WEBVTT - Walking Worthy – Part 2 0:00:00.760 --> 0:00:03.880 Today on Bold steps with Mark job. We're learning to 0:00:03.880 --> 0:00:06.239 walk worthy in our God given calling. 0:00:06.800 --> 0:00:09.680 Walk worthy of the calling that you have upon your life. 0:00:09.680 --> 0:00:12.600 You're called a child of the Most High God. You're 0:00:12.600 --> 0:00:16.040 called to follow Christ. You have the Holy Spirit inside 0:00:16.040 --> 0:00:19.360 of you now. So living that way, start acting that way. 0:00:19.600 --> 0:00:22.200 Start rising up to the call that you have inside 0:00:22.200 --> 0:00:22.760 of you. 0:00:35.440 --> 0:00:39.239 Welcome to Bold Steps with Mark job. Mark is president 0:00:39.240 --> 0:00:41.840 of Moody Bible Institute and the senior pastor of New 0:00:41.840 --> 0:00:45.839 Life Community Church in Chicago. And I'm Wayne Shepherd. Yesterday 0:00:45.840 --> 0:00:48.599 we started this message on Walking Worthy. And today, as 0:00:48.600 --> 0:00:51.200 we move forward in our study from the book of Ephesians, 0:00:51.200 --> 0:00:53.920 we're going to be focusing our attention on three points 0:00:53.920 --> 0:00:56.040 that will help us live out our life's purpose and 0:00:56.040 --> 0:01:00.120 calling with passion. We're in Ephesians chapter four with a 0:01:00.120 --> 0:01:03.760 message from our brand new series when you believe Everything Changes. 0:01:04.000 --> 0:01:05.119 Here's Mark Jobe. 0:01:06.480 --> 0:01:08.760 Man, if I'm in line waiting on the expressway and 0:01:08.760 --> 0:01:11.160 there's a long line and I'm on the Stevenson waiting 0:01:11.160 --> 0:01:15.040 to get on to 1994, and someone drives all the 0:01:15.040 --> 0:01:16.800 way up and they want to get in front of me. 0:01:16.959 --> 0:01:18.839 I pull up to the guy in front of me like, hey, 0:01:18.840 --> 0:01:20.240 you're not going to get in front of me. I've 0:01:20.240 --> 0:01:24.600 been waiting. Anybody else go through that? It's like you 0:01:24.600 --> 0:01:26.720 try to get behind me, but not in front of me. 0:01:27.520 --> 0:01:29.560 I'm going to pull up five inches to the car 0:01:29.560 --> 0:01:31.560 in front of me. Like, I stay really close to 0:01:31.560 --> 0:01:34.360 them because. Hey, man, this is close. Get in the 0:01:34.360 --> 0:01:40.000 line there. I mean, we're taught that it comes out. 0:01:42.160 --> 0:01:45.560 And what gentleness means is that you live in a 0:01:45.560 --> 0:01:48.360 way that's above the fray of all the rest. It 0:01:48.360 --> 0:01:53.360 means that you show grace when everybody's pushy. It means 0:01:53.360 --> 0:01:56.000 that when everybody else is fighting for the line. And 0:01:56.000 --> 0:01:58.080 what's going to happen that you take the little old 0:01:58.080 --> 0:02:00.560 lady that that's there in the corner and you say, ma'am, 0:02:00.600 --> 0:02:03.210 can I help you out? It means that you you 0:02:03.250 --> 0:02:05.450 give a little you you give a little help to 0:02:05.490 --> 0:02:08.250 the person that's in a wheelchair. It means that when 0:02:08.250 --> 0:02:10.570 someone's pushing to get on the bus and everything, you 0:02:10.610 --> 0:02:13.290 notice the, the, the, the person that's struggling with their 0:02:13.290 --> 0:02:15.810 big suitcase and can't get along. It means that you 0:02:15.810 --> 0:02:18.690 live with a different set of rules in your mind. 0:02:18.690 --> 0:02:20.570 And the biggest set of rules is not how I 0:02:20.570 --> 0:02:23.010 can get ahead, just myself, but how I'm going to 0:02:23.050 --> 0:02:26.850 watch out. I'm not playing the the rat race game here. 0:02:26.850 --> 0:02:30.010 I'm living at a higher calling than the rest of 0:02:30.010 --> 0:02:34.250 society around me, and I'm living at a God calling size, 0:02:34.570 --> 0:02:38.690 so it makes me different. It makes me think different, 0:02:38.730 --> 0:02:42.850 operate different. It doesn't make me weaker. It makes me stronger. 0:02:43.210 --> 0:02:46.169 It takes more strength to watch out. It takes more 0:02:46.169 --> 0:02:49.450 strength to be gracious. It takes more strength to care 0:02:49.450 --> 0:02:53.489 about others. It takes more strength to to have some 0:02:53.490 --> 0:02:56.769 courtesy and decency in life than it does to be 0:02:56.770 --> 0:03:07.169 rude and harsh and strong. Humility, gentleness. Then he says, patient. 0:03:08.610 --> 0:03:11.690 That's the third characteristic. If you're going to live a 0:03:11.690 --> 0:03:15.770 life worthy of your calling, be humble, gentle, be patient. 0:03:16.889 --> 0:03:20.169 You see, the root of impatience in our life is 0:03:20.169 --> 0:03:24.010 when we just focus on our own world and think 0:03:24.010 --> 0:03:27.970 that our world is more important than anybody else's world. 0:03:28.570 --> 0:03:32.010 Think about it for a second. Your mom at home, 0:03:32.010 --> 0:03:36.170 you're talking on the phone. Your three year old is 0:03:36.170 --> 0:03:41.930 pulling on your skirt and you're trying to have the conversation. Wait, honey. Hey, mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Finally. 0:03:41.930 --> 0:03:48.210 What do you want? Don't you see I'm on the phone? Seriously, 0:03:49.650 --> 0:03:54.290 every mother here can relate. You've been there. But really, 0:03:54.290 --> 0:03:57.250 what it is, is. It's when we get so focused 0:03:57.250 --> 0:04:01.340 on our agenda, so focused on our thing that we 0:04:01.380 --> 0:04:06.340 don't consider other people around us. Patience means that you 0:04:06.380 --> 0:04:09.420 seek to have a long fuse, not a short fuse. 0:04:09.900 --> 0:04:16.340 Patience means that hey, you. You give people the benefit 0:04:16.339 --> 0:04:19.979 of the doubt. Uh, patience means that you don't snap 0:04:19.980 --> 0:04:23.500 right away, that you that you have, that you're in 0:04:23.500 --> 0:04:27.460 a place where you don't allow frustration to build immediately. 0:04:28.220 --> 0:04:30.460 If you have the reputation of, hey, don't mess with 0:04:30.460 --> 0:04:32.740 that person because they're always in a bad mood, hey, 0:04:32.740 --> 0:04:34.980 don't talk to that person because they'll all snap. They'll, 0:04:35.020 --> 0:04:37.539 they'll they'll bite your head off. Hey, that's not a 0:04:37.540 --> 0:04:40.900 good reputation to have. I know, maybe someone told you 0:04:40.900 --> 0:04:44.099 it's a good reputation. I know, maybe you thought that 0:04:44.100 --> 0:04:46.260 no one's going to get over on me. And I'm 0:04:46.260 --> 0:04:48.539 hard and tough. But that's not a good reputation when 0:04:48.540 --> 0:04:52.219 you're living at a higher calling. Higher calling. People have 0:04:52.220 --> 0:04:59.820 long fuses. Every time you lose your temper, every time 0:04:59.820 --> 0:05:05.180 you shout angry words at home, every time you snap 0:05:05.180 --> 0:05:08.820 out at the children and lambast the wife. And every 0:05:08.860 --> 0:05:13.140 time you go into a little rampage or rage because 0:05:13.140 --> 0:05:16.460 you're mad at something. Oh, I know the family will 0:05:16.460 --> 0:05:19.299 listen when you go into a rage. I know everybody 0:05:19.300 --> 0:05:21.940 quiets down a little bit. I know you get your 0:05:21.940 --> 0:05:24.580 way when you go into a rage and throw a 0:05:24.580 --> 0:05:28.060 temper tantrum and raise your voice. And then suddenly you say, yeah, 0:05:28.060 --> 0:05:30.740 that's what I want. I want some respect in this place. 0:05:30.980 --> 0:05:32.940 But I'm going to tell you, every time you do that, 0:05:32.940 --> 0:05:37.980 man of God, you lose a little respect, you lose 0:05:37.980 --> 0:05:40.940 a little respect from your kids, you lose a little 0:05:40.940 --> 0:05:44.180 respect from your wife. Oh, you may gain their attention 0:05:44.180 --> 0:05:48.059 from a moment, but you lose a little respect in 0:05:48.060 --> 0:05:57.060 the long run. It's people that gain patience, maintain their 0:05:57.860 --> 0:06:02.590 emotions under control, and they don't snap right away. And 0:06:02.589 --> 0:06:05.710 don't go off the handle right away. But say I'm 0:06:05.710 --> 0:06:19.030 called to a higher calling. That begin to reflect Jesus humility, gentleness, patience. 0:06:19.550 --> 0:06:22.950 And lastly, it says bearing with one another in love. 0:06:23.830 --> 0:06:26.870 The last characteristic is love. Now, I want to just 0:06:26.870 --> 0:06:29.390 clarify this for a moment, just in case you have 0:06:29.390 --> 0:06:33.910 a misunderstanding of love. Love is not an emotion. God 0:06:33.910 --> 0:06:37.710 never tells us in the Bible. Feel love. Never. You 0:06:37.710 --> 0:06:41.630 can search the Bible from Genesis to Revelation and you 0:06:41.630 --> 0:06:46.950 will never see God say feel love. God says love. 0:06:46.990 --> 0:06:51.510 He doesn't say, feel love. Love is not an emotion. 0:06:52.070 --> 0:06:55.430 Love is a commitment that we make. It's a choice 0:06:55.430 --> 0:06:59.190 that we make as to how to treat someone. And 0:06:59.190 --> 0:07:03.550 so love is choosing to treat someone in a way 0:07:03.550 --> 0:07:06.309 that helps them out in a way that's better for them, 0:07:06.310 --> 0:07:08.830 in a way that believes that they can do good 0:07:08.830 --> 0:07:11.630 in a way that considers them as important. That's what 0:07:11.670 --> 0:07:14.870 love is. It's not an emotion. Do you realize that 0:07:14.870 --> 0:07:17.590 you can love and not feel an ounce of love 0:07:17.590 --> 0:07:21.510 in your being, and that you can still be loving? Oh, 0:07:21.510 --> 0:07:25.910 let me say that again. In fact, let me tell you, 0:07:25.910 --> 0:07:30.510 if you haven't learned to love when you don't feel 0:07:30.510 --> 0:07:36.390 like loving, then you're still immature. You know how many couples? 0:07:36.390 --> 0:07:38.950 I come sit in my office and they say, well, 0:07:38.950 --> 0:07:43.430 we're thinking about separating or getting divorced. Why? We just 0:07:43.430 --> 0:07:47.950 don't love each other anymore. You don't love each other? No. 0:07:47.950 --> 0:07:54.350 Just don't. Just don't feel it. Don't feel it anymore. Oh, 0:07:56.230 --> 0:08:02.440 so it's about the goosebumps. It's about the hair in 0:08:02.440 --> 0:08:05.600 the back of your neck standing up. It's about the 0:08:05.600 --> 0:08:10.240 pitter patter and you don't feel that. So if you 0:08:10.240 --> 0:08:16.440 don't feel that you decided you're going to call it quits. Hello? 0:08:17.800 --> 0:08:25.400 Grow up. That's high school, love. That's immaturity. You don't 0:08:25.400 --> 0:08:29.680 let your feelings dictate the way you operate and live. 0:08:31.200 --> 0:08:33.600 If you ran your life by feelings, then half the 0:08:33.600 --> 0:08:40.040 days this year you would not go to work. I 0:08:40.040 --> 0:08:43.680 don't feel like going to work today. If you ran 0:08:43.720 --> 0:08:47.880 by feelings half the times, you wouldn't praise God. Half 0:08:47.880 --> 0:08:51.400 the times you wouldn't read your Bible. All of the 0:08:51.400 --> 0:08:59.199 times you wouldn't pay taxes. You wouldn't clean up the house. 0:08:59.920 --> 0:09:02.400 You wouldn't Unnecessarily. Take your kid to the ball game. Hey, 0:09:02.400 --> 0:09:05.520 if you went by feelings, you would be super immature. 0:09:05.720 --> 0:09:08.640 Thank God that God doesn't go by feelings when he 0:09:08.640 --> 0:09:11.760 loves us. Thank God while we are yet sinners, he 0:09:11.760 --> 0:09:14.600 loved us. Thank God that when we were messing up, 0:09:14.600 --> 0:09:17.079 he still loved us. Thank God that when we were 0:09:17.080 --> 0:09:19.680 cursing him, he still loved us. Thank God that when 0:09:19.679 --> 0:09:22.640 we fail him, he still loves us. Thank God that 0:09:22.640 --> 0:09:25.600 he doesn't go by his feelings, but he's committed to 0:09:25.640 --> 0:09:28.840 love us regardless of how we are. When we were 0:09:28.840 --> 0:09:36.839 yet sinners, Christ still loved us. And maturity says, I 0:09:36.840 --> 0:09:40.840 will love people. I commit to love people. And as 0:09:40.840 --> 0:09:44.960 I love people and commit to that, I believe that 0:09:44.960 --> 0:09:49.720 the feelings will follow. That's how it works. 0:09:55.920 --> 0:09:58.280 We'll continue our message in just a moment here on 0:09:58.280 --> 0:10:01.170 Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. But first, Mark, if you'll 0:10:01.170 --> 0:10:02.930 permit me, I want to share something that's been weighing 0:10:02.929 --> 0:10:05.930 on my heart lately. I've been thinking about how throughout history, 0:10:05.970 --> 0:10:08.970 God has always raised up people who prioritized his mission, 0:10:08.970 --> 0:10:12.370 even during some pretty turbulent times. Whether it was the 0:10:12.370 --> 0:10:15.929 early church during persecution, or believers during world wars, or 0:10:15.929 --> 0:10:19.250 missionaries and hostile territories, there have always been those who 0:10:19.250 --> 0:10:23.050 kept their focus on advancing the gospel despite everything happening 0:10:23.050 --> 0:10:25.610 around them. And we've got a lot happening around us 0:10:25.610 --> 0:10:26.290 right now. 0:10:26.850 --> 0:10:28.330 And Wayne, oftentimes. 0:10:28.330 --> 0:10:31.570 It's in the midst of a lot of turbulence and 0:10:31.570 --> 0:10:36.970 turmoil that people start looking to the heavens in special ways. 0:10:37.250 --> 0:10:40.170 And I believe that we live in a moment like that. 0:10:40.170 --> 0:10:42.210 And I just want to say that as a pastor, 0:10:42.210 --> 0:10:45.569 I've been a pastor for over 30 some years in 0:10:45.570 --> 0:10:49.809 the city of Chicago. I have never seen the openness 0:10:49.809 --> 0:10:53.730 that I've seen. Now that's incredible. I'm having these conversations, 0:10:53.730 --> 0:10:57.290 especially with young people we've seen at our church. Over 0:10:57.290 --> 0:11:00.730 a thousand people come to Christ and get baptized in 0:11:00.730 --> 0:11:04.570 the last 24 months, mainly under the age of 35. 0:11:05.130 --> 0:11:10.450 Many that had no religious background and are just hungry 0:11:10.450 --> 0:11:13.210 for God. And I think the turbulence of the world 0:11:13.210 --> 0:11:17.410 has caused them to say I need something. And many 0:11:17.410 --> 0:11:22.010 of us as believers, we're getting too distracted by what's 0:11:22.010 --> 0:11:25.449 happening and not focused enough on the gospel. And so 0:11:25.450 --> 0:11:28.410 I want to bring your attention back to the opportunities 0:11:28.410 --> 0:11:30.809 that you have around you. That's what Bold Steps is 0:11:30.809 --> 0:11:34.010 all about. Regardless of what's happening in our world, we 0:11:34.010 --> 0:11:37.130 believe that the greatest news that needs to be proclaimed 0:11:37.170 --> 0:11:40.610 is the good news that Jesus Christ is here. He's 0:11:40.610 --> 0:11:43.810 the Savior, and we do not want to miss this 0:11:43.809 --> 0:11:47.329 window of opportunity of so many people being open. So 0:11:47.330 --> 0:11:52.410 join us as we continue to boldly, passionately, powerfully, 24 0:11:52.410 --> 0:11:55.970 hours a day through moody radio, proclaim the good news 0:11:55.970 --> 0:11:56.849 of Jesus. 0:11:56.850 --> 0:11:59.770 And at Moody, we're sending workers into that harvest, aren't we? 0:11:59.809 --> 0:12:03.420 We are and so excited about that as well. We're 0:12:03.420 --> 0:12:07.860 sending people focused on the gospel. Bold steps, as you know, 0:12:08.140 --> 0:12:11.940 is making sure that we include a call to the 0:12:11.980 --> 0:12:15.380 gospel on a regular basis. And so excited to see 0:12:15.420 --> 0:12:16.860 people coming to Jesus. 0:12:16.860 --> 0:12:19.660 Well, you who are listening can invest your resources in 0:12:19.660 --> 0:12:22.900 sharing God's life changing truth. To make a gift, simply 0:12:22.900 --> 0:12:26.220 go online to Bold steps org or our phone number 0:12:26.220 --> 0:12:34.740 is 800. That's (800) 356-6639. And your partnership makes an eternal difference. 0:12:34.740 --> 0:12:37.100 And we'll send you, by request, a special bold step 0:12:37.100 --> 0:12:40.020 gift as a token of our appreciation. We'll talk more 0:12:40.020 --> 0:12:43.300 about that gift later in today's message, but consider partnering 0:12:43.300 --> 0:12:46.220 with bold steps. Now back to the message. Here again 0:12:46.220 --> 0:12:46.860 is Mark. 0:12:52.020 --> 0:12:54.740 You love in obedience and pray that the feelings will follow. 0:12:54.740 --> 0:12:56.540 Because listen, not every day of the year you're going 0:12:56.580 --> 0:13:00.620 to wake up madly in love with your husband or wife, Oh, 0:13:00.620 --> 0:13:03.140 there'll be those moments. And hopefully if you cultivate it, 0:13:03.140 --> 0:13:08.740 they'll be a lot. Every day's not a honeymoon, right? 0:13:09.420 --> 0:13:11.340 You're not going to turn over every time. And you 0:13:11.500 --> 0:13:14.900 don't wake up with your wife's makeup. Perfectly well done 0:13:14.940 --> 0:13:17.820 or eyelashes all done, and her breasts smelling great all 0:13:17.820 --> 0:13:20.620 the time. And it's not always like, well, you're a 0:13:20.620 --> 0:13:24.820 lovely sight. That's that's it's not going to happen that 0:13:24.820 --> 0:13:27.900 way all the time. But you, you love because you 0:13:27.940 --> 0:13:31.300 commit to love. And that's exactly what the vows say, 0:13:31.340 --> 0:13:35.380 for better or for worse, for good. For for richer 0:13:35.380 --> 0:13:38.140 or for poorer. Some say I'm stuck in the poor pasture. 0:13:38.140 --> 0:13:40.260 I'm just waiting for the richer to come. But you 0:13:40.260 --> 0:13:45.220 know the commitment is made there. And it's a commitment 0:13:45.220 --> 0:13:48.900 to maturity. And what Paul is saying is that when 0:13:48.900 --> 0:13:53.740 we choose a higher standard of living, we are choosing 0:13:53.780 --> 0:13:58.140 to love people regardless of how we feel. And sometimes 0:13:58.179 --> 0:14:02.949 even when we don't feel. We still treat people according 0:14:02.990 --> 0:14:08.110 to love because we're called to a higher calling. Walk 0:14:08.150 --> 0:14:10.510 worthy of the calling that you have upon your life. 0:14:10.550 --> 0:14:13.470 You're called a child of the Most High God. You're 0:14:13.470 --> 0:14:16.910 called to follow Christ. You have the Holy Spirit inside 0:14:16.910 --> 0:14:20.230 of you now. So living that way, start acting that way. 0:14:20.470 --> 0:14:23.070 Start rising up to the call that you have inside 0:14:23.070 --> 0:14:30.550 of you. And then he closes up by saying. Verse three, 0:14:31.550 --> 0:14:33.830 he tells us that if we're living according to our call, 0:14:33.830 --> 0:14:37.790 that we're going to be bridge builders, peacemakers. Verse three says, 0:14:37.790 --> 0:14:40.510 make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit 0:14:40.510 --> 0:14:43.830 through the bond of peace. Now notice we don't we 0:14:43.830 --> 0:14:48.590 do not create peace, but we maintain peace. What gives 0:14:48.590 --> 0:14:52.630 peace to the body? Before there was Wi-Fi connection. There 0:14:52.630 --> 0:14:57.430 was before. Way before Wi-Fi was was invented. There was 0:14:57.430 --> 0:15:02.920 already wireless spiritual Connection in the body because I have 0:15:02.920 --> 0:15:05.160 the Holy Spirit. And if you have the Holy Spirit, 0:15:05.160 --> 0:15:09.080 we are connected to one another. We are united in Christ. 0:15:09.080 --> 0:15:11.120 We are one body. You say, well, I don't even 0:15:11.120 --> 0:15:13.760 like him. I sit on this side of the church 0:15:13.760 --> 0:15:15.840 because I don't want to be near that person way 0:15:15.840 --> 0:15:17.640 over there. Hey, I don't care if you like him 0:15:17.640 --> 0:15:23.400 or not. You're part of the body. So he says, 0:15:24.760 --> 0:15:30.760 he says make every effort. That means give extraordinary energy 0:15:31.480 --> 0:15:35.560 to do what? What? To keep the unity of the spirit. 0:15:35.560 --> 0:15:37.800 The unity of the spirit in the body through the 0:15:37.800 --> 0:15:40.040 bond of peace. Because, you know, do you realize there 0:15:40.040 --> 0:15:43.440 will always be forces trying to divide the body, pull 0:15:43.440 --> 0:15:46.840 you away, push you apart, feel you, make you feel 0:15:46.840 --> 0:15:49.840 like people don't care, I don't belong. That's not really 0:15:49.840 --> 0:15:52.720 where I should be. People don't care. People. People don't 0:15:52.720 --> 0:15:55.640 like me. Someone didn't call me up. I was sick 0:15:55.640 --> 0:15:58.360 and I only got one call. And it was asked 0:15:58.360 --> 0:16:04.200 me if I was serving in Sunday school. Do you 0:16:04.200 --> 0:16:06.280 realize that the strategy of the enemy is to try 0:16:06.280 --> 0:16:10.120 to conquer and divide? And if the enemy can make 0:16:10.120 --> 0:16:17.400 you feel like an outsider in the family, well, that's 0:16:17.400 --> 0:16:20.680 one of his greatest strategies. Well, I come, but I'm 0:16:20.680 --> 0:16:26.160 not really an insider. I don't, you know, I'm just 0:16:26.160 --> 0:16:29.760 kind of on the fringes. It's the old fringe lie. 0:16:32.000 --> 0:16:39.120 I could die tomorrow and people wouldn't notice. I'm in, 0:16:39.120 --> 0:16:43.360 but I'm not really in. You know how the enemy 0:16:43.360 --> 0:16:47.080 works overtime on that. Because the strategy of the enemy 0:16:47.080 --> 0:16:50.080 is to conquer the divide, to make you feel isolated, 0:16:50.080 --> 0:16:52.280 to turn you away from the very people that love 0:16:52.280 --> 0:16:55.120 you and the very family of God that can really 0:16:55.160 --> 0:17:02.600 help you grow. When I was, I lived in a 0:17:02.600 --> 0:17:06.080 small village in northern Spain, and my best friend was 0:17:06.080 --> 0:17:11.119 the son of a shepherd. And in Spanish they say bastard, 0:17:12.320 --> 0:17:15.840 but he wasn't a bastard of church. Bastard. He was 0:17:15.840 --> 0:17:20.480 a bastard of sheep. And it was his job, his 0:17:20.480 --> 0:17:24.200 dad's job to bring about four, 4 or 500 sheep 0:17:24.200 --> 0:17:26.800 into the town every day. They belong to different people. 0:17:26.800 --> 0:17:29.119 He would take them out. They would graze on the hills. 0:17:29.840 --> 0:17:32.239 The biggest challenge, though, when he brought the. When he 0:17:32.240 --> 0:17:34.600 brought the sheep into town, he had to cross a 0:17:34.600 --> 0:17:39.000 railroad track. And so he'd always ask his son to 0:17:39.000 --> 0:17:41.720 come down and help him. He'd have the sheep dogs. 0:17:41.720 --> 0:17:44.440 And I remember being there, and it was always sort 0:17:44.440 --> 0:17:47.680 of like this adrenaline rush to try to get 500 0:17:47.680 --> 0:17:51.960 sheep across the railroad track while we're looking to see 0:17:51.960 --> 0:17:54.680 if a train is coming and to try to get 0:17:54.680 --> 0:17:58.200 them across. And one day we were down there at 0:17:58.200 --> 0:18:01.170 dusk trying to get all these sheep across the railroad track, 0:18:01.369 --> 0:18:04.810 and there was one sheep that was limping along. It 0:18:04.810 --> 0:18:08.090 was an injured sheep. And it was it was way 0:18:08.090 --> 0:18:10.689 in the back of the pack. And so we started 0:18:10.690 --> 0:18:13.210 getting the sheep going across the track, and we saw 0:18:13.210 --> 0:18:18.330 a train coming at a distance. Um, the train saw us. 0:18:18.369 --> 0:18:21.250 And so, man, we were panicking, trying to get the 0:18:21.250 --> 0:18:26.250 sheep going across, pushing them and, and, and we made 0:18:26.250 --> 0:18:30.410 it just in time. The last, almost the last sheep 0:18:30.410 --> 0:18:33.530 crossed over and then the train started going by and 0:18:33.530 --> 0:18:38.130 my friend was holding on to the one sheep left 0:18:38.130 --> 0:18:40.290 on the other side that was injured, and he was 0:18:40.290 --> 0:18:43.570 just holding her. And I thought, great, wow, we made it. 0:18:45.810 --> 0:18:49.409 It was because the sheep was injured that it couldn't 0:18:49.410 --> 0:18:55.090 keep up with the rest of the flock. This sheep 0:18:55.090 --> 0:18:58.489 so wanted to be a part of the rest of 0:18:58.490 --> 0:19:02.619 the flock. that the train was going. And halfway through 0:19:02.619 --> 0:19:08.700 the train going. This sheep stuck its head right into 0:19:08.700 --> 0:19:17.100 the train. First suicide I'd ever seen. I don't even 0:19:17.100 --> 0:19:19.060 know how to describe the bloody mess that it was, 0:19:19.060 --> 0:19:22.900 but it was messy. And I thought to myself, how dumb. 0:19:25.180 --> 0:19:26.860 Didn't you see a train was going on? Why would 0:19:26.859 --> 0:19:30.020 you stick your head in there? But here's the thing. 0:19:31.300 --> 0:19:35.820 I later thought to myself. How much we are like 0:19:35.820 --> 0:19:45.420 that sheep when we're injured. Emotionally have something against someone. 0:19:46.180 --> 0:19:48.660 It kind of puts us to the side and it 0:19:48.660 --> 0:19:51.940 keeps us away from. And although we want to belong, 0:19:52.420 --> 0:19:57.260 we're away. And when we're away, we're not always as 0:19:57.260 --> 0:20:02.540 protected from the dangers that are there. And I want 0:20:02.540 --> 0:20:04.739 you to understand that one of the greatest strategies of 0:20:04.740 --> 0:20:08.780 the enemy to take you down is to try to 0:20:08.820 --> 0:20:11.420 pull you away from the people of God and the 0:20:11.420 --> 0:20:13.859 things of God and the body of Christ, and make 0:20:13.859 --> 0:20:18.659 you feel lonely and isolated and dejected and not a 0:20:18.660 --> 0:20:20.980 part of what God is doing, and make you feel 0:20:20.980 --> 0:20:23.740 like I don't really belong. That's not really who I am. 0:20:23.780 --> 0:20:27.460 Someone hurt me. Someone offended me. I don't really I'm 0:20:27.500 --> 0:20:29.740 not really there. I don't have a place where I 0:20:29.780 --> 0:20:32.460 sit regularly. Or I went last Sunday and the place 0:20:32.460 --> 0:20:37.060 I always sit. Someone sat in whatever line he may 0:20:37.060 --> 0:20:41.139 use against you. But that's where Paul's. Paul says, hey, 0:20:41.340 --> 0:20:44.180 live worthy of the calling that you've had. And listen, 0:20:45.260 --> 0:20:50.740 according to this call, recognize to keep the unity of 0:20:50.740 --> 0:20:54.500 the peace of the spirit. Verse four. Because there's one body, 0:20:54.500 --> 0:20:58.620 one spirit, one hope that you are called to because 0:20:58.619 --> 0:21:02.980 there's one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and 0:21:02.980 --> 0:21:05.619 Father of us all, who is over all and in all, 0:21:05.619 --> 0:21:09.659 and through all in all. He says, listen, there's only 0:21:09.660 --> 0:21:12.700 one God, not a lot of gods. We are all 0:21:12.700 --> 0:21:16.740 part of one God and one faith, and one baptism 0:21:16.740 --> 0:21:21.580 and one spirit that moves in us all. And so 0:21:22.060 --> 0:21:27.420 what he's calling us to do is build bridges of unity. 0:21:28.500 --> 0:21:30.899 There is no other God you can go to because 0:21:30.900 --> 0:21:36.580 there's only one God. We're all part of one body throughout. 0:21:36.580 --> 0:21:39.140 When God looks at the city of Chicago, he doesn't 0:21:39.140 --> 0:21:44.100 see a bunch of churches. He sees one body. So 0:21:44.100 --> 0:21:47.580 the body of Christ moving in Chicago, that's what he sees. 0:21:48.619 --> 0:21:54.700 And so he says, work at building the bridges of unity. 0:21:55.140 --> 0:21:57.700 Because when you're called living according to the call, you 0:21:57.700 --> 0:22:03.150 have the character and you'll be a peacemaker, a bridge builder. Amen. 0:22:09.510 --> 0:22:12.389 Mark, we all needed to hear this passage from Ephesians 0:22:12.390 --> 0:22:14.910 four today, because it is a difficult passage to live 0:22:14.950 --> 0:22:15.869 out all the time. 0:22:15.869 --> 0:22:17.030 It really is. 0:22:17.070 --> 0:22:21.270 And I love that this passage starts with this phrase 0:22:21.470 --> 0:22:25.830 walk worthy of your calling. And that means humility. Bridge 0:22:25.869 --> 0:22:29.030 building unity, which is difficult in a time like this. 0:22:29.070 --> 0:22:31.949 Thank you Mark. That's the title of today's message, Walking Worthy, 0:22:31.950 --> 0:22:34.149 which you can always revisit or share by going to 0:22:34.150 --> 0:22:37.950 our website at Bold Steps. On that website, I also 0:22:37.990 --> 0:22:40.270 want to direct you to a very special resource we 0:22:40.310 --> 0:22:43.230 now have available. It's this month's edition of our Bold 0:22:43.230 --> 0:22:45.430 Step Gift, and I really feel that all of us 0:22:45.430 --> 0:22:48.629 could benefit from what's inside this special book. Have you 0:22:48.630 --> 0:22:52.750 ever looked at someone else's success or possessions or relationships 0:22:52.750 --> 0:22:56.990 and felt that subtle sting of resentment that's envy. And 0:22:56.990 --> 0:23:01.070 in his groundbreaking book titled envy, Pastor Mike Fabares reveals 0:23:01.070 --> 0:23:04.710 how this hidden sin damages our hearts, our relationships, and 0:23:04.710 --> 0:23:08.270 our spiritual lives. It's interesting how we readily confess sins 0:23:08.270 --> 0:23:11.270 like anger or pride. But when was the last time 0:23:11.270 --> 0:23:14.670 you repented of envy? This bold step gift will help 0:23:14.670 --> 0:23:17.470 you recognize and root out one of the most dangerous, 0:23:17.470 --> 0:23:20.909 yet least acknowledged sins in your life. So reach out 0:23:20.910 --> 0:23:23.830 today and request your copy of Pastor Mike's book envy. 0:23:24.109 --> 0:23:25.790 And we'll be happy to send you a copy with 0:23:25.790 --> 0:23:29.390 your gift of any amount to support this ministry. Call 0:23:29.390 --> 0:23:35.870 us today at 800. D.L. Moody. That's (800) 356-6639 or give 0:23:35.910 --> 0:23:40.750 online at Bold Steps. Org or send your financial gift 0:23:40.750 --> 0:23:44.230 in the mail when you write to us at 820 0:23:44.270 --> 0:23:49.310 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. And also today, 0:23:49.310 --> 0:23:51.550 we'd like to invite you to deepen your impact by 0:23:51.550 --> 0:23:55.550 joining our Bold Partners community with a monthly commitment. Remember, 0:23:55.550 --> 0:23:58.030 we're not focused on the amount. What truly matters is 0:23:58.030 --> 0:24:01.320 your faithful monthly support that enables these biblical teachings to 0:24:01.359 --> 0:24:05.200 reach countless lives through radio and online platforms, even our 0:24:05.200 --> 0:24:08.080 social media accounts. And Mark, that's so important to us. 0:24:08.119 --> 0:24:12.480 Absolutely. And I want to emphasize it's not about necessarily 0:24:12.480 --> 0:24:15.600 a large gift, although if God has given you that capacity, 0:24:16.119 --> 0:24:20.440 then it's always a blessing to us. But really it's 0:24:20.440 --> 0:24:24.280 about the monthly giving, the steady giving. So many of 0:24:24.280 --> 0:24:28.280 you are single gift givers, or you've jumped on and 0:24:28.280 --> 0:24:32.200 become monthly givers, which is really, really helpful. I'm just 0:24:32.200 --> 0:24:34.439 so grateful. As I look at the list of people 0:24:34.440 --> 0:24:37.520 that give. I'm looking at a dashboard right now of 0:24:37.520 --> 0:24:46.399 people that have given from around the country Tanya, Robert, Loretta, John, Nikki, Maggie, Eric, Amy, Patricia. 0:24:46.720 --> 0:24:48.240 Mary, friends all over. 0:24:48.280 --> 0:24:49.959 And I could go on and on and on and 0:24:50.000 --> 0:24:52.760 on and listen. And really, from the East coast to 0:24:52.800 --> 0:24:57.159 the west coast to south to north, people of all ages, 0:24:57.160 --> 0:25:01.120 different backgrounds, new believers, those that have been seasoned believers 0:25:01.119 --> 0:25:02.679 for a long time. And so I just want to 0:25:02.680 --> 0:25:06.120 say thank you for your support. And we are at 0:25:06.119 --> 0:25:08.720 the beginning of our fiscal year, so we want to 0:25:08.760 --> 0:25:11.280 kick off this year to a great start in the 0:25:11.280 --> 0:25:14.680 middle of July. Thank you for your generosity. 0:25:14.720 --> 0:25:16.680 Well, why not put your name on the list that 0:25:16.680 --> 0:25:18.480 mark just read? We'd love to see your name there 0:25:18.480 --> 0:25:21.280 when you become a bold partner. Sign up online at. 0:25:23.680 --> 0:25:27.280 Or call us and talk with us. 800. That's the 0:25:27.280 --> 0:25:31.520 phone number 800. And thanks for joining us today. I'm 0:25:31.520 --> 0:25:34.040 Wayne Shepherd inviting you to come back again tomorrow. Mark 0:25:34.040 --> 0:25:36.440 will explain how God equips us for the work he's 0:25:36.440 --> 0:25:40.639 commissioned us to do. The message is called unleashing people Power. 0:25:40.920 --> 0:25:43.640 So don't miss it. Be listening Tuesday to Bold Steps 0:25:43.640 --> 0:25:47.959 with Mark June. Bold steps is a production of Moody Radio, 0:25:48.119 --> 0:25:50.240 a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.