WEBVTT - Being Prepared -- Part 1 0:00:00.760 --> 0:00:03.200 Today on bold steps. What does it mean to be 0:00:03.200 --> 0:00:06.520 spiritually prepared for the days we're living in? Pastor Mark 0:00:06.519 --> 0:00:08.840 Jobe has a timely message you need to hear. 0:00:09.760 --> 0:00:14.040 There's no expectation that somehow, in some way, we're evolving 0:00:14.080 --> 0:00:19.840 to a better, genuine, more faith filled world. The Bible 0:00:19.840 --> 0:00:22.720 warns us, in the last days there'll be terrible times. 0:00:23.079 --> 0:00:25.920 This is not an improvement of our society. But you 0:00:25.920 --> 0:00:30.760 can expect that there will be a degradation in our society. 0:00:43.920 --> 0:00:47.120 And welcome to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe, founding pastor 0:00:47.120 --> 0:00:50.320 of New Life Community Church in Chicago. Well, Mark, there's 0:00:50.320 --> 0:00:53.680 probably no worse feeling than being unprepared for something. Maybe 0:00:53.680 --> 0:00:56.320 an exam. I remember those days. Or a work meeting, 0:00:56.320 --> 0:00:58.600 maybe playing on a sports team. The list goes on. 0:00:58.600 --> 0:01:01.480 But today, in a message you gave at Moody Bible Institute. 0:01:01.480 --> 0:01:04.560 You're challenging us to think about being prepared spiritually to 0:01:04.600 --> 0:01:06.679 face the hostile culture we live in and what the 0:01:06.680 --> 0:01:08.199 Bible calls the last days. 0:01:08.440 --> 0:01:12.200 Yeah, 2000 years ago, the apostle Paul is reminding a 0:01:12.200 --> 0:01:17.280 young leader, Timothy. Timothy, there are some difficult days ahead. 0:01:17.800 --> 0:01:20.839 If he's talking 2000 years ago, we're much closer waiting 0:01:20.840 --> 0:01:23.160 to the end times than they were back then. And 0:01:23.160 --> 0:01:25.800 he's telling us there will be terrible times in the 0:01:25.800 --> 0:01:29.759 last days. And that's not something that should fill us 0:01:29.760 --> 0:01:34.120 with fear, but it should cause us to be prepared. Mhm. 0:01:34.160 --> 0:01:37.440 And that was the message that Paul was telling Timothy. Timothy, 0:01:37.440 --> 0:01:41.000 you need to get ready because there will be difficult times. 0:01:41.040 --> 0:01:42.640 Are you ready? 0:01:42.840 --> 0:01:45.400 Such a timely message. Let's get started. Now here's Mark 0:01:45.400 --> 0:01:47.200 with being prepared. 0:01:48.880 --> 0:01:57.000 Have you ever been not prepared for something? I can't 0:01:57.000 --> 0:01:58.840 hear what you're saying, but some of you are saying, yeah, 0:01:58.840 --> 0:02:01.570 for my next class. I'm not prepared for the test. 0:02:03.810 --> 0:02:07.170 You know, my wife and I travel a lot, and 0:02:07.170 --> 0:02:10.290 sometimes we go to warm places. Sometimes it's cooler places. 0:02:10.290 --> 0:02:13.490 And so as we're packing our little suitcase, we're always 0:02:13.530 --> 0:02:15.690 asking each other, hey, did you check the weather? Did 0:02:15.690 --> 0:02:18.609 you check the weather? Because we want to be prepared. 0:02:18.970 --> 0:02:24.130 On occasion, I've landed in a place and thought, wow, 0:02:24.810 --> 0:02:29.650 I have all summer clothes here and realize it's freezing. 0:02:29.970 --> 0:02:32.050 And my wife just kind of looks at me and says, 0:02:32.050 --> 0:02:35.810 did you check the weather? I'm like, can I borrow 0:02:35.850 --> 0:02:41.210 your sweater? Because I just was unprepared. And today I 0:02:41.210 --> 0:02:44.690 want to talk to you about being prepared. Being prepared. 0:02:45.410 --> 0:02:49.810 We live in a season, a time where we cannot 0:02:49.810 --> 0:02:54.810 afford not to be prepared. We just can't afford it. 0:02:56.770 --> 0:03:02.489 Over the last couple of weeks, I've had multiple conversations 0:03:02.490 --> 0:03:09.210 with people both here and around Chicago, and there is a. 0:03:11.490 --> 0:03:20.329 Looming fear, a shock. We've been bombarded with images already 0:03:20.330 --> 0:03:25.889 for some time of just devastating images of the war 0:03:25.889 --> 0:03:31.889 in Ukraine. Images of what's happening in Gaza have been 0:03:32.530 --> 0:03:40.410 flowing through our screens and creating discomfort and questions and 0:03:40.410 --> 0:03:45.330 what's going on in the world. Just this past week, 0:03:45.370 --> 0:03:51.250 another tragedy, another shooting at a high school, this time 0:03:51.250 --> 0:03:58.210 in Colorado, 16 year old boy troubled goes in, shoots 0:03:58.210 --> 0:04:01.980 kids that are in critical condition And then turns around 0:04:01.980 --> 0:04:11.500 and shoots himself. 16 years old. Senseless, crazy violence. Some 0:04:11.500 --> 0:04:14.780 of you are still trying to erase the images of 0:04:14.780 --> 0:04:20.340 a 23 year old Ukrainian woman on a train. Irina 0:04:20.980 --> 0:04:28.460 brutally stabbed by a mentally disturbed man. Some of you 0:04:28.460 --> 0:04:34.420 have confessed that those images are hard to erase. Just brutal, 0:04:34.860 --> 0:04:43.220 senseless violence. Several of you have approached me recently here 0:04:43.220 --> 0:04:50.820 on campus and outside of the campus about. Trying to 0:04:50.820 --> 0:04:58.820 process the brutal assassination of 31 year old Charlie Kirk 0:05:00.140 --> 0:05:05.900 on a university campus in front of 3000 students. Shot 0:05:07.860 --> 0:05:17.980 as in front of. His wife. An audience. And regardless 0:05:17.980 --> 0:05:21.420 of your political views on Charlie Kirk, he was bold 0:05:21.420 --> 0:05:25.419 about his faith. I've had some of you come to 0:05:25.460 --> 0:05:27.940 me and say, I'm just trying to process this. I'm 0:05:27.940 --> 0:05:32.020 trying to figure out exactly what's happening. I'm. I'm disturbed 0:05:32.020 --> 0:05:36.339 by this. I'm trying to understand and make sense of it. 0:05:39.740 --> 0:05:45.780 There's times that we need to pray. We need to grieve. 0:05:47.500 --> 0:05:51.859 We need to process. I don't want to just remind 0:05:51.860 --> 0:05:55.940 you if you're struggling through processing some of these things, 0:05:55.940 --> 0:06:00.380 these images and the senseless violence that can get a 0:06:00.470 --> 0:06:10.630 grip on you and perhaps cause anxiety, depression, doubts. As 0:06:10.630 --> 0:06:14.150 I was thinking about this, by the way, there are 0:06:14.150 --> 0:06:17.950 people all across the nations and nations in Chicago and 0:06:17.950 --> 0:06:23.950 other places also processing this. The bad news is it's 0:06:23.950 --> 0:06:28.950 very difficult to understand the senseless violence. The good news 0:06:28.950 --> 0:06:31.390 in the secular world is that sometimes it's at times 0:06:31.390 --> 0:06:34.870 like this that people start looking to the heavens, start 0:06:34.870 --> 0:06:40.750 asking questions, start being more curious about the Bible and God. 0:06:43.750 --> 0:06:47.349 Just this past Sunday, my son, my son Josiah preached 0:06:47.350 --> 0:06:52.950 at our main campus and my eyes filled with tears 0:06:52.950 --> 0:06:57.070 as I saw just people stream forward to give their 0:06:57.070 --> 0:07:00.230 life to Jesus. 25 people at least giving their lives 0:07:00.230 --> 0:07:10.790 to Christ. People are looking, searching, wondering. And I just 0:07:10.790 --> 0:07:13.670 want to make sure that you, as students and staff 0:07:13.670 --> 0:07:15.950 and faculty, I want to make sure that you're prepared. 0:07:19.790 --> 0:07:25.030 Second Timothy chapter three. The Apostle Paul is preparing young 0:07:25.070 --> 0:07:31.590 Timothy for what he calls the last days. It's not 0:07:31.590 --> 0:07:36.750 an easy passage. It's not about don't worry, everything's going 0:07:36.790 --> 0:07:40.950 to be easy. God is in control. It'll be smooth. 0:07:41.510 --> 0:07:45.670 Life will be pleasant as long as you pray and 0:07:45.670 --> 0:07:51.350 have faith. He doesn't tell Timothy that. In fact, it 0:07:51.350 --> 0:07:54.910 says in second Timothy chapter three, verse one. He says, 0:07:54.910 --> 0:08:01.240 but mark this, Timothy. Remember this. Keep this in mind. 0:08:01.440 --> 0:08:05.720 Be very clear about this. There will be terrible times 0:08:05.720 --> 0:08:12.520 in the last days. He doesn't try to soften it. 0:08:13.440 --> 0:08:18.520 He doesn't try to paint this beautiful picture. He says, Timothy, 0:08:18.720 --> 0:08:23.400 open your eyes. Be prepared. There will be terrible times 0:08:24.160 --> 0:08:28.320 in the last days. And then he goes on to 0:08:28.360 --> 0:08:32.000 describe the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, 0:08:33.040 --> 0:08:41.199 lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 0:08:41.360 --> 0:08:50.160 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal. Not lovers of good, treacherous, rash, conceited, 0:08:50.160 --> 0:08:53.440 lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a 0:08:53.440 --> 0:08:58.240 form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to 0:08:58.280 --> 0:09:02.559 do with them. And you say, well, you know, he's 0:09:02.559 --> 0:09:07.920 talking about the last days. Are we living in the 0:09:07.920 --> 0:09:12.200 last days? Well, let's define it from a biblical term. 0:09:13.200 --> 0:09:15.160 I know there's a lot of questions about are these 0:09:15.200 --> 0:09:21.120 the final days? Are these the end times? And anytime 0:09:21.120 --> 0:09:24.480 there is chaos around the world, there is an upsurge 0:09:24.520 --> 0:09:28.560 about are these the final days? But I want to 0:09:28.600 --> 0:09:33.000 unequivocally say to you, we are living in the last days, 0:09:34.400 --> 0:09:42.800 biblically defined, last days. In Hebrews it says, in these 0:09:42.800 --> 0:09:46.880 last days God has spoken to us in His Son. 0:09:46.920 --> 0:09:50.959 Hebrews chapter one verse two, the writer of Hebrews is 0:09:50.960 --> 0:09:56.640 actually saying in these last days. In acts chapter two, 0:09:56.679 --> 0:09:59.559 verse 17, it says, in the last days God says, 0:09:59.559 --> 0:10:04.410 I will pour forth of my spirit upon all mankind. 0:10:06.170 --> 0:10:09.130 Which was a prophecy being fulfilled in Joel. Joel. That 0:10:09.130 --> 0:10:13.690 was partly fulfilled in Pentecost. Many scholars have argued that 0:10:13.690 --> 0:10:17.650 the last days encompasses a time between the birth of 0:10:17.650 --> 0:10:22.930 Jesus and his Second coming. Most scholars would argue, yes, 0:10:22.929 --> 0:10:25.370 we have been living in the last days for a 0:10:25.370 --> 0:10:30.050 long time. Maybe not the last weeks, the last months, 0:10:30.050 --> 0:10:34.290 but the last days. You are living in the last 0:10:34.290 --> 0:10:40.370 days defined by Scripture. And he's describing what's going to 0:10:40.370 --> 0:10:43.210 happen in the last days, that these will be days 0:10:43.210 --> 0:10:49.890 in which we're not expecting the real rebuilding and betterment 0:10:49.890 --> 0:10:55.089 of society. Over the years to come, there's no expectation 0:10:55.090 --> 0:11:00.690 that somehow, in some way, we're evolving to a better, genuine, 0:11:00.730 --> 0:11:05.330 more faith filled world. The Bible warns us in the 0:11:05.330 --> 0:11:08.610 last days there'll be terrible times. This is not an 0:11:08.650 --> 0:11:11.690 improvement of our society, but you can expect that there 0:11:11.690 --> 0:11:19.449 will be a degradation in our society. Second Peter chapter 0:11:19.450 --> 0:11:21.490 three says, first of all, you must understand that in 0:11:21.490 --> 0:11:24.810 the last days scoffers will come scoffing, following their own 0:11:24.809 --> 0:11:27.370 evil desires. They will say, where is the coming that 0:11:27.370 --> 0:11:31.130 was promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on 0:11:31.130 --> 0:11:33.569 as it has since the beginning of creation. 0:11:39.090 --> 0:11:42.370 You're listening to Mark Jobe right here on Bold Steps, 0:11:42.370 --> 0:11:45.410 and we're pausing today's program and being prepared to let 0:11:45.410 --> 0:11:47.570 you know that we have several resources available to help 0:11:47.570 --> 0:11:50.130 you be prepared and walk closer to God every day. 0:11:50.370 --> 0:11:53.809 To check them out, just go to bold steps.org. And 0:11:53.809 --> 0:11:56.490 did you know that in addition to our daily radio program, 0:11:56.490 --> 0:11:59.650 you can find even more bold steps content on YouTube. 0:11:59.929 --> 0:12:02.980 We have two channels. You want to see our main channel? 0:12:03.020 --> 0:12:06.340 Bold steps with Mark job feature, short clips, behind the 0:12:06.380 --> 0:12:10.380 scenes content, and some extended teaching videos from Mark. And 0:12:10.380 --> 0:12:13.380 if you want to catch full radio broadcasts, subscribe to 0:12:13.420 --> 0:12:17.380 Bold Steps with Mark Job Programs on YouTube. Both channels 0:12:17.380 --> 0:12:19.660 are free and easy to find. Just log in to 0:12:19.660 --> 0:12:23.020 your YouTube and search for those channel names. Now let's 0:12:23.020 --> 0:12:25.140 go back to the message. Here again is pastor Mark 0:12:25.140 --> 0:12:27.219 Jobe with today's bold steps. 0:12:32.980 --> 0:12:38.020 We have always struggled with the brokenness of mankind, a 0:12:38.100 --> 0:12:42.100 fallen spirit, and we've always seen down through history some 0:12:42.100 --> 0:12:47.340 of the darkness that exists in society. To be honest 0:12:47.340 --> 0:12:49.940 with you, what struck me recently, over the last two 0:12:49.940 --> 0:12:54.780 weeks as I looked at society, which I maybe it's existed, 0:12:54.780 --> 0:13:01.300 but I had not seen before, is the Unabashed celebration 0:13:01.300 --> 0:13:10.140 of assassinations. That shocked me a bit. That people would celebrate. 0:13:12.420 --> 0:13:19.460 I don't care what ideology people embrace. It struck me 0:13:19.500 --> 0:13:22.420 probably more closely, because I have a 31 year old 0:13:22.420 --> 0:13:27.740 son that has three small children. I don't remember a 0:13:27.740 --> 0:13:35.020 day where people celebrated regardless of what they believed. But 0:13:35.020 --> 0:13:43.459 the brutal killing and assassination in our country. Shocking but 0:13:43.460 --> 0:13:45.860 not surprising because we need to be prepared for the 0:13:45.860 --> 0:13:49.380 last days, the Bible tells us. And I don't have 0:13:49.380 --> 0:13:53.660 time to go through the entire description of what the 0:13:53.660 --> 0:13:57.140 last days entails. But you see, there's a bleak picture. 0:13:59.140 --> 0:14:05.949 Lovers of self abusive, ungrateful, unforgiving, slanderous, no self control, 0:14:05.950 --> 0:14:10.470 not lovers of God rash. And that could be described 0:14:10.510 --> 0:14:14.429 of a lot of seasons, but a season that we 0:14:14.429 --> 0:14:18.470 live in today. But you know what? One of the 0:14:18.470 --> 0:14:26.350 most dangerous to believers is? The very last description. That 0:14:26.350 --> 0:14:32.510 may be shocking. Listen to this. Having a form of godliness. 0:14:35.190 --> 0:14:43.750 But denying its power. Having a form of godliness but 0:14:43.750 --> 0:14:48.390 denying its power. We don't live in a secular age 0:14:48.390 --> 0:14:52.910 in which God has been pronounced dead. There's been seasons 0:14:52.910 --> 0:14:57.350 like that. We live in a very spiritual world. We 0:14:57.350 --> 0:15:03.640 live in a world that embraces his spirituality that celebrates spirituality, 0:15:04.160 --> 0:15:15.120 that is grasping roots and various forms of spiritual worship 0:15:15.120 --> 0:15:17.920 and ideologies. And that's the world that we live in. 0:15:17.960 --> 0:15:21.640 There's a lot of spirituality out there, but the Bible 0:15:21.760 --> 0:15:24.240 refers to it in the last days you will find 0:15:25.720 --> 0:15:32.200 a form of godliness, but denying the very power thereof. 0:15:34.120 --> 0:15:41.240 I think in my mind of. Of a flashlight. You know, 0:15:41.280 --> 0:15:47.360 this little device helps you see. And um, when it 0:15:47.360 --> 0:15:52.320 has batteries in it, this is a complicated one to 0:15:52.320 --> 0:15:57.200 turn on. There you go. When it has batteries in it, 0:15:57.240 --> 0:16:01.560 it lights the way and you can see. But let 0:16:01.560 --> 0:16:05.360 me tell you, when you take the power out of it. 0:16:09.880 --> 0:16:14.840 It looks similar, but it's useless. From the outside it 0:16:14.840 --> 0:16:19.760 looks very authentic. You would want it. It's desirable to 0:16:19.800 --> 0:16:23.560 bring light and to a path to understand. But really 0:16:24.000 --> 0:16:30.360 it has no power which renders it useless. And I 0:16:30.360 --> 0:16:33.480 want to tell you that the Bible is very clear 0:16:33.480 --> 0:16:35.960 about this, is that in the last days there will 0:16:35.960 --> 0:16:39.360 be forms of godliness that deny the power. And you say, well, 0:16:39.360 --> 0:16:41.960 what does that. What exactly does that mean? Are we 0:16:41.960 --> 0:16:44.200 talking about the power of the Holy Spirit? I think 0:16:44.200 --> 0:16:46.560 that's part of it. But if you look at Scripture, 0:16:46.560 --> 0:16:50.800 you'll realize that really the essence of the power of 0:16:50.800 --> 0:16:55.760 the church is the gospel of Jesus Christ. And Paul said, 0:16:56.120 --> 0:16:59.160 I'm not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power 0:16:59.160 --> 0:17:03.400 of God unto salvation. The dunamis of God unto salvation. 0:17:03.520 --> 0:17:06.040 In other words, when there is a distortion about the 0:17:06.040 --> 0:17:10.760 person of Jesus, when there is a misunderstanding of how 0:17:10.880 --> 0:17:13.600 to come to God through what Jesus has done, when 0:17:13.600 --> 0:17:17.960 there is a denial of his sovereignty and surrender to him, 0:17:17.960 --> 0:17:21.960 when Jesus is placed to the side, or Jesus is 0:17:21.960 --> 0:17:26.160 misconstrued where the gospel is not clear, you have a 0:17:26.200 --> 0:17:33.080 powerless form of religion. So I want you to be aware. 0:17:34.200 --> 0:17:39.159 I want you to be prepared. Prepared because spiritual culture 0:17:39.160 --> 0:17:46.199 will go darker. Don't get entangled in anything that is 0:17:46.200 --> 0:17:48.800 not clear about the gospel of Jesus Christ. And at 0:17:48.800 --> 0:17:56.840 the center does not proclaim boldly, courageously, unashamedly the gospel 0:17:56.840 --> 0:18:01.850 of Jesus Christ. If you're involved in anything, that at 0:18:01.850 --> 0:18:04.130 the center is not the gospel of Jesus Christ, you 0:18:04.130 --> 0:18:06.450 have danger of being involved in something that has a 0:18:06.450 --> 0:18:10.850 form of godliness, but denying the power thereof, and makes 0:18:10.850 --> 0:18:15.730 people feel good about understanding and learning, but denies the 0:18:15.730 --> 0:18:19.890 essence of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 0:18:22.490 --> 0:18:32.449 Paul goes on and tells Timothy, not only does he 0:18:32.450 --> 0:18:34.810 need to be prepared because times are getting worse, but 0:18:34.810 --> 0:18:39.490 be prepared because counterfeit leaders will arise. Don't get deceived. 0:18:41.850 --> 0:18:45.450 He says in verse six, there they are the kind 0:18:45.450 --> 0:18:48.890 who worm their way into homes, gain control of weak 0:18:48.890 --> 0:18:52.890 willed women who are loaded down with sins, are swayed 0:18:52.890 --> 0:18:56.490 by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never 0:18:56.490 --> 0:19:04.180 able to acknowledge the truth, just as and Jambres oppose Moses. Saul. 0:19:04.180 --> 0:19:08.580 So these men oppose the truth. Men of depraved minds 0:19:08.580 --> 0:19:13.100 who are far away from the faith is concerned are rejected. 0:19:13.500 --> 0:19:15.860 But they will not get very far because, as in 0:19:15.859 --> 0:19:18.659 the case of these men, their folly will be clear 0:19:18.660 --> 0:19:22.140 to everyone. Be prepared. Listen. Look up at me. This 0:19:22.140 --> 0:19:25.619 is important. Be prepared because there's a lot of distortions 0:19:25.619 --> 0:19:30.460 out there. There's a lot of false gospels out there. 0:19:31.740 --> 0:19:35.699 There's a lot of forms of spirituality that deny the 0:19:35.700 --> 0:19:38.899 very essence of the gospel and do not lead to life. 0:19:40.020 --> 0:19:42.340 He goes on to explain that they pray in the 0:19:42.340 --> 0:19:48.220 most vulnerable. They deceive. They tell people what they think 0:19:48.220 --> 0:19:51.460 they want to hear. They tap into desires that people 0:19:51.460 --> 0:19:55.419 have to make it sound like, hey, come this way 0:19:55.420 --> 0:19:58.460 and your desires will be fulfilled. But ultimately, they're looking 0:19:58.460 --> 0:20:03.820 for control. They're looking for aggrandizement of themselves. They're leading 0:20:03.820 --> 0:20:07.940 people astray. It looks shiny on the outside. It looks 0:20:07.980 --> 0:20:10.899 appealing on the outside. But in the end it really 0:20:10.900 --> 0:20:21.020 leads to condemnation. It's a counterfeit spirituality. Uh, he says 0:20:21.020 --> 0:20:25.740 it elevates knowledge. Uh, we're lured in by. Come learn 0:20:25.740 --> 0:20:29.500 this deeper truth. Oh, I want to learn. You're so shallow. 0:20:29.540 --> 0:20:33.100 There's a deeper enlightenment truth that you need to know. 0:20:33.260 --> 0:20:35.940 And we're lured into it. And it says they're always 0:20:35.940 --> 0:20:38.740 learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth. 0:20:39.700 --> 0:20:43.980 Always being lured by the next enlightenment, the next deeper truth, 0:20:43.980 --> 0:20:48.420 the next revelation. But always far from understanding the truth 0:20:48.420 --> 0:20:51.940 of the Word of God. There will be a massive 0:20:51.940 --> 0:20:56.700 deception in the final days. Many people deceived, led astray, 0:20:57.140 --> 0:21:00.980 abandoning the faith, chasing after a form of godliness that 0:21:00.980 --> 0:21:06.060 denies the power thereof. You need to be prepared. You 0:21:06.060 --> 0:21:09.500 need to be ready to be able to distinguish between 0:21:09.500 --> 0:21:13.100 that which is authentic and that which is false, that 0:21:13.100 --> 0:21:16.580 which is truly of God and that which is not 0:21:16.619 --> 0:21:22.419 of God. He illustrates and uses the the name of 0:21:22.780 --> 0:21:29.620 Janice and Jamboree's, two legendary wizards during the time of Pharaoh. 0:21:30.140 --> 0:21:32.580 Do you remember who they were? They were. They withstood 0:21:32.580 --> 0:21:36.820 Moses as Moses did miracles in front of the Pharaoh. 0:21:36.859 --> 0:21:42.459 They imitated seemingly through not just trickery, but it feels 0:21:42.460 --> 0:21:46.900 like they had some sort of supernatural power to imitate 0:21:46.900 --> 0:21:51.900 the very things that were of God. If Moses produced it, 0:21:51.900 --> 0:21:56.620 they produced something similar. That's exactly how imitation gospel is. 0:21:57.100 --> 0:22:02.550 It gives you a false Counterfeit sense of spirituality and 0:22:02.550 --> 0:22:06.030 connection to God that is not vetted through the Word 0:22:06.030 --> 0:22:11.070 of God and ultimately lacks power. Some of you in 0:22:11.070 --> 0:22:16.470 this auditorium, more than likely stats tell us, will be lured, 0:22:17.630 --> 0:22:23.750 deceived by something that seems shiny new, but ultimately leads 0:22:23.750 --> 0:22:30.790 to confusion far from God, emptiness, having a form of 0:22:30.790 --> 0:22:35.230 godliness but lacking the power thereof. Be prepared. 0:22:40.150 --> 0:22:43.270 You're listening to Bold Steps, the Bible teaching ministry of 0:22:43.270 --> 0:22:46.230 Mark Jobe, and we'll continue this important message on being 0:22:46.230 --> 0:22:49.550 prepared when we return for tomorrow's program. Make plans to 0:22:49.550 --> 0:22:52.350 join us. Then, Mark, as we wrap up, there's a 0:22:52.350 --> 0:22:55.750 striking idea in Louie Giglio's book, Goliath Must Fall, that 0:22:55.750 --> 0:22:58.590 the time for our giant to fall is today, and 0:22:58.590 --> 0:23:01.670 a surprising truth about how it comes down brings home 0:23:01.670 --> 0:23:02.270 with that. 0:23:02.470 --> 0:23:05.150 You know, Wayne, we don't always feel ready for the battle. 0:23:05.590 --> 0:23:09.550 David definitely didn't say, hey, I'm just a shepherd boy. 0:23:09.550 --> 0:23:11.950 Let me go get some training. It'll be months and 0:23:11.950 --> 0:23:15.550 then I'll come back and fight. There's certain battles that 0:23:16.109 --> 0:23:19.790 you need to fight now, right? Or the giant is 0:23:19.790 --> 0:23:22.990 going to take you down even when you don't feel 0:23:22.990 --> 0:23:27.109 fully prepared for the battle. If you're battling some issues 0:23:27.109 --> 0:23:30.429 in your life and you say, you know, maybe later 0:23:30.430 --> 0:23:33.750 when I graduate, or maybe when I'm older, maybe when 0:23:33.750 --> 0:23:36.510 I move. No no no. It's time now to fight 0:23:36.510 --> 0:23:37.190 those battles. 0:23:37.230 --> 0:23:39.070 We have a part to play, but it's God is 0:23:39.070 --> 0:23:40.030 going to win the battle. 0:23:40.070 --> 0:23:42.310 He's going to ultimately win the battle. And, you know, 0:23:42.350 --> 0:23:46.470 Giglio makes a good point of just reminding us that 0:23:46.470 --> 0:23:52.030 we're not fighting for victory. We're fighting from victory. Jesus 0:23:52.030 --> 0:23:55.230 has already won the battle. So like David, I mean, 0:23:55.270 --> 0:23:57.870 he wasn't quite prepared, but he went in there with 0:23:57.869 --> 0:24:01.600 his slingshot. He obeyed God, and God fought the battle 0:24:01.600 --> 0:24:04.520 for him. Some of you need to say, I'm going 0:24:04.560 --> 0:24:07.280 to tackle this even though I don't feel fully prepared, 0:24:07.280 --> 0:24:09.960 because when you rely on God, he will fight that 0:24:09.960 --> 0:24:15.080 battle for you. There's an urgency. Don't delay. We're excited 0:24:15.080 --> 0:24:18.719 to offer this book, Goliath Must Fall. And by the way, 0:24:18.720 --> 0:24:20.280 he must fall today. 0:24:20.640 --> 0:24:22.640 Well, we'd love to send you a copy of Goliath 0:24:22.640 --> 0:24:25.080 Must Fall. Just reach out and request it. When you 0:24:25.080 --> 0:24:27.720 give a donation of any amount to support this ministry. 0:24:28.080 --> 0:24:34.000 Give online at bold steps.org or call us at 800 D.L. Moody. 0:24:34.160 --> 0:24:40.040 That's (800) 356-6639. You can also send your donation through the 0:24:40.040 --> 0:24:42.600 mail and ask for the book. Our address is Bold 0:24:42.600 --> 0:24:49.600 steps 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois, 606 ten. Mark 0:24:49.600 --> 0:24:52.680 has been challenging us today to be prepared, not caught 0:24:52.720 --> 0:24:55.440 off guard by the moment we're living in. Our bold 0:24:55.440 --> 0:24:58.119 partners are part of that preparation for listeners. They'll never 0:24:58.119 --> 0:25:01.720 meet Meat because of their faithful monthly giving. These messages 0:25:01.720 --> 0:25:05.639 go out every single day to people who are struggling, searching, 0:25:05.640 --> 0:25:08.359 and in some cases, hearing the gospel for the very 0:25:08.359 --> 0:25:11.520 first time. If you want to be part of that work, 0:25:11.520 --> 0:25:13.920 there's no better time to step up than right now. 0:25:14.359 --> 0:25:17.240 Just go to bold steps.org to sign up. And when 0:25:17.240 --> 0:25:19.840 you commit to a monthly gift of $30 or more, 0:25:20.000 --> 0:25:23.359 you'll receive a signed copy of Mark's book, unstuck. The 0:25:23.400 --> 0:25:26.760 Bold Partner posts a personal biweekly video message from Mark 0:25:27.080 --> 0:25:31.280 and a 50% discount at the Moody Publisher's online store. 0:25:31.680 --> 0:25:33.760 And we'd love to have you on our team. Sign 0:25:33.760 --> 0:25:38.560 up today at bold steps.org. I'm Wayne Shepherd. Join us 0:25:38.560 --> 0:25:41.760 tomorrow for the conclusion of this message being prepared. That's 0:25:41.760 --> 0:25:47.120 Friday on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. Bold steps is 0:25:47.119 --> 0:25:51.280 a production of Moody Radio, a Ministry of Moody Bible Institute.