WEBVTT - How Close Are We? – Part 3 0:00:00.760 --> 0:00:03.800 Today on Bold Steps, Mark Jobe shows us how to 0:00:03.840 --> 0:00:07.160 stand strong in the face of persecution and adversity. 0:00:08.360 --> 0:00:12.800 Practice the habits of standing firm, of standing alone. Get 0:00:12.800 --> 0:00:15.000 grounded in your faith. Know who your God is. Know 0:00:15.000 --> 0:00:18.280 what you believe. And no matter what the culture around 0:00:18.280 --> 0:00:21.600 you says. Understand that you have a compass that's different 0:00:21.600 --> 0:00:23.360 than the culture that surrounds you. 0:00:35.880 --> 0:00:39.199 Welcome to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. Mark is the 0:00:39.200 --> 0:00:42.120 senior pastor of New Life Community Church in Chicago and 0:00:42.120 --> 0:00:45.639 president of Moody Bible Institute. I'm Wayne Shepherd. Well, over 0:00:45.640 --> 0:00:48.640 the past couple of programs, we've been discussing the end times. 0:00:48.640 --> 0:00:50.880 And Mark, you often say, as believers, we should be 0:00:50.880 --> 0:00:54.320 following a different compass and going in the opposite direction 0:00:54.320 --> 0:00:55.760 of the culture around us. 0:00:56.240 --> 0:00:59.480 Yeah, Wayne, you read this passage and it stirs you 0:00:59.480 --> 0:01:04.240 up because you As you understand, times will get more difficult. 0:01:04.240 --> 0:01:08.399 And you know, we don't want you to be surprised 0:01:08.400 --> 0:01:11.759 as a believer that things will get more difficult. However, 0:01:11.760 --> 0:01:15.680 people often ask me, What is God waiting for? And 0:01:15.680 --> 0:01:18.520 we answer that question because it really is found in 0:01:18.520 --> 0:01:22.360 the patience of God. In fact, Wayne, some people may 0:01:22.400 --> 0:01:25.520 be surprised to know that I've heard that there have 0:01:25.520 --> 0:01:28.520 been more people that have come to Jesus in the 0:01:28.520 --> 0:01:32.759 last decade than in the three centuries prior to that. 0:01:32.800 --> 0:01:33.760 Isn't that encouraging? 0:01:33.840 --> 0:01:37.240 So the patience of God is there because there's a 0:01:37.240 --> 0:01:39.000 harvest happening right now. 0:01:39.040 --> 0:01:41.680 Well, let's get into today's message again. It's part three 0:01:41.680 --> 0:01:45.479 of the message titled How Close are we? Here's Mark Jobe. 0:01:47.040 --> 0:01:52.600 We live in a accelerating time of violence against Christians. 0:01:53.360 --> 0:01:57.600 Groups like ISIS, for example, have forcibly displaced hundreds of 0:01:57.600 --> 0:02:05.210 thousands of people, conducted mass executions and kidnapped, sold, enslaved, 0:02:05.210 --> 0:02:09.370 raped and forcibly converted thousands of women and children, all 0:02:09.410 --> 0:02:13.290 on the ground that these people stand in opposition to 0:02:13.330 --> 0:02:17.690 their religious dogma. We are living in a season of 0:02:17.730 --> 0:02:25.130 unprecedented persecution against Christian at a massive scale. The news 0:02:25.130 --> 0:02:29.090 does not report it often because they treat violence in 0:02:29.090 --> 0:02:31.610 the Middle East and in other countries, much like they 0:02:31.610 --> 0:02:37.089 treat murderers in some of the neighborhoods in Chicago. Oh, 0:02:37.130 --> 0:02:41.770 just another gang banger that got killed. It's a blip 0:02:41.770 --> 0:02:44.450 on the news because they just assume, well, there's a 0:02:44.450 --> 0:02:47.530 lot of violence in that area. But hey, since when 0:02:47.530 --> 0:02:49.970 did it become just another gang banger? That's a son 0:02:49.970 --> 0:02:53.090 or daughter that we love and raise and believe. It's 0:02:53.090 --> 0:02:59.970 a kid with a name. The Middle East and some 0:02:59.970 --> 0:03:02.450 of these countries in Africa and other places seem so 0:03:02.490 --> 0:03:06.010 far away that they seem so to not touch your 0:03:06.010 --> 0:03:09.049 existence and my existence. But I want to tell you something. 0:03:09.530 --> 0:03:12.810 Those men and women, those girls that have been raped, 0:03:12.810 --> 0:03:16.690 forcibly converted, those pastors that are being executed, put in jail, 0:03:16.690 --> 0:03:22.329 they are not just a victim of a undeveloped country. 0:03:22.530 --> 0:03:32.290 They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. I was 0:03:32.290 --> 0:03:36.890 in Nairobi, Africa this past summer, and Nairobi, which is 0:03:36.890 --> 0:03:41.330 a fairly peaceable country in Africa at the edges of 0:03:41.330 --> 0:03:45.850 Kenya that borders with Somalia up in that area. There 0:03:45.850 --> 0:03:54.250 were 150 college students that were executed, targeted as Christians. Ask, 0:03:54.250 --> 0:03:59.650 are you a Christian? Yes. Boom, 150 of them. And 0:03:59.650 --> 0:04:02.740 then in the city of Nairobi, there was a mall 0:04:02.740 --> 0:04:06.660 that was attacked by an extremist group targeting people that 0:04:06.660 --> 0:04:11.060 especially were non-Muslim people targeted and killed. When I went 0:04:11.060 --> 0:04:13.980 to preach in this large church in Nairobi, it was 0:04:13.980 --> 0:04:17.100 I was shocked when I went to the compound of 0:04:17.100 --> 0:04:20.099 this church because the entire church was surrounded by ten 0:04:20.100 --> 0:04:25.340 feet wall with electrical fence on the top. And I thought, wow, 0:04:25.380 --> 0:04:28.340 that's pretty extreme. When I went to the gate, I 0:04:28.339 --> 0:04:31.540 was met with armed guards with rifles. This was to 0:04:31.540 --> 0:04:36.340 enter the church compound. They searched the trunk, looked in 0:04:36.339 --> 0:04:39.020 the car to get in the church, and I thought, wow, 0:04:39.020 --> 0:04:40.780 that's pretty extreme. And they said, well, there's been a 0:04:40.779 --> 0:04:44.460 lot of bombings, a lot of killings, a lot of 0:04:44.460 --> 0:04:51.620 targeting of Christians. I went to get a coffee in 0:04:51.620 --> 0:04:55.380 the morning to the equivalent of a Starbucks. Thought it'd 0:04:55.420 --> 0:04:58.380 be a simple process, but there was a lot of 0:04:58.380 --> 0:05:01.820 Western Westerners that go there. And when I went in 0:05:01.820 --> 0:05:03.700 to go to the parking lot, there was a there 0:05:03.700 --> 0:05:07.460 was a railing to get in there. They stopped our car. 0:05:07.940 --> 0:05:11.859 Armed guards looked within our car, popped the trunk, had 0:05:11.860 --> 0:05:14.620 a mirror where they looked under our vehicle to make 0:05:14.660 --> 0:05:18.060 sure there was no bombs. This is to get my latte. 0:05:18.620 --> 0:05:22.260 I drove into the parking lot. Once I got in there, 0:05:22.260 --> 0:05:24.820 I thought it was all done with. To get into 0:05:24.820 --> 0:05:27.900 the cafe, I had to stop, put my arms up, 0:05:27.900 --> 0:05:30.140 and there was a metal detector that they searched me 0:05:30.140 --> 0:05:32.660 to make sure there was no weapons on me before 0:05:32.660 --> 0:05:35.060 I could go in, just to get a cup of coffee. 0:05:36.580 --> 0:05:48.380 The violence targeted Christians. We live in a shielded society, 0:05:48.740 --> 0:05:50.900 in a society that by and large, we are not 0:05:50.900 --> 0:05:53.980 seen what's happening in other parts of the world. But 0:05:53.980 --> 0:05:59.580 Jesus predicted that in the end times, the aggressive violence 0:05:59.580 --> 0:06:03.589 against Christians would begin to escalate. In fact, he predicted 0:06:03.589 --> 0:06:07.909 that many would be persecuted. And not only did he 0:06:07.950 --> 0:06:10.710 say that many would be persecuted, but he said that 0:06:10.710 --> 0:06:15.510 many would be hated by all nations, and that many 0:06:15.510 --> 0:06:18.350 will turn away from the faith and will betray and 0:06:18.350 --> 0:06:20.349 hate one another. Because let me tell you what happens 0:06:20.350 --> 0:06:23.350 when persecution starts up, when you have to pay a 0:06:23.350 --> 0:06:27.750 high price. Those that are truly authentic believers step up 0:06:27.750 --> 0:06:31.030 to the plate and say, I will not deny my Savior. 0:06:31.270 --> 0:06:34.390 Those that are just culturally Christians run away as quickly 0:06:34.390 --> 0:06:36.750 as they can because they don't want to pay a price. 0:06:37.190 --> 0:06:43.349 It purges the church. I don't know what would happen 0:06:43.350 --> 0:06:46.270 on Sunday morning, or how full this place would be 0:06:46.830 --> 0:06:48.350 if we knew that we had to look over our 0:06:48.350 --> 0:06:51.750 shoulders to see if a secret or the Secret Service 0:06:51.750 --> 0:06:56.030 was following us. Or if that to come to a 0:06:56.029 --> 0:06:57.950 place like this, our name may go on a list, 0:06:57.950 --> 0:07:00.950 and we may be targeted by some government agency or 0:07:00.950 --> 0:07:04.750 some radical group that would be seeking to fire us 0:07:04.750 --> 0:07:10.110 from our job or make us pay a price. Not 0:07:10.110 --> 0:07:14.710 not sure who would remain in this congregation. Well, I 0:07:14.710 --> 0:07:18.710 know there'd be some. I know there'd be some that 0:07:18.710 --> 0:07:22.750 would stay away. And I know there'd be some that 0:07:22.750 --> 0:07:25.350 says no matter what the cost, no matter what the price, 0:07:25.350 --> 0:07:36.590 I have chosen to follow Jesus. Come what may, Jesus predicted. 0:07:36.590 --> 0:07:39.110 In other words, this is not to scare you. It's 0:07:39.110 --> 0:07:42.590 to prepare you. Jesus predicted that there would be persecution. 0:07:42.590 --> 0:07:45.870 Jesus predicted that there would be falling away, that many 0:07:45.870 --> 0:07:48.630 would be deceived, that the church is no longer going 0:07:48.630 --> 0:07:52.830 to be popular, or have a main place in society, 0:07:52.830 --> 0:07:55.470 that we are going to experience an aggressiveness against the 0:07:55.470 --> 0:07:59.190 church more and more as we approach the end times. 0:07:59.270 --> 0:08:02.160 And so Jesus did not say that to scare us. 0:08:02.160 --> 0:08:05.040 He simply said it to prepare us. He said, I 0:08:05.040 --> 0:08:08.840 want you to stand firm because I know the destination. 0:08:08.840 --> 0:08:11.680 But the route to there may be tough at times. 0:08:12.280 --> 0:08:14.120 And then the last thing that Jesus says when it 0:08:14.120 --> 0:08:17.360 comes to the end times. Aren't you glad? It's only 0:08:17.360 --> 0:08:20.400 for the last thing that Jesus says is that there 0:08:20.400 --> 0:08:24.480 will be an increase in spiritual coldness. Notice what he 0:08:24.480 --> 0:08:29.320 says in verse 12 because of the increase of wickedness, 0:08:29.600 --> 0:08:38.240 the love of most will grow cold, the love of most. 0:08:38.400 --> 0:08:41.120 What kind of love is he talking about? He's talking 0:08:41.120 --> 0:08:48.160 about the normal human warmth of heart. What Jesus says 0:08:48.160 --> 0:08:50.720 is that we, as we gather closer to the end times, 0:08:50.720 --> 0:08:57.199 there'll be a coldness about society, a lack of consciousness, 0:08:57.440 --> 0:09:02.520 a violence and a cold heartedness that has not existed 0:09:02.720 --> 0:09:08.120 until this time. In fact, in another passage in Second 0:09:08.120 --> 0:09:11.600 Timothy chapter three, verse seven, it says, Mark this, it's 0:09:11.600 --> 0:09:13.760 talking about the end times. There will be terrible times 0:09:13.760 --> 0:09:16.400 in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, 0:09:16.400 --> 0:09:21.679 lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 0:09:21.679 --> 0:09:29.319 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, 0:09:29.320 --> 0:09:32.559 lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. Having a 0:09:32.559 --> 0:09:35.720 form of godliness but denying its power. 0:09:42.040 --> 0:09:44.400 We'll continue our message in just a moment here on 0:09:44.400 --> 0:09:47.240 Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. But first, Mark, if you'll 0:09:47.240 --> 0:09:49.000 permit me, I want to share something that's been weighing 0:09:49.000 --> 0:09:51.960 on my heart lately. I've been thinking about how throughout history, 0:09:52.000 --> 0:09:55.079 God has always raised up people who prioritized his mission, 0:09:55.080 --> 0:09:58.480 even during some very turbulent times. Whether it was the 0:09:58.480 --> 0:10:02.130 early church during persecution or believers during world wars, or 0:10:02.130 --> 0:10:05.449 missionaries and hostile territories. There have always been those who 0:10:05.450 --> 0:10:09.170 kept their focus on advancing the gospel despite everything happening 0:10:09.170 --> 0:10:11.770 around them. And we've got a lot happening around us 0:10:11.770 --> 0:10:12.410 right now. 0:10:12.929 --> 0:10:16.050 And Wayne, oftentimes it's in the midst of a lot 0:10:16.090 --> 0:10:20.689 of turbulence and turmoil that people start looking to the 0:10:20.690 --> 0:10:24.770 heavens in special ways. And I believe, like we live 0:10:24.770 --> 0:10:27.010 in a moment like that. And I just want to 0:10:27.010 --> 0:10:29.650 say that as a pastor, I've been a pastor for 0:10:29.650 --> 0:10:33.650 over 30 some years in the city of Chicago. I 0:10:33.690 --> 0:10:37.130 have never seen the openness that I've seen now. 0:10:37.330 --> 0:10:38.010 That's incredible. 0:10:38.050 --> 0:10:42.570 I'm having these conversations, especially with young people we've seen 0:10:42.570 --> 0:10:45.530 at our church. Over a thousand people come to Christ 0:10:45.530 --> 0:10:48.970 and get baptized in the last 24 months, mainly under 0:10:48.970 --> 0:10:54.809 the age of 35. Many that had no religious background 0:10:54.809 --> 0:10:58.209 and are just hungry for God. And I think the 0:10:58.210 --> 0:11:01.089 turbulence of the world has caused them to say, I 0:11:01.130 --> 0:11:05.890 need something. And many of us as believers, we're getting 0:11:05.929 --> 0:11:10.209 too distracted by what's happening and not focused enough on 0:11:10.210 --> 0:11:13.210 the gospel. And so I want to bring your attention 0:11:13.210 --> 0:11:15.890 back to the opportunities that you have around you. That's 0:11:15.890 --> 0:11:19.290 what Bold Steps is all about. Regardless of what's happening 0:11:19.290 --> 0:11:21.929 in our world, we believe that the greatest news that 0:11:21.929 --> 0:11:24.929 needs to be proclaimed is the good news that Jesus 0:11:24.929 --> 0:11:28.610 Christ is here. He's the Savior, and we do not 0:11:28.610 --> 0:11:31.730 want to miss this window of opportunity of so many 0:11:31.730 --> 0:11:38.050 people being open. So join us as we continue to boldly, passionately, powerfully, 0:11:38.050 --> 0:11:41.850 24 hours a day through moody radio, proclaim the good 0:11:41.850 --> 0:11:42.929 news of Jesus. 0:11:42.929 --> 0:11:45.890 And at Moody, we're sending workers into that harvest, aren't we? 0:11:45.929 --> 0:11:49.089 We are. And so excited about that as well. Uh, 0:11:49.090 --> 0:11:53.370 we're sending people focused on the gospel. Bold steps, as 0:11:53.370 --> 0:11:57.850 you know, is making sure that we include a call 0:11:57.850 --> 0:12:01.300 to the gospel on a regular basis. and so excited 0:12:01.300 --> 0:12:03.020 to see people coming to Jesus. 0:12:03.020 --> 0:12:05.819 Well, you who are listening can invest your resources in 0:12:05.820 --> 0:12:09.020 sharing God's life changing truth. To make a gift, simply 0:12:09.020 --> 0:12:12.340 go online to Bold steps. Org or our phone number 0:12:12.340 --> 0:12:20.900 is 800. That's (800) 356-6639 and your partnership makes an eternal difference. 0:12:20.940 --> 0:12:23.500 We'll send you, by request, a special bold step gift 0:12:23.500 --> 0:12:26.340 as a token of our appreciation. We'll talk more about 0:12:26.340 --> 0:12:29.780 that gift later in today's message, but consider partnering with 0:12:29.780 --> 0:12:32.500 bold steps. All right, back to the message. Now on 0:12:32.500 --> 0:12:35.620 the End Times, it's titled how close are we? 0:12:40.780 --> 0:12:44.660 I don't know about you, but it feels like the 0:12:44.660 --> 0:12:50.340 stories I hear of just in Chicago, parents treating of 0:12:50.340 --> 0:12:56.260 children seems to be every other news item. There seems 0:12:56.260 --> 0:13:01.420 to be a coldness and a violence Perpetrated against children. 0:13:01.580 --> 0:13:07.220 That shocks you. That seems like it's done by psychopaths. Like, 0:13:07.460 --> 0:13:12.620 where has this gone? Why has this become epidemic? The violence, 0:13:13.300 --> 0:13:21.140 the heartlessness, the coldness. It seems like it's escalating. It 0:13:21.140 --> 0:13:25.459 seems like it's getting worse. It seems like moral consciousness 0:13:25.500 --> 0:13:30.260 is fading. And the coldness and the violence and the 0:13:30.740 --> 0:13:36.540 behavior that marks a decent civilization seems to be waning away. 0:13:36.740 --> 0:13:44.340 And the brutality of a uncivilized generation. Civilization seems to 0:13:44.340 --> 0:13:51.340 be emerging within us. Jesus predicted that that restraint that 0:13:51.340 --> 0:13:55.500 has existed on society, that consciousness that has held us, 0:13:55.780 --> 0:13:58.700 that it will be lessening its grip and that we 0:13:58.700 --> 0:14:02.470 will be seeing a coldness that begins to escalate more 0:14:02.790 --> 0:14:09.230 and more in our society. But thank God that there's 0:14:09.230 --> 0:14:12.829 good news. Some of you saying, pastor, I thought you'd 0:14:12.830 --> 0:14:17.790 never get there. Like, whoa! So let me tell you 0:14:17.790 --> 0:14:21.310 the good news. So the bad news is not to 0:14:21.350 --> 0:14:23.790 scare us. The bad news is just to prepare us. 0:14:24.750 --> 0:14:29.630 It's like when. When you're about to have a baby, you. 0:14:29.910 --> 0:14:31.990 The doctor tells you you're going to have birth pains. 0:14:31.990 --> 0:14:33.710 It's not to tell you not to have a baby. 0:14:33.710 --> 0:14:36.030 It's just to prepare you. It's going to get bad 0:14:36.350 --> 0:14:40.430 before it gets good. How many of you didn't believe 0:14:40.430 --> 0:14:43.230 how bad it was going to get? And then once 0:14:43.230 --> 0:14:45.150 you went through it like this was worse than what 0:14:45.150 --> 0:14:48.390 they told me. I think Jesus is doing that a 0:14:48.390 --> 0:14:50.510 little bit. He's telling us, but unless you live through it, 0:14:50.510 --> 0:14:54.990 you can't really fully understand it. But nothing takes away 0:14:54.990 --> 0:14:58.270 from the joy of that baby coming, and nothing will 0:14:58.270 --> 0:15:01.720 take away from the great powerful day of the coming 0:15:01.760 --> 0:15:05.440 of Jesus. Again, nothing takes away from that. It's coming. 0:15:06.320 --> 0:15:10.960 It's accelerating. And so the good news is this in 0:15:10.960 --> 0:15:13.520 verse 13 it says, but the one who stands firm 0:15:13.520 --> 0:15:16.680 unto the end, they will be saved. In other words, 0:15:17.080 --> 0:15:19.560 there's going to be many fall away. There's going to 0:15:19.560 --> 0:15:22.400 be a backlash of persecution. It's going to be hard. 0:15:22.400 --> 0:15:24.480 But I want to tell you something. There's going to 0:15:24.480 --> 0:15:27.880 be a remnant of people that do not back away 0:15:27.880 --> 0:15:30.520 from their commitment to follow Christ, that they're going to 0:15:30.560 --> 0:15:36.520 stand firm no matter what comes, and they will be saved. Yeah, 0:15:36.520 --> 0:15:42.800 those that endure to the end will be saved. Now, 0:15:42.800 --> 0:15:45.600 I want to say, without heavy persecution, it's hard enough, 0:15:45.600 --> 0:15:49.880 isn't it? Yeah. It's like, man, I'm not even experiencing persecution, 0:15:49.880 --> 0:15:53.160 but just the culture and the temptation and the pressure 0:15:53.160 --> 0:15:58.200 from people. It's hard to stand firm. Start practicing standing 0:15:58.240 --> 0:16:02.560 firm now because it's going to get harder. Get grounded 0:16:02.560 --> 0:16:07.800 now because it's going to escalate. Practice the habits of 0:16:07.800 --> 0:16:13.000 standing firm, of standing alone, of accepting the fact that 0:16:13.000 --> 0:16:14.800 you're not always going to be in the in crowd, 0:16:14.800 --> 0:16:17.560 that some will ridicule you, that you will be the 0:16:17.560 --> 0:16:21.920 odd man out sometime. Get used to it. Get okay 0:16:21.920 --> 0:16:25.240 with your own skin. Being a follower of Jesus, that's 0:16:25.240 --> 0:16:28.240 not always on the in crowd. You need to start 0:16:28.240 --> 0:16:32.600 being comfortable with that because that will only escalate. Stand firm. 0:16:32.600 --> 0:16:34.880 Get grounded in your faith. Know who your God is, 0:16:34.880 --> 0:16:37.880 know what you believe, and no matter what the culture 0:16:37.880 --> 0:16:41.200 around you says, understand that you have a compass that's 0:16:41.200 --> 0:16:47.480 different than the culture that surrounds you. Hebrews chapter three 0:16:47.480 --> 0:16:50.760 verse 14 says, for we have become partakers of Christ. 0:16:50.760 --> 0:16:55.920 If we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm 0:16:56.160 --> 0:17:01.240 until the end. And lastly, the last part of good 0:17:01.240 --> 0:17:04.400 news and I love this. Oh man, I love this. 0:17:08.200 --> 0:17:11.720 Is that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached 0:17:11.920 --> 0:17:19.240 to the whole world. Listen to what it says. Verse 0:17:19.240 --> 0:17:22.640 14 Jesus says about the end times and the gospel. 0:17:22.640 --> 0:17:27.320 What is the gospel? Good news, the good news that says, 0:17:27.480 --> 0:17:30.120 if you call upon the name of the Lord and 0:17:30.119 --> 0:17:34.240 embrace the message of the cross and repent and invite 0:17:34.240 --> 0:17:36.720 him to be your Savior and Lord, then the power 0:17:36.720 --> 0:17:38.720 of the Holy Spirit will indwell you, and you will 0:17:38.720 --> 0:17:42.520 be transformed from the inside out by his power. Your 0:17:42.520 --> 0:17:47.040 past washed away and your future redeemed for him. That 0:17:47.040 --> 0:17:50.840 message of the gospel that has power in its simplicity 0:17:51.000 --> 0:17:55.800 to change the hardest of hearts, that gospel, the gospel 0:17:55.800 --> 0:17:58.320 of the Kingdom of God. That Jesus is coming again, 0:17:58.359 --> 0:18:03.369 that gospel will be preached to the whole world as 0:18:03.369 --> 0:18:07.690 a testimony to the nations, and then the end will come. 0:18:09.930 --> 0:18:12.210 The Bible says that every tribe, tongue, and nation will 0:18:12.210 --> 0:18:17.570 hear the gospel. That as this time gets worse, the 0:18:17.570 --> 0:18:23.530 acceleration of the gospel will become stronger. In fact, I 0:18:23.530 --> 0:18:25.810 love the fact that in revelation at the end, the 0:18:25.810 --> 0:18:30.210 last book of the Bible tells us that John, the revealer, 0:18:30.210 --> 0:18:33.690 he saw and he looked, and there before him was 0:18:33.690 --> 0:18:38.330 a great multitude that no one could count from every nation, tribe, 0:18:38.490 --> 0:18:43.770 and people and language, standing before the throne and before 0:18:43.770 --> 0:18:47.130 the lamb. And they were wearing white robes and were 0:18:47.130 --> 0:18:51.090 holding palm branches. This is this means that when you 0:18:51.130 --> 0:18:53.649 see the end times, the people that have come to Christ, 0:18:53.650 --> 0:18:57.090 there will be people that are from the jungles of 0:18:57.090 --> 0:19:02.020 Africa and from the cities of Asia and from the 0:19:02.020 --> 0:19:06.179 tribal groups in, in, in Brazil. And there will be 0:19:06.180 --> 0:19:08.900 people that you have never heard of and can't pronounce 0:19:08.900 --> 0:19:13.420 their name. People from every tribe, tongue and language will 0:19:13.420 --> 0:19:16.220 be a part of the redeemed of the Lord. This 0:19:16.220 --> 0:19:20.460 great multitude of people that have said, Jesus is my Lord, 0:19:20.460 --> 0:19:23.100 that have been washed and cleansed by the power of 0:19:23.100 --> 0:19:30.020 the blood of the lamb. Now let me close with this. 0:19:30.180 --> 0:19:34.859 I have people all the time that say, pastor, why 0:19:35.420 --> 0:19:42.500 is God waiting? What's taking him so long? Why hasn't 0:19:42.500 --> 0:19:45.780 he come earlier? Look at the violence of the world, 0:19:45.780 --> 0:19:49.340 the bigotry and how dark this world is coming. Why 0:19:49.340 --> 0:19:51.899 doesn't God do something? Why is he letting it go? 0:19:51.900 --> 0:19:54.979 On and on and on and on. How many of 0:19:54.980 --> 0:20:01.780 you have thought that? Sometimes I know exactly why the 0:20:01.780 --> 0:20:03.980 Bible says that God is not slow, as some people 0:20:03.980 --> 0:20:12.780 would call slowness, but he is patient. Not willing that 0:20:12.780 --> 0:20:16.820 any should perish, but that all should come to the 0:20:16.859 --> 0:20:20.740 knowledge of the truth. The reason that God has not 0:20:20.740 --> 0:20:24.420 come yet. The end has not come yet, is that 0:20:24.420 --> 0:20:28.540 there are practically 7 billion people on the face of 0:20:28.540 --> 0:20:34.900 this earth, and this incredible heart of God is saying, 0:20:34.900 --> 0:20:38.340 I want as many of those 7 billion people to 0:20:38.380 --> 0:20:41.340 come and know me and bow down and experience my 0:20:41.340 --> 0:20:45.780 power and my grace before I bring the end of times. 0:20:47.820 --> 0:20:51.739 How many of you in this auditorium have come to 0:20:51.780 --> 0:20:56.420 Christ in the last ten years? Raise your hand. High, high, high. 0:20:56.460 --> 0:20:59.340 Wave it at me. All right. A whole bunch of you. 0:20:59.340 --> 0:21:01.340 of you. Let me ask you this question. How many 0:21:01.340 --> 0:21:04.379 of you are super grateful that Jesus did not end 0:21:04.380 --> 0:21:11.620 it ten years ago? Because in this decade you've come 0:21:11.619 --> 0:21:14.020 to know him, you've experienced him, you've felt the power 0:21:14.020 --> 0:21:16.420 of the Holy Spirit. You've been changed and washed and 0:21:16.420 --> 0:21:21.340 transformed because the patience of God had you in mind. 0:21:21.540 --> 0:21:24.740 Your name was on his list, and the angels and 0:21:24.740 --> 0:21:28.540 people have cried out in their desperation and persecution and said, come, 0:21:28.540 --> 0:21:33.100 Lord Jesus, come. The angels push for it. People cry 0:21:33.100 --> 0:21:35.580 out for it. But the heart of God saw you 0:21:36.380 --> 0:21:38.459 and said, I'm going to wait a little bit because 0:21:38.460 --> 0:21:41.620 they're coming. I'm drawing them. I'm pulling them. I'm asking 0:21:41.619 --> 0:21:43.939 them my Holy Spirit is drawing them. I'm going to 0:21:43.940 --> 0:21:46.500 wait just a little bit longer, because I see him 0:21:46.500 --> 0:21:48.660 and I see her and I see them, and I 0:21:48.660 --> 0:21:50.979 know that they can transform. And the blood of the 0:21:50.980 --> 0:21:52.940 lamb is going to be poured on this place. So 0:21:52.940 --> 0:21:56.140 he waits and waits and his patience. And so that 0:21:56.140 --> 0:21:59.070 is our job, to preach the gospel with greater Creative 0:21:59.070 --> 0:22:02.270 passion than we've ever experienced before, because there's a lot 0:22:02.270 --> 0:22:04.429 more people that need to hear about the coming of 0:22:04.430 --> 0:22:11.670 our Lord Jesus Christ. Come, Lord Jesus, come. But in 0:22:11.670 --> 0:22:12.909 your time, Lord. 0:22:20.710 --> 0:22:23.990 The final part of Mark job's message how close are we? 0:22:24.030 --> 0:22:28.470 God's timing is perfect in all situations and circumstances. I've 0:22:28.470 --> 0:22:31.270 been thinking a lot about Christ's return, Mark and I 0:22:31.270 --> 0:22:34.310 really appreciate this message, and I hope our listeners really 0:22:34.310 --> 0:22:37.070 understand the importance of knowing Christ in these times. 0:22:37.350 --> 0:22:42.550 Yeah, the biggest takeaway that any person listening to this 0:22:42.550 --> 0:22:46.270 message can have is you need to be personally ready. 0:22:46.710 --> 0:22:50.310 And by personally ready, I don't mean generators in your 0:22:50.310 --> 0:22:53.149 basement and storage of canned food. 0:22:53.190 --> 0:22:54.190 Spiritually ready. 0:22:54.230 --> 0:23:00.189 Spiritually ready. And that's what Scripture emphasizes. Being spiritually ready 0:23:00.190 --> 0:23:02.629 for the coming of Christ. And so I want to 0:23:02.670 --> 0:23:06.070 challenge you if you are not ready. One of the 0:23:06.070 --> 0:23:11.070 scariest things on earth is that Jesus would come tomorrow 0:23:11.670 --> 0:23:15.390 and that, well, you would be left behind, right? And 0:23:15.390 --> 0:23:17.830 there's only one way to prepare for that, and that 0:23:17.830 --> 0:23:22.270 is to understand and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. Um, 0:23:22.710 --> 0:23:25.429 it's as simple as that is that you need to 0:23:25.430 --> 0:23:28.070 understand the gospel of Jesus Christ. And if you're here 0:23:28.070 --> 0:23:32.030 and you say, I'm not sure I understand the gospel. 0:23:32.109 --> 0:23:36.550 I don't know if I truly have made a decision 0:23:36.550 --> 0:23:39.270 to follow Christ like God wants me to, according to 0:23:39.310 --> 0:23:42.230 the Bible, then I would encourage you to check out 0:23:42.550 --> 0:23:47.550 a video that I made explaining the gospel more clearly. 0:23:47.550 --> 0:23:50.710 For all those of you that need to understand it 0:23:50.710 --> 0:23:54.510 a bit more concisely, you can find that video by 0:23:54.550 --> 0:23:59.440 going to npr.org and clicking on my next step. 0:23:59.640 --> 0:24:01.720 Mark, thank you for doing that. I know how strongly 0:24:01.720 --> 0:24:03.639 you want to see people come to know the Lord, 0:24:03.640 --> 0:24:06.760 so that's a very important step. Go to my next 0:24:06.760 --> 0:24:08.919 step in faith. It's right there when you click the 0:24:08.920 --> 0:24:13.440 connect tab at bird-stamps.org. And then on our home page, 0:24:13.480 --> 0:24:15.440 be sure to request a copy of our latest bold 0:24:15.440 --> 0:24:18.840 step gift. We mentioned earlier a book called Lies Girls 0:24:18.840 --> 0:24:23.160 believe today's tween girls are navigating a complex world filled 0:24:23.160 --> 0:24:28.480 with confusing messages about identity, relationships, and faith. Dana Gres's book, 0:24:28.480 --> 0:24:32.520 Lies Girls Believe, offers a biblical roadmap through this confusion. 0:24:32.760 --> 0:24:36.439 Helping girls ages 7 to 12 identify and counter 20 0:24:36.440 --> 0:24:41.240 common lies with God's liberating truth. Beautifully designed with colorful 0:24:41.240 --> 0:24:44.960 illustrations and relatable stories, this bold step gift engages young 0:24:44.960 --> 0:24:47.600 readers while equipping them with the truth that will last 0:24:47.600 --> 0:24:50.120 a lifetime. So let us know where we can send 0:24:50.119 --> 0:24:52.440 you a copy by requesting this book. When you give 0:24:52.440 --> 0:24:55.560 a donation to Bold Steps. Just go online to Bold 0:24:55.560 --> 0:25:01.359 Steps and request lies. Girls, believe. Or call us at 0:25:01.359 --> 0:25:08.320 800 Moody. That's (800) 356-6639. And if it's easier, you can 0:25:08.320 --> 0:25:10.840 also send your donation and request the book in the mail. 0:25:11.080 --> 0:25:15.359 Our address is bold. Steps 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, 0:25:15.400 --> 0:25:19.359 Illinois 606 ten. We'd love to connect with you beyond 0:25:19.359 --> 0:25:22.000 the radio program. Be sure to follow us on social 0:25:22.000 --> 0:25:25.399 media for more inspiration and updates. You can find Mark 0:25:25.400 --> 0:25:28.840 on YouTube for uplifting video content and connect with us 0:25:28.880 --> 0:25:34.439 on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok by searching for Bold Steps radio. Well, 0:25:34.440 --> 0:25:36.960 that's our time for today. We'll see you again tomorrow, though, 0:25:37.000 --> 0:25:40.760 when Mark addresses the question, how ready are you? That's 0:25:40.760 --> 0:25:44.679 coming up Tuesday right here on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. 0:25:45.760 --> 0:25:48.800 Bold steps is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry 0:25:48.800 --> 0:25:50.400 of Moody Bible Institute.