:16:05,580of the Lord Jesus Christ32700:16:05,580 –> 00:16:08,400that you see his glory, if you do,32800:16:08,400 –> 00:16:12,099and that you have come to love him from the heart.32900:16:13,659 –> 00:16:17,440So consider the position of this person who has hurt you.33000:16:17,440 –> 00:16:19,140And it will help you.33100:16:19,140 –> 00:16:21,719And here is the third and the last thing.33200:16:21,719 –> 00:16:24,020Remember how God has dealt with you.33300:16:24,020 –> 00:16:25,460So you look at Christ,33400:16:25,460 –> 00:16:27,400you look at the position of the other person,33500:16:27,400 –> 00:16:28,679then you look at yourself,33600:16:28,679 –> 00:16:30,739and you say now how is it that God has dealt33700:16:31,080 –> 00:16:32,799with me.33800:16:32,799 –> 00:16:36,760Everything in Romans 12 is in the light of God’s mercy,33900:16:36,760 –> 00:16:38,559in the light of God’s mercy,34000:16:38,559 –> 00:16:40,460you bless those who persecute you34100:16:40,460 –> 00:16:41,659and you do not curse them.34200:16:41,659 –> 00:16:44,159Why, because while we were still sinners,34300:16:44,159 –> 00:16:45,760Christ died for us.34400:16:45,760 –> 00:16:48,320While we were still God’s enemies,34500:16:48,320 –> 00:16:50,520he made us his friends.34600:16:50,520 –> 00:16:52,919While we were hostile towards him,34700:16:52,919 –> 00:16:55,640he was reaching out to us in love.34800:16:55,640 –> 00:16:58,739That’s how God has been towards me,34900:16:59,380 –> 00:17:01,820and therefore why should I not seek35000:17:01,820 –> 00:17:04,959to reflect that same grace towards others?35100:17:04,959 –> 00:17:06,859I want to end with a story here today35200:17:06,859 –> 00:17:08,160and then we’re through.35300:17:08,160 –> 00:17:10,640And it was told to me by our missions pastor,35400:17:10,640 –> 00:17:13,719Brad Mullet, who along with a team from our church35500:17:13,719 –> 00:17:17,060went to Serbia and Albania earlier this year35600:17:17,060 –> 00:17:18,540during the summer,35700:17:18,540 –> 00:17:22,099and while they were in Serbia they met with a man35800:17:22,099 –> 00:17:25,760by the name of Dusan who told them his story.35900:17:26,739 –> 00:17:28,800Dusan, though Serbian,36000:17:28,800 –> 00:17:33,579grew up in Croatia and was a small boy there36100:17:33,579 –> 00:17:37,260when that awful civil war broke out in 1991.36200:17:40,339 –> 00:17:41,920Now imagine his position.36300:17:41,920 –> 00:17:44,020Dusan’s family has lived and worked,36400:17:44,020 –> 00:17:47,459Serbian family, in Croatia for many years36500:17:47,459 –> 00:17:49,479alongside their neighbors36600:17:49,479 –> 00:17:51,439when this war breaks out suddenly everything changes36700:17:51,439 –> 00:17:54,959and all of the Serbians in Croatia rounded up36800:17:55,219 –> 00:17:57,359initially imprisoned.36900:17:57,359 –> 00:18:01,540And after some weeks Croatia agreed to repatriate37000:18:03,520 –> 00:18:07,359quarter of a million women and children,37100:18:07,359 –> 00:18:10,660men either remained in prison in Croatia37200:18:10,660 –> 00:18:14,819or else they had already moved over to fight for Serbia.37300:18:15,719 –> 00:18:18,760But quarter of a million women and children37400:18:18,760 –> 00:18:21,540as part of this ethnic cleansing that went on37500:18:22,020 –> 00:18:25,839loaded onto buses leaving their land and homes37600:18:30,560 –> 00:18:34,060and only one bag each of their possessions37700:18:36,000 –> 00:18:39,599and Dusan and his siblings along with his mother37800:18:39,599 –> 00:18:42,239among these quarter of a million people37900:18:42,239 –> 00:18:43,439getting on the buses38000:18:43,439 –> 00:18:45,939and he described the story.38100:18:45,939 –> 00:18:48,640The bus ride was long, seemed to be going on38200:18:48,640 –> 00:18:51,140forever and forever but finally38300:18:52,239 –> 00:18:53,420the bus stopped38400:18:54,400 –> 00:18:56,180and the door of the bus opened.38500:18:56,180 –> 00:18:59,699Dusan nine years old ran off the bus38600:18:59,699 –> 00:19:02,699and thinking that they were in Serbia38700:19:03,859 –> 00:19:06,660he started shouting Serbian chants38800:19:06,660 –> 00:19:10,119and swearing and cursing against Croatians38900:19:10,119 –> 00:19:11,900at the top of his lungs.39000:19:11,900 –> 00:19:14,000He said to pastor Brad39100:19:14,000 –> 00:19:17,420I cursed the Croatians like only a zealous39200:19:18,300 –> 00:19:20,619nine-year-old sinner can do.39300:19:22,500 –> 00:19:26,500Hearing this, his mother flew off the bus39400:19:26,500 –> 00:19:27,579down the steps39500:19:27,579 –> 00:19:31,339immediately clasped her hand around his mouth.39600:19:32,199 –> 00:19:34,699Dusan, we’re still in Croatia.39700:19:38,300 –> 00:19:39,579And right there Dusan noticed39800:19:39,579 –> 00:19:41,900that he was surrounded by Croatian soldiers39900:19:41,900 –> 00:19:46,239he’d just been cursing at the top of his voice.40000:19:46,239 –> 00:19:48,319One of the soldiers walked towards them40100:19:48,319 –> 00:19:50,560his mother clasping her son40200:19:50,640 –> 00:19:53,219close to her, is this your son?40300:19:55,719 –> 00:19:58,180He said to Dusan’s mother.40400:19:58,180 –> 00:19:59,819Dusan said his mother was so afraid40500:19:59,819 –> 00:20:01,540she couldn’t even lift up her head40600:20:01,540 –> 00:20:04,699didn’t say a word just held him tight.40700:20:05,739 –> 00:20:08,459The soldier told them to stay where they were40800:20:08,459 –> 00:20:12,180surrounded by Croatian soldiers and police40900:20:12,180 –> 00:20:14,800and said that he would be back.41000:20:15,540 –> 00:20:20,380After some time he returned and he was carrying a box.41100:20:20,699 –> 00:20:23,020It’s a long journey he said.41200:20:24,020 –> 00:20:25,760Here’s something to eat and to drink41300:20:25,760 –> 00:20:28,180and he gave the box to Dusan.41400:20:30,359 –> 00:20:34,520Dusan opened it, he said it was full of snacks and treats.41500:20:36,439 –> 00:20:40,599Years later grown into manhood Dusan became a Christian.41600:20:41,619 –> 00:20:45,380Heard the gospel and is now serving the Lord.41700:20:47,040 –> 00:20:49,260And when he heard the gospel,41800:20:49,319 –> 00:20:53,239what came back to his mind was the kindness41900:20:53,239 –> 00:20:57,579that the Croatian soldier had shown to him.42000:20:57,579 –> 00:20:58,859And he said to Brad and the others42100:20:58,859 –> 00:21:03,239on our team that summer, here is the gospel.42200:21:03,239 –> 00:21:05,439Here’s what it is.42300:21:05,439 –> 00:21:09,020It is like when I came running off the bus42400:21:11,599 –> 00:21:15,280shouting obscenities and curses against God.42500:21:15,780 –> 00:21:20,199Clearly his enemy and clearly powerless and helpless.42600:21:22,439 –> 00:21:25,359God responded by giving me a gift.42700:21:29,319 –> 00:21:31,400And what a gift that was.42800:21:32,739 –> 00:21:36,900The Son of God loved you and gave himself for you.42900:21:38,260 –> 00:21:41,839Now in the light of God’s mercy to you the scripture says,43000:21:42,260 –> 00:21:44,099God’s mercy to you the scripture says,43100:21:44,099 –> 00:21:46,579Bless those who persecute you,43200:21:46,579 –> 00:21:48,839Bless and do not curse them,43300:21:51,920 –> 00:21:54,000do not be overcome by evil43400:21:55,680 –> 00:21:58,020but overcome evil with good.43500:21:59,959 –> 00:22:01,859That’s a great picture of the gospel,43600:22:01,859 –> 00:22:03,800the boy who was expecting anger,43700:22:03,800 –> 00:22:06,140but instead receives grace,43800:22:06,140 –> 00:22:07,959realizes later that the box43900:22:07,959 –> 00:22:10,459is a vivid picture of the gospel.44000:22:10,459 –> 00:22:11,719You’re listening to Open the Bible44100:22:11,719 –> 00:22:13,199with Pastor Colin Smith44200:22:13,199 –> 00:22:14,400and a message called44300:22:14,400 –> 00:22:16,880Overcoming Evil with Generosity,44400:22:16,880 –> 00:22:18,339part of our seven part series44500:22:18,339 –> 00:22:19,920Overcoming Evil.44600:22:19,920 –> 00:22:21,459If you’ve missed any of the series44700:22:21,459 –> 00:22:23,280or want to go back and listen again44800:22:23,280 –> 00:22:24,900you can do that by coming online44900:22:24,900 –> 00:22:26,099to our website45000:22:26,099 –> 00:22:28,420openthebible.org.uk45100:22:28,420 –> 00:22:29,239and there you’ll find45200:22:29,239 –> 00:22:32,060all the previously broadcast messages.45300:22:32,060 –> 00:22:33,839You’ll also find them as a podcast45400:22:33,839 –> 00:22:35,719on all the main podcast sites.45500:22:35,719 –> 00:22:37,760Search for Open the Bible UK45600:22:37,760 –> 00:22:39,199and subscribe if you want to be45700:22:39,219 –> 00:22:42,420regularly reminded of the broadcasts.45800:22:42,420 –> 00:22:44,780Also on our website and as a podcast45900:22:44,780 –> 00:22:46,520is Open the Bible Daily46000:22:46,520 –> 00:22:48,400and that’s a series of short46100:22:48,400 –> 00:22:51,099two to three minute daily reflections46200:22:51,099 –> 00:22:52,939based on Pastor Colin’s teaching46300:22:52,939 –> 00:22:54,900and read in the UK by Sue MacCleish.46400:22:54,900 –> 00:22:56,839There’s a new one every day46500:22:56,839 –> 00:22:58,000and many Christians find46600:22:58,000 –> 00:23:00,880it’s a brilliant way to start the day.46700:23:00,880 –> 00:23:03,219Open the Bible is supported entirely46800:23:03,219 –> 00:23:05,619by the generous gifts of our listeners46900:23:05,619 –> 00:23:06,939and if that’s something47000:23:06,939 –> 00:23:08,959you’ve been considering to do47100:23:08,979 –> 00:23:11,500then we have an offer for you this month.47200:23:11,500 –> 00:23:13,280If you’re able to set up a new47300:23:13,280 –> 00:23:14,839direct debit to the work of47400:23:14,839 –> 00:23:16,380Open the Bible in the amount of47500:23:16,380 –> 00:23:18,439five pounds per month or more47600:23:18,439 –> 00:23:21,180or one-off gift of 50 pounds or more47700:23:21,180 –> 00:23:22,760we’d love to say thank you47800:23:22,760 –> 00:23:24,780by sending you three copies47900:23:24,780 –> 00:23:27,520of Pastor Colin Smith’s Devotional48000:23:27,520 –> 00:23:29,660Green Pastures, Still Waters48100:23:29,660 –> 00:23:33,119Comfort in Dark Times from Psalm 23.48200:23:33,119 –> 00:23:34,280Colin this devotional48300:23:34,280 –> 00:23:35,640comes from a sermon series48400:23:35,640 –> 00:23:37,640that you preached a while back48500:23:37,640 –> 00:23:38,500and as you prepared48600:23:38,599 –> 00:23:39,540for the series48700:23:39,540 –> 00:23:40,619what was the main thing48800:23:40,619 –> 00:23:41,619you took away from it?48900:23:42,260 –> 00:23:44,739Oh that single word encouragement49000:23:44,739 –> 00:23:45,859I mean I can’t think of49100:23:45,859 –> 00:23:47,660any better place to go49200:23:47,660 –> 00:23:49,500when a person feels down49300:23:49,500 –> 00:23:52,560or jaded or just generally exhausted.49400:23:52,560 –> 00:23:53,800If you need encouragement49500:23:53,800 –> 00:23:56,839Psalm 23 is the place to go49600:23:56,839 –> 00:23:59,060and God has been using this Psalm49700:23:59,060 –> 00:24:00,260to encourage his people49800:24:00,260 –> 00:24:01,959for 3000 years49900:24:01,959 –> 00:24:03,380and I reckon that’s50000:24:03,380 –> 00:24:04,380probably the reason50100:24:04,380 –> 00:24:05,900why this is one of the best-known50200:24:05,900 –> 00:24:07,900and best-loved chapters50300:24:08,280 –> 00:24:09,280in all of the Bible.50400:24:09,280 –> 00:24:11,140I mean to know that in Christ50500:24:11,140 –> 00:24:12,819you have a shepherd50600:24:12,819 –> 00:24:14,420and that in the shepherd50700:24:14,420 –> 00:24:16,119you have everything that you need50800:24:16,119 –> 00:24:17,500that is the greatest joy50900:24:17,500 –> 00:24:19,780and that will renew your strength.51000:24:19,780 –> 00:24:21,680So I’m absolutely delighted51100:24:21,680 –> 00:24:22,680that we’re able to51200:24:22,680 –> 00:24:24,380make this available as a devotional51300:24:24,380 –> 00:24:27,180you can read it over 31 days51400:24:27,180 –> 00:24:28,640and it will renew your strength51500:24:28,640 –> 00:24:30,540it will refresh your soul51600:24:30,540 –> 00:24:31,680Psalm 2351700:24:31,680 –> 00:24:32,680one of the best-known51800:24:32,680 –> 00:24:33,680and best-loved chapters51900:24:33,680 –> 00:24:34,660in the Bible.52000:24:34,660 –> 00:24:35,859Well, if you’re able52100:24:35,859 –> 00:24:37,099to begin supporting52200:24:37,099 –> 00:24:38,239Open the Bible52300:24:38,239 –> 00:24:41,400with a gift of £5 per month or more52400:24:41,400 –> 00:24:44,500or a one off gift of £50 or more52500:24:44,500 –> 00:24:45,760we’d love to thank you52600:24:45,760 –> 00:24:47,660by sending you three copies52700:24:47,660 –> 00:24:50,140of Green Pasture, Stillwaters52800:24:50,140 –> 00:24:51,339Pastor Colin Smith’s52900:24:51,339 –> 00:24:54,219devotional based on Psalm 2353000:24:54,219 –> 00:24:55,300along with a special53100:24:55,300 –> 00:24:58,199Open the Bible pen and bookmark.53200:24:58,199 –> 00:25:00,280Full details, terms and conditions53300:25:00,280 –> 00:25:01,500are on our website53400:25:01,500 –> 00:25:02,160that’s at53500:25:02,160 –> 00:25:05,219openthebible.org.uk53600:25:05,219 –> 00:25:06,339For Open the Bible53700:25:06,339 –> 00:25:08,000and Pastor Colin Smith53800:25:08,000 –> 00:25:09,099I’m David Pick53900:25:09,099 –> 00:25:10,300Thank you for joining us today54000:25:10,300 –> 00:25:12,060and I hope we’ll see you again next time.54100:25:17,900 –> 00:25:20,260What keeps us from living in harmony54200:25:20,260 –> 00:25:21,979in the world today?54300:25:21,979 –> 00:25:25,479Find out, next time on Open the Bible.