WEBVTT - 2025-05-29_BSWMJYou Shall Not Commit Adultery – Part 2 0:00:00.480 --> 0:00:03.640 Today on Bold Steps, Mark Jobe shows us how to 0:00:03.640 --> 0:00:05.920 protect the heart of our relationships. 0:00:06.280 --> 0:00:08.680 And the Bible says when you take a step, then 0:00:08.680 --> 0:00:11.559 God will draw near to you. He's waiting for you 0:00:11.560 --> 0:00:14.720 to draw near to him and God will meet you 0:00:14.760 --> 0:00:18.080 where you are at. That's the promise of God. As 0:00:18.079 --> 0:00:21.360 soon as you step near, God says, here I am. 0:00:33.520 --> 0:00:36.959 Welcome to the Friday edition of Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. 0:00:37.240 --> 0:00:39.760 Mark is the senior pastor of New Life Community Church 0:00:39.760 --> 0:00:43.040 in Chicago and president of Moody Bible Institute. I'm Wayne 0:00:43.040 --> 0:00:45.840 Shepherd here at Bold Steps. We have a growing number 0:00:45.840 --> 0:00:49.280 of messages archived online, along with a variety of resources 0:00:49.280 --> 0:00:51.520 designed to help you walk on the path to freedom 0:00:51.520 --> 0:00:55.440 and authenticity in Christ. Please go online and start exploring. 0:00:55.480 --> 0:00:59.520 You'll find us at Bold Steps. Well, today we'll continue 0:00:59.520 --> 0:01:03.200 a message Mark started yesterday called you shall not commit adultery. 0:01:03.600 --> 0:01:06.039 It's part of our series on the Ten Commandments called 0:01:06.040 --> 0:01:09.440 Rock Solid Living. And to introduce us to today's study 0:01:09.440 --> 0:01:12.640 on these ancient words for new life, here's our teacher, 0:01:12.640 --> 0:01:13.399 Mark Jobe. 0:01:13.440 --> 0:01:17.120 And so God is speaking to the people of Israel 0:01:17.360 --> 0:01:20.520 in Jeremiah chapter three, verse six, during the king of 0:01:20.520 --> 0:01:24.640 the reign, Josiah, the Lord said to me, have you 0:01:24.680 --> 0:01:29.080 seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up 0:01:29.080 --> 0:01:32.640 to every hill and under every spreading tree, and has 0:01:32.640 --> 0:01:37.640 committed adultery there. God is looking at Israel and he's saying, listen, 0:01:37.640 --> 0:01:41.240 Israel claims that I'm their God, but they chase after 0:01:41.240 --> 0:01:44.520 every other God. They're pursuing every other God. I'm really 0:01:44.520 --> 0:01:49.920 not their God. They're committing spiritual adultery, breaking the promises. 0:01:50.960 --> 0:01:53.080 I wish I had more time, but I'm going to 0:01:53.080 --> 0:01:56.440 talk to you about if your heart has committed spiritual 0:01:56.480 --> 0:02:00.160 adultery or physical adultery, what needs to happen? Listen what 0:02:00.160 --> 0:02:03.330 it says in Proverbs chapter six, verse 32 and 33. 0:02:03.570 --> 0:02:08.250 A man who commits adultery lacks judgment. Whoever does so 0:02:08.250 --> 0:02:13.690 destroys himself and disgrace are his lot, and his shame 0:02:13.850 --> 0:02:17.130 will never be wiped away. I want to talk to 0:02:17.130 --> 0:02:19.329 you today. If you are here and you say, pastor, 0:02:19.330 --> 0:02:21.210 I gave my life to Jesus Christ, but I'm in 0:02:21.210 --> 0:02:23.770 spiritual adultery because I'm not living for God. I'm not 0:02:23.810 --> 0:02:26.930 walking for God. I am not in the middle of 0:02:26.930 --> 0:02:30.570 God's will right now. Or maybe you're here and you're 0:02:30.610 --> 0:02:33.290 you've been married, or you're getting married, or you've been 0:02:33.290 --> 0:02:36.730 married for a long time and maybe you've crossed lines 0:02:36.730 --> 0:02:39.570 in your life. I, I want to two things I 0:02:39.570 --> 0:02:43.410 want to say, first of all, thank God that I've 0:02:43.410 --> 0:02:47.570 seen the restoring power of God move in many marriages. 0:02:47.570 --> 0:02:50.570 And I know that there is life after adultery, and 0:02:50.570 --> 0:02:53.730 God can heal and God can restore, and God can 0:02:53.730 --> 0:02:57.010 bring life back again if both parties are willing to 0:02:57.050 --> 0:02:59.889 pursue it, I believe it, I've seen it, and we 0:02:59.889 --> 0:03:04.730 have couples here that testify to that fact. But I'm 0:03:04.730 --> 0:03:06.890 convinced that a couple of things need to happen. Number one, 0:03:06.889 --> 0:03:09.889 the journey back from adultery. There's four things that need 0:03:09.889 --> 0:03:12.770 to happen. If there has been physical or even emotional 0:03:12.770 --> 0:03:16.450 adultery that's happened in your marriage. Number one, you need 0:03:16.450 --> 0:03:19.489 to acknowledge the sin is against God and your spouse, 0:03:19.650 --> 0:03:24.850 like King David did in Psalms chapter 51. You need 0:03:24.850 --> 0:03:28.970 to acknowledge I've sinned against God and I've sinned against 0:03:28.970 --> 0:03:34.329 my spouse. Don't make excuses. Don't say why it was 0:03:34.330 --> 0:03:38.290 his or her fault. Say I have sinned. You cannot 0:03:38.290 --> 0:03:41.250 be restored unless, first of all, you acknowledge that you've 0:03:41.250 --> 0:03:44.970 sinned and take responsibility for it. And by the way, 0:03:45.010 --> 0:03:46.930 can I just pause and say, I know I go 0:03:46.970 --> 0:03:49.970 against what some counselors would say in the secular world, 0:03:49.970 --> 0:03:54.410 but I'm going to be honest with you. Listen, if 0:03:54.410 --> 0:03:56.890 you are a married person and you have been unfaithful 0:03:56.890 --> 0:04:02.180 to your spouse, I believe in total honesty. You say, well, 0:04:02.180 --> 0:04:04.540 pastor was ten years ago. They'll never know. I don't 0:04:04.540 --> 0:04:07.260 want to bring it up, drag it through, drag them 0:04:07.260 --> 0:04:10.619 into it. The shame, the embarrassment, the hurt. I mean, 0:04:10.620 --> 0:04:13.060 I'm embarrassed that it happened. And now you want me 0:04:13.060 --> 0:04:15.060 to drag me them through the pain and the hurt 0:04:15.060 --> 0:04:17.940 of it all? Listen, I want to tell you that 0:04:17.940 --> 0:04:20.700 I believe that God wants you to have a relationship 0:04:20.700 --> 0:04:24.180 of intimacy with your spouse. And as long as there's 0:04:24.180 --> 0:04:27.820 dirty secrets there, as long as there is stuff in 0:04:27.820 --> 0:04:30.820 your heart that you hold and you haven't been honest about, 0:04:30.820 --> 0:04:35.260 I think it affects your current relationship. I believe that 0:04:35.260 --> 0:04:37.300 you need to confess it to God, but because you've 0:04:37.300 --> 0:04:39.380 sinned against your spouse that you need to be honest 0:04:39.380 --> 0:04:44.780 with your spouse. You say, well, pastor, I don't even 0:04:44.779 --> 0:04:46.220 know how to do that. Well, you know, I would, 0:04:46.220 --> 0:04:49.420 I would, I would talk to someone in our ministry 0:04:50.020 --> 0:04:53.020 and have them talk you through that, because I think 0:04:54.660 --> 0:04:57.260 that you're in a covenant relationship and you cannot be 0:04:57.260 --> 0:05:01.060 right with your spouse and right with God. Some people think, well, 0:05:01.060 --> 0:05:03.059 I'm just going to confess it to God. I believe 0:05:03.100 --> 0:05:05.300 God is the start, but unless you confess it with 0:05:05.300 --> 0:05:09.580 your spouse, it hasn't gone far enough. You say, well, pastor, 0:05:09.580 --> 0:05:11.300 I don't know what's wrong. I had a conversation with 0:05:11.300 --> 0:05:13.460 a man years ago. He said, I don't know what's wrong. 0:05:14.140 --> 0:05:16.420 I feel like I've been in the desert spiritually. He 0:05:16.420 --> 0:05:19.580 told me. I've been walking and he was a leader 0:05:19.580 --> 0:05:23.420 and elder in the church, not this church, but another church. And, 0:05:23.460 --> 0:05:25.460 and and I had known him for a long time. 0:05:25.460 --> 0:05:27.220 And then he went on to tell me what happened. 0:05:27.220 --> 0:05:29.780 He went on to tell me that that several years 0:05:29.779 --> 0:05:32.020 back that he had been driving down the street and 0:05:32.020 --> 0:05:35.219 he'd been stopped by a prostitute and and his whole 0:05:35.220 --> 0:05:38.020 life involved in that, and he didn't know what got 0:05:38.020 --> 0:05:40.419 into him. He let the prostitute in the car, and 0:05:40.420 --> 0:05:43.220 he had a one night stand with that prostitute. And 0:05:43.220 --> 0:05:44.940 he said, I cried out to God. And I said, 0:05:44.940 --> 0:05:47.820 God forgive me, God. I don't want that to be 0:05:47.820 --> 0:05:50.420 a part of my life. I he said, I confessed it, 0:05:50.420 --> 0:05:52.940 I cried out to God. He said, but I feel 0:05:52.940 --> 0:05:55.099 like I've been living in a desert for the last 0:05:55.100 --> 0:05:57.340 ten years. I said, did you ever confess it to 0:05:57.339 --> 0:06:00.380 your spouse? He said, I couldn't do that. She doesn't 0:06:00.510 --> 0:06:03.989 deserve that. I said she doesn't deserve to live with 0:06:03.990 --> 0:06:10.430 a man that's living in a spiritual desert. She deserves life. 0:06:10.950 --> 0:06:14.390 She deserves a spiritual man to rise up. He said 0:06:14.390 --> 0:06:16.469 it would hurt her so much. It would. It would 0:06:16.470 --> 0:06:19.830 devastate her. I would rather her go through the devastation 0:06:19.830 --> 0:06:24.669 of honesty than the years of apathy and spiritual dryness 0:06:24.710 --> 0:06:34.310 in your own life. Get it right with God. He 0:06:34.310 --> 0:06:39.029 called me up. He said, pastor, I did it. I said, 0:06:39.029 --> 0:06:41.950 how do you feel? He said, I've never felt more relieved. 0:06:42.350 --> 0:06:46.070 He said, I'm sleeping on the couch and I don't 0:06:46.070 --> 0:06:48.190 know how long I'm going to be sleeping on the couch. 0:06:48.270 --> 0:06:51.310 It may be a long time, but I tell you what, 0:06:51.310 --> 0:06:53.150 I feel like a new man, and that man right 0:06:53.150 --> 0:06:57.349 now has been fully restored. His energy, his spiritual life. 0:06:57.350 --> 0:07:01.390 He's a leader now. His wife got through the process 0:07:01.390 --> 0:07:04.950 of forgiving and releasing and restoration in his life and 0:07:04.950 --> 0:07:07.630 I and and and I that is a different person. 0:07:07.630 --> 0:07:09.950 It could be a whole different story if he would 0:07:09.950 --> 0:07:14.710 not have been honest before God. Acknowledge your sin against 0:07:14.710 --> 0:07:18.910 God and your spouse in the relationship immediately, immediately. Listen, 0:07:18.910 --> 0:07:23.470 you have not you have not repented unless you've ended 0:07:23.470 --> 0:07:26.830 that relationship. You say, pastor, well, we're no longer involved. 0:07:26.830 --> 0:07:30.510 We're just going to be friends. Not or we're just 0:07:30.510 --> 0:07:33.030 going to be buddies, but it's all clean now. No, 0:07:33.870 --> 0:07:37.070 you need to end and cut off that relationship immediately. 0:07:37.070 --> 0:07:41.310 Avoid contact with that person. And then fourthly, you need 0:07:41.310 --> 0:07:44.910 to work through the journey of restoration and healing, because 0:07:44.910 --> 0:07:48.310 it will take time to be restored and the trust 0:07:48.310 --> 0:07:51.630 to be rebuilt and all that God wants your marriage 0:07:51.630 --> 0:07:54.310 to be, to be that as you work through the 0:07:54.310 --> 0:07:58.430 journey of restoration and listen to me, men or women, 0:07:58.430 --> 0:08:03.400 listen to me Just because you cry and break and 0:08:03.400 --> 0:08:06.960 ask for forgiveness. Don't think that a week later she's 0:08:06.960 --> 0:08:11.440 going to be back to normal. A huge violation of trust. 0:08:11.440 --> 0:08:16.360 There's a journey of recovery, a journey of restoration. But 0:08:16.360 --> 0:08:19.840 I'm convinced that if you are sincere, if your life 0:08:19.840 --> 0:08:22.400 has really changed, if you show the love and you're 0:08:22.400 --> 0:08:24.800 humble there, that you can reach a point where your 0:08:24.800 --> 0:08:27.600 marriage will be better than the way it was before 0:08:27.600 --> 0:08:30.640 with full honesty there. I believe that. 0:08:36.120 --> 0:08:38.760 You're listening to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe and stay 0:08:38.760 --> 0:08:40.720 right where you are. We'll return with the rest of 0:08:40.720 --> 0:08:43.920 today's message in just a moment. Has our programming touched 0:08:43.920 --> 0:08:46.560 your life in a meaningful way? We'd be delighted to 0:08:46.559 --> 0:08:49.920 hear your story. Your testimony may be a question. A 0:08:49.920 --> 0:08:52.760 prayer request means the world to us, and we sometimes 0:08:52.760 --> 0:08:55.000 feature them right here during our broadcast. Mark, I'd like 0:08:55.000 --> 0:08:56.800 to share a voice message that recently came in from 0:08:56.800 --> 0:09:00.839 our listener Edward, who experienced an unexpected divine encounter when 0:09:00.840 --> 0:09:02.760 dealing with a flat tire. 0:09:04.520 --> 0:09:07.440 Hey, my name is Edward. I was just on my 0:09:07.440 --> 0:09:10.440 way home in the morning. I had a tire pop 0:09:10.440 --> 0:09:14.200 and I drove into the nearest parking lot. Yeah, the 0:09:14.200 --> 0:09:16.880 parking lot ended up to be the parking lot of 0:09:16.880 --> 0:09:20.560 a state park that's, um, has a really, really cool 0:09:20.559 --> 0:09:24.920 view of the river. And, um. But anyways, I went 0:09:24.920 --> 0:09:26.600 to go look for my spare, and I realized I 0:09:26.600 --> 0:09:29.360 don't even have a spare. So I just had my 0:09:29.360 --> 0:09:34.760 Bible with me from yesterday's Sunday service. I realized I'm 0:09:34.760 --> 0:09:37.120 here for a reason. I got stopped for a reason. 0:09:37.160 --> 0:09:40.199 I choose not to believe that things don't happen for 0:09:40.200 --> 0:09:42.280 a reason I just seen too many times in my life. 0:09:42.280 --> 0:09:45.480 But the Lord led me here and I turned on 0:09:45.480 --> 0:09:48.520 the radio and it was a preset function. This is 0:09:48.520 --> 0:09:51.160 a new car to 107.9 to where I hear your 0:09:51.160 --> 0:09:55.640 guys's radio talking about no condemnation for those who are 0:09:55.640 --> 0:09:58.120 in Christ and those who are living by the spirit 0:09:58.120 --> 0:10:01.809 and not by the flesh And and the consequences of 0:10:01.809 --> 0:10:04.010 living in the lifestyle that comes with living by the 0:10:04.010 --> 0:10:07.489 flesh and the whole. Just fighting against this religious idea 0:10:08.610 --> 0:10:11.610 of being raised up in a very religious church and 0:10:11.610 --> 0:10:15.090 just looking for, you know, things of the Holy Spirit. 0:10:15.090 --> 0:10:18.490 And this was just speaking straight to me. And I 0:10:18.490 --> 0:10:20.970 just want to say how much I appreciate this. That 0:10:21.010 --> 0:10:24.730 word of encouragement was literally for me. And the Lord 0:10:24.770 --> 0:10:28.449 had to, you know, stop me with a pop tire 0:10:28.450 --> 0:10:31.050 for me to hear this message. So I really appreciate it. 0:10:31.050 --> 0:10:33.130 And it's a good reminder and keep doing what you 0:10:33.170 --> 0:10:34.570 guys are doing. Thank you so much. 0:10:34.929 --> 0:10:36.810 Mark. What a great perspective, huh? 0:10:37.690 --> 0:10:42.050 Edward, I love your story. And you know, we pray, uh, 0:10:42.090 --> 0:10:46.330 before our recordings, that God would take the right message 0:10:46.330 --> 0:10:49.050 at the right time to speak to people when they 0:10:49.050 --> 0:10:51.809 need to hear it. And so, Edward, I love your 0:10:51.809 --> 0:10:57.490 story of looking for, uh, God's divine appointments. 0:10:57.490 --> 0:11:01.090 In the middle of a setback. And so, hey, next 0:11:01.090 --> 0:11:03.570 time you're out there, you have a flat tire or 0:11:03.570 --> 0:11:06.770 you're stuck in a waiting place, just remember, God is 0:11:06.809 --> 0:11:09.450 at work. No matter what's happening in our lives, bold. 0:11:09.450 --> 0:11:12.530 Step service will come along. All right. Thank you. Edward, 0:11:12.530 --> 0:11:15.090 if you haven't reached out to us yet, take that 0:11:15.090 --> 0:11:17.850 step today. We'd be thrilled to receive your personal story. 0:11:17.890 --> 0:11:20.330 Maybe a Bible question you have or a prayer need. 0:11:20.610 --> 0:11:22.770 It's easy to connect with us. Just visit our website 0:11:22.770 --> 0:11:26.370 bold steps org or if you prefer like Edward did, 0:11:26.370 --> 0:11:29.410 call and leave your message on our dedicated recording line 0:11:29.410 --> 0:11:38.929 at (312) 329-2011. Again (312) 329-2011. And of course, you're always welcome 0:11:38.929 --> 0:11:43.370 to drop us an email. Bold steps at Moody's. All right. 0:11:43.370 --> 0:11:45.050 That was fun. Let's get back to our message. Now. 0:11:45.050 --> 0:11:46.569 Here again is Mark Jobe. 0:11:53.090 --> 0:11:56.209 In James, as I read before to you, James says, 0:11:56.210 --> 0:12:01.300 you adulterous generation, you're more friends with the world than 0:12:01.300 --> 0:12:05.100 you are with God. You've fallen in love with the 0:12:05.100 --> 0:12:08.819 world and the ways of the world. You satisfy yourself 0:12:08.820 --> 0:12:12.460 in the world rather than in me. You're not filled 0:12:12.460 --> 0:12:17.059 with the spirit. You're filled with carnality. You don't run 0:12:17.059 --> 0:12:19.420 to me to hear words. You run to your friends 0:12:19.420 --> 0:12:23.260 to to to find your satisfaction. Your joy doesn't come 0:12:23.260 --> 0:12:26.860 from spending time with me. It comes from watching the 0:12:26.860 --> 0:12:30.860 latest movie that came out. You're no longer passionate about 0:12:30.860 --> 0:12:33.540 my things. You no longer want to spend time with me. 0:12:33.540 --> 0:12:36.060 You no longer have a heart for me. You no 0:12:36.059 --> 0:12:39.620 longer weep at the thought of the cross and your 0:12:39.620 --> 0:12:43.460 sins forgiven. You no longer rejoice when someone gets baptized 0:12:43.460 --> 0:12:45.860 and to see them turn around. You no longer have 0:12:45.860 --> 0:12:49.860 the faith that you had. You belong to me, but 0:12:49.860 --> 0:12:54.140 you are friends with the world. Their spiritual adultery in 0:12:54.140 --> 0:13:00.660 your heart. And God says, listen to me. God gives 0:13:00.660 --> 0:13:07.380 a pathway back. In James chapter four, verse six through 0:13:07.420 --> 0:13:11.380 ten he says, But God gives more grace. That's why 0:13:11.420 --> 0:13:14.420 Scripture says that God opposes the proud but gives grace 0:13:14.420 --> 0:13:17.820 to the humble. And then he tells us six things 0:13:17.820 --> 0:13:22.500 to do. First of all, he says, submit yourself, then 0:13:22.500 --> 0:13:26.380 to God. If you're making your way back to God, listen, 0:13:26.380 --> 0:13:29.500 if you have a heart of spiritual adultery right now, listen. 0:13:29.540 --> 0:13:32.699 The first thing is choose to submit to God and 0:13:32.700 --> 0:13:37.820 His authority. Listen. As long as you're running your life, 0:13:38.620 --> 0:13:41.860 you will continue to do what you want to do. 0:13:42.179 --> 0:13:44.980 If you if you say that you're a Christian, if 0:13:44.980 --> 0:13:47.900 you say that the Spirit of Jesus is inside of you, 0:13:47.900 --> 0:13:50.780 if you say that you belong to God, then make 0:13:50.780 --> 0:13:53.900 him Lord of your life and say, God, I submit 0:13:53.900 --> 0:13:56.540 every area to my life. It's not my way, but 0:13:56.540 --> 0:13:58.980 your way. God, it's not what I want, but it's 0:13:58.980 --> 0:14:03.150 what you want. God, it's not my desires, but your desires. God, 0:14:03.150 --> 0:14:07.150 I put myself in submission to you. That's what it 0:14:07.150 --> 0:14:12.350 means to submit yourselves, then to God. Most of us 0:14:12.350 --> 0:14:14.670 have gotten in the trouble that we've gotten because we've 0:14:14.710 --> 0:14:19.190 allowed ourselves to dictate what we want. Instead of saying, God, 0:14:19.190 --> 0:14:24.830 what's your way? What do you want? God? Not what 0:14:24.830 --> 0:14:27.430 are my needs? And how do I fulfill them? But God, 0:14:27.430 --> 0:14:29.390 what do you want me to do? How do you 0:14:29.390 --> 0:14:32.110 want me to live? God, I submit, even though it's 0:14:32.110 --> 0:14:36.350 hard and my flesh wants this, I submit to your way, God, 0:14:36.390 --> 0:14:38.830 because your way is higher than my way. The Bible 0:14:38.830 --> 0:14:42.190 says the first step to return to God is to 0:14:42.190 --> 0:14:45.830 be willing to submit to his authority, to his obedience 0:14:45.830 --> 0:14:53.230 to his leadership. Secondly. Resist the devil and he will 0:14:53.230 --> 0:14:57.990 flee from you. You'll have no power over your temptation 0:14:57.990 --> 0:15:01.120 until first of all, you've submitted to God. Some of 0:15:01.120 --> 0:15:03.600 you have been struggling with the same temptation over and over, 0:15:03.600 --> 0:15:06.440 and seem like you have no power because you have 0:15:06.440 --> 0:15:08.920 no power to resist the devil, because you have no 0:15:08.920 --> 0:15:14.640 submission to God. You're going up trying to fight your desire, 0:15:14.640 --> 0:15:16.800 and you fall and fall and fall and you've been 0:15:16.800 --> 0:15:21.840 falling for ten years, three years, two years. And God says, 0:15:21.880 --> 0:15:25.120 submit yourself first to him. Say not my will, God. 0:15:25.120 --> 0:15:28.160 Not what I want, but you want. You are Lord God. 0:15:28.160 --> 0:15:31.280 And I bow my knee again. Then the Bible says, 0:15:31.280 --> 0:15:36.680 rise up. And now you can resist temptation and resist 0:15:36.680 --> 0:15:38.840 the devil, and he will flee from you, but only 0:15:38.840 --> 0:15:50.720 if you've submitted yourself to God. Thirdly, draw near to God. Listen, 0:15:50.720 --> 0:15:54.760 I love this about this. Come near to God and 0:15:54.760 --> 0:15:56.800 he will come near to you. Don't you love that 0:15:56.800 --> 0:16:00.200 about the heart of God? But God is saying, I 0:16:00.200 --> 0:16:02.680 want to have a relationship with you. If you're far 0:16:02.680 --> 0:16:07.800 from me, take a step towards me. And God says, 0:16:07.800 --> 0:16:10.840 God is waiting. Waiting for you to take a step 0:16:10.840 --> 0:16:13.640 of submission. Waiting you for you to say, God, I'm 0:16:13.680 --> 0:16:15.680 tired of this. I want to live your way. I 0:16:15.680 --> 0:16:18.080 want it to be you, God. God is saying, take 0:16:18.080 --> 0:16:20.840 a step. And the Bible says when you take a step, 0:16:20.840 --> 0:16:23.760 then God will draw near to you. He's waiting for 0:16:23.760 --> 0:16:26.440 you to draw near to him, waiting for you to 0:16:26.480 --> 0:16:29.359 take that step. You say, well, how do I do it, pastor? 0:16:29.360 --> 0:16:32.720 Whatever way you can. You come to the altar, you pray, 0:16:32.720 --> 0:16:34.920 you get on your knees, you tell God, God, I 0:16:34.920 --> 0:16:38.520 need you. Whatever step you have to take, whatever God 0:16:38.520 --> 0:16:41.120 is asking you to take, you take that step and 0:16:41.120 --> 0:16:44.560 God will meet you where you are at. That's the 0:16:44.560 --> 0:16:48.360 promise of God. As soon as you step near, God says, 0:16:48.360 --> 0:16:53.960 here I am. I love that about the heart of God. 0:16:53.960 --> 0:16:57.000 He's just waiting for some of you, waiting for some 0:16:57.000 --> 0:16:59.640 of you to take that step saying, I Saying, I 0:16:59.640 --> 0:17:02.080 want to see that you want me. God is saying, 0:17:02.080 --> 0:17:04.800 I want to see that you're serious. I want to 0:17:04.800 --> 0:17:08.200 see that you have any inclination to get right with me. 0:17:08.680 --> 0:17:10.840 And I will meet you right where you're at. I'm 0:17:10.880 --> 0:17:13.200 not going to stand there with my arms crossed, saying 0:17:13.200 --> 0:17:15.879 grovel a little bit more. God is not that way. 0:17:15.920 --> 0:17:18.840 He says, take a step and I will meet you 0:17:18.840 --> 0:17:21.240 right where you're at, and I'll put my arm around 0:17:21.240 --> 0:17:24.359 you and help you on through the journey of restoration. 0:17:24.359 --> 0:17:26.920 But show me that you want me. Show me that 0:17:26.920 --> 0:17:29.040 you want to get right. Show me that you have 0:17:29.040 --> 0:17:33.959 a desire for me. That's the heart of God. And 0:17:33.960 --> 0:17:38.640 then the Bible says, number four repent from your actions 0:17:38.640 --> 0:17:42.399 and your attitudes. Listen what it says. Wash your hands, 0:17:42.400 --> 0:17:46.200 you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded. It's 0:17:46.200 --> 0:17:49.679 the actions on the outside and the attitudes on the inside. Listen, 0:17:49.680 --> 0:17:52.840 if there's stuff that you've done that sinned against God, 0:17:52.840 --> 0:17:56.240 you have to say, God, I've sinned against you. This 0:17:56.240 --> 0:18:01.290 is it. And even the attitudes of your heart. What 0:18:01.290 --> 0:18:03.730 you've done on the outside and the attitudes that you've said. 0:18:03.730 --> 0:18:06.250 Cleanse your heart. How do you how do you cleanse yourself? 0:18:06.250 --> 0:18:09.930 You confess and you repent. And confession is different than 0:18:09.930 --> 0:18:12.889 just admitting you confess to God. You say, God, I've 0:18:12.890 --> 0:18:15.330 sinned against you. I and I know it's wrong, and 0:18:15.330 --> 0:18:17.090 I know that's not the way I need to live God, 0:18:17.090 --> 0:18:20.369 and I'm willing to leave it behind. I repent of it. 0:18:20.369 --> 0:18:22.770 I put it behind me. And the Bible says, when 0:18:22.770 --> 0:18:27.210 you confess and repent that God is faithful and just 0:18:28.530 --> 0:18:32.530 to forgive you and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness, 0:18:32.530 --> 0:18:35.689 but you have to come to him and be willing 0:18:35.730 --> 0:18:40.890 to confess and repent. Choose to submit to God. Then 0:18:40.890 --> 0:18:44.250 you can resist giving into temptation. Take a step towards God, 0:18:44.250 --> 0:18:47.330 repent of your actions and your attitudes. Then feel the 0:18:47.330 --> 0:18:53.210 grief over your sin. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your 0:18:53.210 --> 0:18:56.090 laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. What does 0:18:56.090 --> 0:18:59.410 that mean? Listen, when you truly know how much we've 0:18:59.540 --> 0:19:03.660 hurt God. It's like when someone sinned and committed adultery 0:19:03.660 --> 0:19:07.140 against their spouse. We would say that it's just wrong 0:19:07.140 --> 0:19:09.460 if you say, well, honey, I cheated against you. Sorry. 0:19:12.020 --> 0:19:14.100 That's not true repentance, man. If you really know what 0:19:14.100 --> 0:19:18.740 you've done to your spouse, you will be broken. You 0:19:18.740 --> 0:19:23.900 will be grieved. You will be so saddened of your 0:19:23.900 --> 0:19:28.580 heart that you cannot speak. The Bible says, grieve, mourn, wail. 0:19:28.580 --> 0:19:32.540 Let your emotions catch up. Realize what you've done to God, 0:19:32.540 --> 0:19:35.580 how we've let our heart go astray. Feel the grief 0:19:35.580 --> 0:19:41.420 over your sin. And lastly, number six, humble yourselves. It 0:19:41.420 --> 0:19:43.820 says this listen. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he 0:19:43.820 --> 0:19:46.020 will lift you up. Listen, as long as you walk 0:19:46.020 --> 0:19:49.180 in pride, you can never be restored from a heart 0:19:49.180 --> 0:19:52.139 of adultery. As long as you walk in pride and 0:19:52.140 --> 0:19:54.820 you blame other people. Oh, it's him. It was her. 0:19:54.859 --> 0:19:57.340 He did this. He did that. I'm this way because 0:19:57.340 --> 0:20:02.419 of that person. Listen. That's pride. Humility says I take 0:20:02.420 --> 0:20:07.780 responsibility for it. I humble myself before God, whatever it takes, 0:20:07.780 --> 0:20:10.659 I don't care who knows. I don't care who sees. 0:20:10.700 --> 0:20:14.460 I'm not doing image management here. I'm not trying to 0:20:14.460 --> 0:20:17.820 protect myself. I'm not saying, well, don't let anybody know. 0:20:17.820 --> 0:20:20.100 I don't care who knows. I want to be right 0:20:20.100 --> 0:20:23.900 with God. That makes that's the biggest priority of my life, 0:20:23.900 --> 0:20:32.460 to be right with Almighty God. And the promise is this. 0:20:32.740 --> 0:20:39.979 And then he listen, and then he will lift you up. Listen. 0:20:39.980 --> 0:20:42.139 You may feel like you've hit the bottom of the barrel, 0:20:42.140 --> 0:20:44.859 but when you take these steps, God will restore you. 0:20:44.900 --> 0:20:49.460 God will restore your influence. God will restore your name. 0:20:49.619 --> 0:20:55.420 God will restore your spiritual power. God will restore your position. 0:20:55.460 --> 0:21:00.140 God will restore your marriage. God will begin to restore you, 0:21:00.140 --> 0:21:04.060 but only when you humble yourselves and let God lift 0:21:04.060 --> 0:21:08.140 you up, not you. Lift yourself up. Listen, there is 0:21:08.300 --> 0:21:11.500 restoration at the end of the journey of those who 0:21:11.540 --> 0:21:12.340 seek it. 0:21:19.340 --> 0:21:22.899 A convicting and important message today from Mark Jobe. And 0:21:22.900 --> 0:21:26.020 you're listening to Bold Steps. Did you know there are 0:21:26.020 --> 0:21:28.460 a variety of ways you can catch this daily program? 0:21:28.460 --> 0:21:30.980 Whether you're on your computer, at home, or in your office, 0:21:30.980 --> 0:21:33.780 you can always listen 24 over seven on our website 0:21:33.940 --> 0:21:36.220 or catch the program while you're on the go by 0:21:36.260 --> 0:21:39.620 downloading the Moody Radio app, or even streaming on most 0:21:39.619 --> 0:21:44.620 podcast platforms. To learn more, visit Bold Steps. Org. Well, Mark, 0:21:44.619 --> 0:21:47.060 let me take you back to today's message a message 0:21:47.060 --> 0:21:50.100 of hope. It does require some serious things from us. 0:21:50.700 --> 0:21:50.980 Wayne. 0:21:50.980 --> 0:21:53.459 There's a lot of people that, as they listen to 0:21:53.460 --> 0:21:56.340 this message, feel convicted about. 0:21:56.980 --> 0:21:58.619 Chapters of failure. 0:21:58.619 --> 0:22:00.630 In their life. And if you're listening to me. 0:22:00.630 --> 0:22:05.750 Today and adultery is part of your story, whether you 0:22:05.750 --> 0:22:08.630 have been on the receiving side of it or you 0:22:08.630 --> 0:22:12.189 have been the committer of adultery, I want to say 0:22:12.190 --> 0:22:18.430 that it is painful, difficult, a journey of restoration. But 0:22:18.430 --> 0:22:21.629 I also want to tell you that it's not hopeless. 0:22:22.030 --> 0:22:25.869 And I have talked to so many couples that have 0:22:26.150 --> 0:22:31.510 chosen to embrace the journey of healing and restoration. 0:22:31.550 --> 0:22:33.109 Not easy, is it? It takes a lot of work. 0:22:33.150 --> 0:22:36.310 It takes a lot of work. It's a very difficult process. 0:22:36.310 --> 0:22:40.949 There has to be openness, honesty and time to make 0:22:40.950 --> 0:22:46.390 this work well. So if spiritually you have committed adultery 0:22:46.430 --> 0:22:48.710 like we talked in this message, or if it's been 0:22:48.710 --> 0:22:50.590 in your marriage, I just want to pray for you 0:22:50.590 --> 0:22:52.790 right now and ask that God would give you the 0:22:52.790 --> 0:22:57.310 power to embrace a heart of repentance that allows healing 0:22:57.350 --> 0:23:02.070 to happen. Father, I pray right now for that marriage 0:23:02.070 --> 0:23:07.070 that is struggling. I pray right now for that wife 0:23:07.070 --> 0:23:10.550 that is in pain right now and questioning, or that 0:23:10.590 --> 0:23:15.830 husband that is so desperate. I pray in Jesus name 0:23:15.830 --> 0:23:18.910 that you would speak hope into their marriage. Father, I 0:23:18.910 --> 0:23:22.350 pray for repentance where it's needed. I pray for grace 0:23:22.550 --> 0:23:25.870 where it's appropriate. Father. And I pray, father, that you 0:23:25.869 --> 0:23:28.310 would take out of that which is broken out of 0:23:28.310 --> 0:23:32.790 the ashes, and that you would create something new, healthy, whole, 0:23:32.990 --> 0:23:37.390 something that honors you, father, so I pray. I pray, father, 0:23:37.670 --> 0:23:40.990 that you would infuse hope, God, for the future in 0:23:40.990 --> 0:23:43.790 those that are struggling right now. I ask this in 0:23:43.790 --> 0:23:47.230 Jesus name, Amen and amen. 0:23:47.270 --> 0:23:50.109 Thank you Mark. We're wrapping up today's program. But before 0:23:50.109 --> 0:23:52.510 we close, I want to invite you to secure your 0:23:52.510 --> 0:23:56.030 copy of this month's exclusive bold Step gift. In today's 0:23:56.030 --> 0:24:01.560 complex cultural environment, young girls navigate unprecedented pressures from social media, 0:24:01.800 --> 0:24:05.359 peer groups and entertainment before they even hit their teen years. 0:24:05.359 --> 0:24:08.560 They're flooded with messages that can warp their perception of themselves, 0:24:08.560 --> 0:24:12.240 their relationships, and, most importantly, their value in God's eyes. 0:24:12.640 --> 0:24:16.040 That's why we're delighted to offer you Dana Gres's revealing book, 0:24:16.080 --> 0:24:20.550 Lies Girls Believe. This powerful resource helps girls ages 7 0:24:20.550 --> 0:24:24.760 to 12 identify and counter harmful falsehoods like, I need 0:24:24.760 --> 0:24:27.760 to look perfect to be accepted, or I can't discuss 0:24:27.760 --> 0:24:31.359 difficult topics with my parents. What truly sets this book 0:24:31.359 --> 0:24:35.080 apart is its connection with young readers. Through colorful graphics, 0:24:35.200 --> 0:24:38.760 hands on activities, and true to life scenarios that mirror 0:24:38.760 --> 0:24:42.280 their daily experiences. So whether it's for your daughter or 0:24:42.320 --> 0:24:45.840 granddaughter or niece or young girl, under your guidance lies 0:24:45.840 --> 0:24:49.520 girls believe represents a valuable investment in her faith journey. 0:24:49.920 --> 0:24:52.800 Request your copy when you support bold steps with a 0:24:52.800 --> 0:24:58.159 contribution of any amount, simply visit Bold Steps to donate 0:24:58.359 --> 0:25:02.080 and request lies. Girls, believe or call us at 800 0:25:02.119 --> 0:25:08.800 DL Moody. That's (800) 356-6639. You can also mail that donation 0:25:08.800 --> 0:25:15.240 to Bold Steps. 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. 0:25:15.960 --> 0:25:19.199 Don't forget to join our online community, find daily inspiration, 0:25:19.200 --> 0:25:23.520 and connect with fellow believers by following bold steps on Facebook, Instagram, 0:25:23.560 --> 0:25:27.959 TikTok and YouTube channel. Just search for Bold Steps Radio 0:25:27.960 --> 0:25:31.400 and become part of the conversation. I'm Wayne Shepard, that's 0:25:31.400 --> 0:25:33.800 all the time we have today. Join us again Friday 0:25:33.800 --> 0:25:37.960 when Mark discusses giving, taking, and stealing. The message comes 0:25:37.960 --> 0:25:40.640 from our series on Rock Solid Living, and you'll hear 0:25:40.640 --> 0:25:45.879 it next time on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. Bold 0:25:45.880 --> 0:25:48.840 steps is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of 0:25:48.880 --> 0:25:50.359 Moody Bible Institute.