S1: In day to day living with the biggest challenges in
S1: your life? Are you relying upon yourself or on God?
S1: That's the subject today on Bold Steps with Mark job.
S2: What happens if we're trained, qualified, if we feel like
S2: we're ready for it? Chances are that we tend to
S2: depend upon ourselves, and we spend less time in prayer.
S2: And when our ability and confidence starts to be self-focused,
S2: then oftentimes it takes away from our God dependence.
S1: Welcome to Bold Steps with pastor Mark Jobe, president of
S1: Moody Bible Institute and senior pastor of New Life Community
S1: Church in Chicago. And I'm Wayne Shepherd Mark at Moody
S1: Bible Institute in Chicago. There is a regular chapel service
S1: for students. And of course, you as president, get to
S1: give that message. And we're going to hear one of
S1: those now.
S3: Yeah, Wayne, it's always a delight for me to be
S3: able to bring the word to the students because they're eager,
S3: they're excited, they're learning and they're growing. And this message
S3: in particular, what's holding you back? Here's what I want
S3: you to hear. Sometimes God wants to downsize our strength
S3: to prepare us for our greatest battles. And it seems ironic.
S3: It seems like it doesn't make sense. But sometimes we're
S3: too strong to face the greatest battles. Because it's in
S3: our weakness that God's strength is magnified.
S1: Well, the message was given to students, but really, it
S1: is for all of us. So let's ask ourselves this
S1: question as we listen. What's holding us back? Here's Mark Jobe.
S2: I rented a car in Spain at the airport. I
S2: was in a hurry. I was driving this car and
S2: I was thinking, you know, I should have gotten a
S2: car with a little bit more oomph to it. This
S2: car drags. I'm trying to pass people, and it's just
S2: not giving me the energy that I need. It just
S2: doesn't have the horsepower that I need. I felt like
S2: we were going up the hills and it was just
S2: drag and going slow. I'm thinking, ah, next time I'm
S2: going to rent a car that's bigger, that's more powerful.
S2: Stop at the gas station. Kind of looked around at
S2: this car and I realized. Uh-Oh. I had the emergency
S2: brake on. No wonder this car didn't have the oomph
S2: that it needed to have. I had something slowing me down.
S2: I had something that was hindering my progress. Slowing down
S2: the velocity at which I was trying to reach my destination.
S2: Not allowing me to pass when I needed to, not
S2: because it didn't have the horsepower, but because I had
S2: a hindrance. When I look at Judges chapter seven, the
S2: last couple of chapters, I've talked out of the story
S2: of Gideon. Gideon is about to face his first major assignment.
S2: They've been under the oppressive hands thumb of the Midianites.
S2: And now, after the supernatural call of God, the testing
S2: of the fleece, the tearing down of his father's altar,
S2: the renaming of him, the surge of support behind him,
S2: he is now about to face the mega battle. This
S2: is the people of the people of Israel fighting against
S2: the Midianites. Now it's a huge battle. It tells us
S2: in judges chapter seven, the Lord said to Gideon, he's
S2: about to go fight the Midianites. It's 32,000 against 135,000.
S2: Let me say that again. Gideon is leading an army
S2: that's been oppressing them. He's leading an army that's of
S2: people that have been oppressed, that are poor, and they
S2: are to fight an army with 32,000 against an army
S2: of 135,000. Already the odds are bad. This is an
S2: untrained army. This is poor. They don't have the resources.
S2: And they are to fight the people that's been oppressing them.
S2: But he says, hey, God, if you're for me, I'm
S2: going to tackle it. I'm going to go for it.
S2: The men rally together to say, we're with you. Gideon,
S2: it's about time we fight this battle. And so as
S2: they are approaching the battle lines, the Lord says to
S2: Gideon in Judges seven, verse two, you have too many
S2: men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. Uh,
S2: excuse me, Lord. You have too many men for this battle. Lord,
S2: I think we have 32,000 against 135,000. You have too
S2: many men for this battle. In order that Israel may
S2: not boast against me that their own strength has saved her.
S2: Are too many men for what you are too strong.
S2: Even though you feel like you're weak, you're still too strong.
S2: Because if you win this battle, you'll be tempted to say, wow,
S2: look at our strength. Look at our power. Hey, one
S2: of us is worth five of them. So he said,
S2: announce to the people. Anyone who trembles with fear may
S2: turn back and leave Mount Gilead. So 72,000 men left
S2: while 10,000 remained. I just want you to know right now.
S2: Here's what I want you to understand that sometimes God
S2: wants to downsize your Or strength to prepare you for
S2: some of the greatest battles in your life. Let me
S2: say that again. We live in a generation in an
S2: age where it's all about feeling strong and competent and
S2: able and disciplined and prepared. And we should be prepared
S2: as possible. But sometimes God says, I want to make
S2: sure that you are. Your dependency is not in your preparation,
S2: not in your strength, not in your talent, not in
S2: your ability, not in your know how, not in your determination,
S2: but that your absolute dependency is in me. So sometimes
S2: you're too strong for the battle you're about to fight.
S2: And in order to win the battle effectively, you need
S2: to downsize your strength. Now that flies in the face
S2: of everything that we know. But let me say this.
S2: Some of you right now may think, may be a
S2: little bit too strong for the battles that God has
S2: for you. God was clear. I want to make sure
S2: when this battle is won that you can't point to
S2: your strength, your power, your ability. I want to make
S2: sure when this battle is done and you have your triumph,
S2: and people are yelling and screaming in victory, that there's
S2: only one person to point to, and that's the God
S2: of heaven. And not patting yourself on the back, not
S2: celebrating your own ability, but making sure that there's a
S2: humble disposition that says, God, this is all about you,
S2: your glory, your name, your fame, and your ability. God
S2: basically says, I don't like the odds you're too strong
S2: for your own good. You may be too strong or
S2: overconfident for God to use you well. So sometimes God
S2: needs to downsize you. Now God downsizes us in various
S2: ways with Gideon. He said, if any of you stand
S2: up in front of your 32,000 men, some of whom
S2: have very little training in warfare or the military, and
S2: say to them, if any of you is afraid of
S2: this battle of 32,000 ill prepared, ill equipped, ill trained
S2: people against the Midianites who outnumber you and are much
S2: more prepared. If any of you are afraid, it's okay,
S2: go home. I'm sure that people kind of looked at
S2: each other. No one wants to be the first one
S2: to go Be called a coward. Kind of look around
S2: and then maybe someone at the back just kind of
S2: sneaks out. People start whispering. Another person goes, you know
S2: how it goes. The more people. Well, my cousin's going,
S2: I'm going to. I don't want him to go alone.
S2: I'm going to. By the time they're done, there are
S2: only well, there's 22,000 that leave and 10,000 that remain.
S2: Think about it. Think if you're one of the 10,000
S2: standing there. I'm not going to go. I'm not going
S2: to leave. I'm in here to the end. People start leaving,
S2: and two thirds of the people leave. You're left now
S2: with 10,000 against 135,000. But this is exactly, exactly what
S2: God wanted. The reason for the downsize is very clear
S2: in verse two. So that Israel will not boast. You
S2: know what one of my fears is? As you train
S2: here at the Moody Bible Institute, as you prepare, as
S2: you take theology classes, as you get experience, as you
S2: spend hours and hours reading books and gaining knowledge, it's
S2: important you need to be grounded. It is so vital.
S2: My fear is. My fear is that you would think
S2: that you're smarter than what you really are. My fear
S2: is that a few theology books into it. You think
S2: I got this? My fear is that you would look
S2: around at other ministers and say they have no idea
S2: what they're doing. Wait till I'm on. Wait till I'm
S2: out there. My fear is that, ah, there's a cockiness
S2: that can set in. Oh, I know it because I
S2: was that young 20 year old thinking I got it.
S2: The Bible says God resists the proud. He resists the proud. Resist.
S2: It's a repellent to God. It's a repellent to the
S2: grace of God, the power of God, the favor of God.
S2: God gets around anything that's proud, arrogant, self-sufficient, too confident.
S2: And it repels the Spirit of God. But he gives
S2: more grace to the humble. The person that knows I can't,
S2: and I'm. I'm unable. God, I need you desperately. What
S2: happens if we're trained, qualified, if we feel like we're
S2: ready for it? Chances are that we tend to depend
S2: upon ourselves and we spend less time in prayer, less
S2: time seeking God, less time on our knees, less time
S2: in a position of dependency because we think I've been prepared, equipped, trained.
S2: I know how to do this. And when our ability
S2: and confidence starts to be self-focused, then oftentimes it takes
S2: away from our God dependence.
S1: This is bold steps with Mark Jobe. Today's message titled
S1: What's Holding you Back? And will continue Mark's teaching in
S1: just a moment. But in case you didn't receive this
S1: past Monday's edition of The Bold Stepper Weekly, you're missing out.
S1: We want to remind you to sign up today at
S1: Bold steps.org.
S2: Yeah, this is free, no cost. It comes to you
S2: every Monday with the devotional thought a ministry update, something
S2: that gets your mind focused on God, but also gives
S2: you an update on what's happening here at Bold Steps.
S2: So we love to send this to you. Uh, this
S2: past edition, I talked about the anniversary of my wife's brother,
S2: who was a Chicago police officer who was shot and killed.
S2: And we have a real heart for those that serve,
S2: sometimes in unrecognized, underappreciated jobs like police officers around the country.
S2: It's been a tough time, but we value those that
S2: do it with integrity, honesty, and seek to serve and
S2: protect well.
S1: There's a lot packed into The Bold Stripper weekly. And
S1: by the way, it's no accident that it comes out
S1: early Monday morning because we all need that that jump
S1: start to the week, don't we? And I appreciate that
S1: a great deal. So if you'd like to receive The
S1: Bold Stepper Weekly automatically to your inbox, just sign up
S1: at Bold Org. Thank you. Mark. Let's continue your message now.
S1: What's holding you back?
S2: I've been training pastors and leaders for a long time
S2: in a very brutal city. And I've seen people that
S2: were over confident. Invariably, God has to bring them to
S2: their knees of brokenness. Invariably, then he does it a
S2: second time. He trims again. Notice in the Lord said
S2: to Gideon, the people are still too many. Take them
S2: down to the water. I will test them. You know
S2: the story. Anyone of them who say to you, then
S2: this you shall go with me. You shall go. Any
S2: one of them who say whom I say, this is
S2: the one who shall not go with me, shall not go.
S2: So he brought the people down to the water. And
S2: the Lord said to Gideon, everyone who laps the water
S2: with his tongue as a dog laps, you shall set
S2: him aside. Likewise, everyone who kneels down to drink and
S2: the number of those who lapped putting their hands to
S2: their mouth was 300 men. But all the rest of
S2: the people knelt down to drink the water. Now some
S2: people say, well, those were the most alert men because
S2: they were lapping up the water. They could see the enemy.
S2: We have no idea if that's why God decided to
S2: do it in his arbitrary way. However, he chose to
S2: do it. The bottom line was, when everything was said
S2: and done, they went from 32,000 men to 300 men,
S2: downsizing their strength to the point that it appeared pathetic.
S2: And then God said, aha! Now you're ready to fight?
S2: Ready to fight? God, there's 300 against 135,000. This isn't
S2: even a battle. This is pathetic. We can. No way
S2: could we win. It would be a miracle if we won.
S2: It would have to be all God. Uh huh. That's right.
S2: That oftentimes we're too strong for the battle that we're
S2: about to fight. And it's in the weakening of ourselves.
S2: It's in the humility that God brings. It's in the
S2: recognition of our weakness that oftentimes the strength and power
S2: of God is actually manifest. In fact, I believe that
S2: God can use us most when we move forward in
S2: a place of complete dependence upon him. Hebrews chapter 11,
S2: verse 34. Speaking of Gideon and others, the writer of
S2: the Hebrews says, whose weakness was turned to strength, and
S2: who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Paul
S2: echoes the same sentiment in First Corinthians chapter 12, verse
S2: nine But he said to me, my grace is sufficient
S2: for you, for get it? Here it goes. This is
S2: powerful for my power, my dunamis. This incredible supernatural power
S2: that comes from the Most High God is made complete
S2: or perfect in weakness, where the power of God is fertilized.
S2: Where the power of God grows. Where the power of
S2: God increases, where it is made complete is not in
S2: an atmosphere of pride, confidence, ability where the power of
S2: God flourishes, where it grows to completeness is in the
S2: atmosphere of recognized weakness that leads to deep humility, trust,
S2: and dependence on God. Look down through history and show
S2: me men or women that have been mightily used of God, supernaturally,
S2: extraordinarily used of God. And I'll show you people that
S2: were utterly aware of how weak they were and how
S2: much they needed the Savior. Can I tell you this,
S2: that some of the very things that you may look
S2: as a hindrance in your life right now, those very
S2: things that you said, hey, I could really be used
S2: of God if this were not a part of my life.
S2: A physical hindrance, a a a learning disability, a speech impediment,
S2: whatever it may be that you look and say, I
S2: wish I didn't have this because I could be so
S2: much stronger, so much more used of God if this
S2: weakness weren't a part of my life. And yet maybe,
S2: Maybe it's exactly what prepares you for the greatest battles
S2: a full, complete realization of how weak you are and
S2: how utterly dependent we are upon God. Therefore, Paul says,
S2: I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
S2: so that Christ's power may rest in me. That is why,
S2: for Christ's sake, I delight in my weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, difficulties. Listen,
S2: look up at me. This is really important. For when
S2: I am weak, then and then only am I strong.
S2: So you may be feeling extremely weak today, and.
S4: You may look at it as a hindrance. But maybe
S4: your physical weakness, your challenges that make you feel not
S4: up to par. They may be exactly what God wants
S4: you to be going through, because in your weakness, his
S4: power is made strong. So embrace your weakness and ask
S4: God to fill you with his strength.
S1: That's great. Thank you Mark. You're listening to our Bible teacher,
S1: Mark Jobe, on bold steps. And if you missed any
S1: part of today's message titled What's Holding You Back? We
S1: encourage you to go to our website and catch up
S1: when you can just visit Bold Steps. Mark.
S4: One of the most important things we can do for
S4: young girls is help them build their lives on truth.
S1: That's true. Yes.
S4: You know, I remember raising my one and only daughter.
S4: And when she got into almost in the tween years,
S4: I was just so.
S2: Concerned because the pressures are amazing, insurmountable. It felt like.
S2: and felt very protective. So I'm excited that our Bold
S2: step gift this month tackles this vital topic.
S1: It's written by Dana Gresh. It's called Lies Girls Believe,
S1: and it follows up some earlier writing you've done. Dana
S1: for women. But you've lowered the age group here, haven't you?
S5: Yeah, because the enemy has lowered the the the the
S5: target zone. Some of the things that today's 8 to
S5: 12 year old girls are grappling with, there are things
S5: that we didn't grapple with until we were in our
S5: well into our teens, 16, 17, 18 years old. And
S5: one of the things that's really concerning to me is
S5: how tweens, 8 to 12 year olds, that's the technical
S5: age group for tweens. They're like the guinea pigs in
S5: this gender experiment. They're really believing there's no difference between
S5: boys and girls. They they believe that I surveyed 1500
S5: church going tween girls to write this book, and I
S5: did 11 focus groups across the country to talk to
S5: their moms. And they believe You've. There's not a big
S5: difference between girls and boys, and that is just one
S5: stepping stone away from this can be a fluid thing
S5: in my life. They also, if they do believe there's differences,
S5: they have a hard time believing that it's great to
S5: be a girl. You know, they're like, well, you know,
S5: it's hard to be a girl because of the way
S5: our bodies work, or it's hard to be a girl
S5: because we don't have the same opportunities as boys, or
S5: it's hard to be a girl because I'm athletic and
S5: I can't shoot hoops with the guys, and that doesn't
S5: seem fair. So these are really important lies. When you
S5: look at the fact that going back to Genesis, God
S5: says in the image of God, he created us male
S5: and female. He created them. There are so many things
S5: about us that are God like. Why doesn't he mention
S5: our ability to compose sonnets? Or the fact that we're
S5: going to defy gravity and fly to the moon and
S5: then land rockets again on on planet Earth one day?
S5: Why doesn't he mention that now? He mentions maleness and femaleness.
S5: It matters. It's a conversation we've got to have, and
S5: we've got to have it accurately with our kids. And
S5: this book is just one tool to help you do that.
S2: Boy, we could talk hours about this. And if you
S2: have a daughter, a granddaughter, uh, your son or daughter
S2: needs is raising a a girl. In today's society, we
S2: would love to put this book in your hands.
S1: Yeah. What a great gift to pass on, Dana. Thank you.
S5: My pleasure. Thank you for letting me be a part
S5: of your month.
S1: So request your copy of Lies Girls Believe today along
S1: with your donation of any amount to Bold Steps. Just
S1: go online to Bold steps.org or give us a call
S1: and make your donation over the phone by dialing 800 Moody.
S1: That's (800) 356-6639. You can also send your gift and request
S1: Dana's book through the mail by addressing an envelope to
S1: bold steps. 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten.
S1: Again 820 North LaSalle, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. And before
S1: we close today's program, we want to remind you that
S1: the best way to catch up on these messages while
S1: you're out and about, or to simply listen at another time,
S1: is by subscribing to the Bold Steps podcast. Open up
S1: your favorite podcast app on your phone or smart device.
S1: Search for bold steps with doctor Mark Jobe and click
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S1: well as March YouTube channel. Just log in to Facebook,
S1: Instagram or YouTube, search for Bold Steps Radio and tap
S1: the subscribe or follow button when you get there. I'm
S1: Wayne Shepherd, inviting you back tomorrow for a special message
S1: titled Fighting the Battles that Matter. With all the strife
S1: in our world, what really is worth fighting for? Find
S1: out Friday on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. Bold steps
S1: is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody
S1: Bible Institute.