S1: Today on Bold Steps, Mark Jobe continues teaching us how
S1: to maintain peace while untangling life's messes.
S2: The world may be difficult, but God is good and
S2: he's in control. The world may be tough, but the
S2: God of the universe is just and kind and forgiving
S2: and loving and and generous and gracious. He's in control
S2: of all things. So therefore we have a lot to
S2: be grateful for. We have a default to joy in
S2: our life because God is in control.
S1: Welcome to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. Mark is president
S1: of Moody Bible Institute and senior pastor of New Life
S1: Community Church in Chicago. And I'm Wayne Shepherd. In our
S1: relationships with family and friends and coworkers, we all encounter
S1: situations that get tangled and messy, and far too often
S1: our initial response is to become combative rather than gentle
S1: when faced with conflict or criticism. Today, Mark continues his
S1: powerful message titled Untangling Life Without Losing Your Peace, where
S1: he's showing us how to navigate these challenging situations using
S1: wisdom from the book of Philippians. Yesterday, Mark explained Paul's
S1: instruction to rejoice in the Lord always so important that
S1: Paul actually says it twice. Let's join Mark now as
S1: he continues teaching us how to maintain our peace while
S1: untangling life's most challenging relationships.
S2: He says, let your gentleness be evident to all. Gentleness
S2: means a readiness to listen and to reason. A yieldedness
S2: that does not retaliate. Gentleness means that I don't come
S2: out swinging. It means that when someone comes and talks
S2: to me about something I don't like, oh, you're going
S2: to tell me. Let me tell you something. It means
S2: that we listen, that we don't react. It means that
S2: people can approach us Without expecting them to get their
S2: head bitten off. It means that there is a sense
S2: of calmness about our spirit that says, I'm willing to
S2: listen and hear you out. That I can dialogue with
S2: you and that I'll listen to you and that we
S2: can reason together. Can I be honest? There are some
S2: of you that people whisper around you, and I believe
S2: that many of us have a combative spirit. The Bible says, hey, listen,
S2: if we're going to get along with people, you need
S2: to learn to step back, to listen, to check your insecurities,
S2: to realize that we need to dialogue about things, that
S2: we have to be, that there's blind spots in our
S2: life and that our gentleness, our willingness to listen, our
S2: ability to dialogue about things should be evident to all.
S2: The question I ask you is this the last time
S2: someone came and pointed something out in your life? How
S2: did you respond? Was it? Thank you. Let me think
S2: about that. You may be right. Or was it? Seriously?
S2: You're going to tell me? Have you looked at your
S2: own life? Dude, you're a lot. Let me tell you.
S2: I got a couple of things to tell you about, too.
S2: That's combativeness. And the apostle Paul is saying, you know,
S2: some of us are combative and and and we need
S2: to check our attitudes. We need to default to an
S2: attitude of joy. Secondly, we need to check our combativeness.
S2: So we have the ability to listen to people as
S2: people express grievances or issues in our life. And thirdly,
S2: he does a little statement. This is staccato rejoice in
S2: the Lord. Let your gentleness be evident to all. And
S2: then another staccato statement he says, the Lord is near.
S2: Now why would he say that? I believe that he says,
S2: the Lord is near. To remind us That life is short.
S2: You know, the Bible talks about if you if you're
S2: not been exposed to a lot of Christian teaching, the
S2: Bible talks about the imminent return of Christ. So the
S2: believers in the times of Jesus, we don't talk about
S2: it as much today, but we are 2000 years closer
S2: to the coming of Jesus than they were. The Bible
S2: talks about the imminent return of Christ. In other words,
S2: that Jesus Christ could return at any moment, at any time.
S2: And the early believers lived with an expectation that Jesus
S2: Christ could come again anytime, any moment. You say, well,
S2: I believe that, you know, this prophecy has to be
S2: fulfilled and this has to happen in Israel and the
S2: temple needs to be rebuilt. Okay, you could die of
S2: a heart attack at any moment. The point is, life
S2: is short. And if life is so short, There are
S2: things that are extremely petty in our relationships that one
S2: day we'll have to stand before God, and you're going
S2: to look at the petty things that you argued against.
S2: You're going to look at the things that you were
S2: divided over, and we're going to have to give an
S2: account before God. So I believe that the Apostle Paul
S2: is reminding us, listen, rejoice always, be gentle, and remember
S2: life is short, so get things right as quickly as possible,
S2: because some things really don't matter that much. How about it?
S2: You've heard the word maranatha. The Aramaic equivalent to the
S2: Lord is near is Maranatha. Maranatha means come, Lord Jesus
S2: or the Lord is coming soon. Maranatha. Then the Apostle
S2: Paul tells us, not only resolve your conflict quickly reset
S2: your attitude. Then he tells us in verse six, practice
S2: stress releasing prayer, stress releasing prayer. I know that if
S2: you look on different websites and so forth, and you
S2: are plagued with some anxiety, that there is a lot
S2: of talk about meditation and a lot of talk about
S2: breathing slowly and posturing and emptying your mind and so forth.
S2: I believe that the Bible does talk about meditation, but
S2: not meditation. Maybe, as you are explained from other secular
S2: pagan sources, but I believe there is a place for powerful,
S2: stress releasing prayer. In fact, let me say this he
S2: starts out in verse six and says, do not be
S2: anxious about anything. Can I tell you that we live
S2: in a epidemic of anxiety? In fact, as I just
S2: say that here, probably the great majority of this auditorium
S2: has been affected by anxiety to one degree of severity
S2: or another in the last few months. There are more
S2: people now struggling with severe anxiety than almost at any
S2: other time that we have noted or surveyed it in history.
S2: Some people attribute it primarily to what we went through
S2: during the pandemic. There was fear of death. There was isolation.
S2: Some people attribute it to our disconnectivity because of our
S2: social Devices. And so we scroll through our screens but
S2: have less and less physical. Eye to eye verbal contact
S2: with people. We are at an all time epidemic of anxiety.
S2: What does that look like? It looks like I'm unable
S2: to sleep at night because my thoughts start to race
S2: and race, and I start thinking about everything I have
S2: to do. And suddenly my thoughts start to merge into
S2: one another and my mind starts to race at a
S2: speed that I cannot control. And before you know it,
S2: my heart starts to palpitate and I can't sleep. And
S2: I'm restless and I wake up and I'm sweating. And
S2: or it can lead to anxiety attacks. Panic attacks where
S2: you feel like your pressure's going up. Something's happened to me.
S2: It can lead to severe panic attacks. So people are
S2: paralyzed or I can't get out of bed, or I
S2: start fearing being around people. I have social setting anxiety.
S2: I have anxiety about my deadlines, anxiety about people that
S2: I meet, anxiety about the future, anxiety about death, anxiety
S2: about finances. Anxiety about who am I going to marry?
S2: Am I going to be left alone in life? I
S2: have anxiety about a lot of things, but my mind races,
S2: my peace evaporates, and I feel myself constantly. By the way,
S2: anxiety and depression are cousins, so one gives way to another. Oftentimes,
S2: depression is the result of anxious thoughts that I can't
S2: continue to control. And so for it leads me down
S2: this dark hole of depression. Huge today. And if you're
S2: struggling with anxiety today, let me tell you you're not alone.
S2: And the Apostle Paul is very clear about there is
S2: something that you can do about it. And I want
S2: you to listen up because this is really powerful. Do
S2: not be anxious about Anything you say, pastor. I try
S2: not to be anxious, but I just can't control it.
S2: So he tells us what to do when your mind
S2: starts to default to anxiety. Oftentimes our anxiety is a
S2: result of tension and relationships. Not always. He says, but
S2: instead of being anxious about things, here's what I want
S2: you to do, he says. But in everything. Anytime there's anxiety,
S2: anytime you're worried, anytime you're burdened, anytime you're frustrated, anytime
S2: you're stressed, he says. I want you to take advantage
S2: of this incredible power and position that you have to
S2: enter into the throne room, where there is more peace
S2: and authority than anywhere in the universe. And that is
S2: the throne room of the Most High God. So he
S2: says what I want you to do when anxiety starts
S2: to come upon you, I want you to go into prayer.
S2: Some of you are new at praying. Prayer for Christians, uh,
S2: regardless of the background that you come from, prayer for
S2: Christians is coming before God the Father, having been given
S2: access by Jesus Christ the Son, who's the mediator. And
S2: you're empowered to pray and know how to pray through
S2: the spirit that's inside of you. God the father, through
S2: Jesus the Son, empowered by the Holy Spirit. So you
S2: come into the presence of God Almighty and you say, well, pastor,
S2: I pray and it doesn't help me. I get worse.
S2: I would advocate and say, maybe it's because you're praying
S2: in the wrong way. You see, first of all, I
S2: think we need to understand what prayer is and how
S2: to pray the right way, especially when it comes to anxiety.
S2: The Lord's Prayer teaches us to address God as a father,
S2: a loving father that cares not as a judge that's
S2: seeking to demand something. So you have access to the
S2: father through Jesus Christ, the son, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
S2: And then it says, I want you in everything by
S2: prayer and petition. So you bring your requests before God.
S2: You say, God, this is something that's stressing me out.
S2: I don't know what to do about it. I have
S2: no control over this. But God, I'm bringing it to
S2: you and I'm asking you to intervene. I'm putting it
S2: in your hands. I'm asking you to do something about it.
S2: I believe that some of us do that, but I
S2: think that some of us miss one of the powerful
S2: components of this by prayer and petition with thanksgiving. I
S2: think some of us our prayer is more like a
S2: complaint session. Have you ever had complaint sessions before God?
S2: I have. God. I'm just tired of this. Sick of this.
S2: I can't believe they do this. They're doing this and
S2: it's going to happen to that. And I'm just expressing
S2: my negative thoughts before God. That's complaining in the presence
S2: of God. But when you're praying, you're actually saying, God,
S2: I have these issues and I am overwhelmed by it
S2: and it does bother me, but I'm bringing it before you.
S2: I don't know what to do about it. I have
S2: no control. It's stressing me out. It's stressing my family out.
S2: And then the Bible says, listen, I want you to
S2: notice the secret ingredient with thanksgiving. You see prayer petition
S2: wrapped in thanksgiving. You have a prodigal son or daughter.
S2: Maybe a son that's really troubled you. Uh, that that
S2: maybe they're struggling with addiction or making bad choices, going
S2: in the wrong direction. They don't listen to you anymore.
S2: You're overwhelmed by it. You're just waiting for a phone
S2: call in the middle of the night telling you bad news.
S2: And so it stresses you out. And so instead of
S2: just worrying about it, the Bible says, bring it before
S2: God with thanksgiving. I bring my petition. But then I say,
S2: and thank you, God, that you're in control. And thank you,
S2: God that you care about my son more than I
S2: care about him. And thank you that you're awake 24
S2: hours a day watching over them. And thank you that
S2: you're working behind the scenes and have a purpose and
S2: a plan. I don't even know of your purpose in
S2: your plan. Thank you, Lord Jesus. So I commend them
S2: to you and I bless you, God, because you've listened
S2: and heard and that you hear the the, the prayers
S2: of the people that call upon your name. God, I
S2: entrust them to you, bless you. Because when he was born,
S2: I knew you had a purpose and a plan for
S2: his life. So I entrust Trust them into your hands.
S2: That's what. Thanksgiving. And listen. Hear me? Well, this is
S2: what the Bible says. When you do this and you
S2: present your request before God with thanksgiving, he says, the
S2: peace of God. This means the contentment, the inner tranquility
S2: that comes from God. This is not your peace. This
S2: is the peace of God, supernatural, divine, heavenly created in
S2: the heavenly realm, the peace of God. Listen. Will which
S2: transcends understanding. In other words, there's a peace that you
S2: have in the middle of circumstances where you should be worried.
S2: You should be anxious, but it defies logical explanation. It
S2: guard the peace of God. That kind of peace. Look,
S2: it says, and the peace of God that transcends understanding
S2: will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
S2: That term guard is a military term. It's used of
S2: military people that guard the entrance of a city. They
S2: determine what comes in and what goes out. The peace
S2: of God becomes militant guardians of your mind and your heart.
S2: So when anxiety tries to make its way in, the
S2: peace of God aggressively fends off anxiety. When, when when
S2: anxiety tries to get Ahold of your heart or your mind,
S2: the peace of God says, you're not allowed in here.
S2: They they aggressively push out thoughts that would attribute to
S2: your mind, or feelings that would attach yourself to the heart,
S2: and they become the guardians, the supernatural spiritual guardians of
S2: your heart and mind because they are the peace of God.
S2: And lastly, redirect your thoughts. Notice what it tells us
S2: in verse eight through seven of Philippians chapter four. Finally, brothers,
S2: whatever is pure, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever
S2: is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable,
S2: if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think about these things.
S2: Some of you are stressed out because what you allow
S2: your mind to think of consistently. Can I just be
S2: honest with you? Some of you are news junkies. And
S2: let me just tell you something about our news channels.
S2: I think we need to know what's happening around the world.
S2: But the way that networks and stations get high ratings
S2: is by addressing bad news. 90% of the news or
S2: more is bad. It's the war that's happening. It's the
S2: plague that's going to happen. It's the crisis in the economy.
S2: It's the crime that happened down the street. Seldom, if ever,
S2: do you hear the good news when it comes to relationships.
S2: If you're married, you allow some sort of conflict in
S2: your relationship to sour you. It's not dealt with. A
S2: little resentment starts building up, and you start looking at
S2: your spouse through the lenses of disgruntled. They're at work
S2: and you're thinking that old. They didn't even kiss me
S2: when they went by. What are they doing? Why did
S2: I marry them? They're probably doing this. You start comparing,
S2: you start negative, you start projecting. You start looking at
S2: them in the wrong way, and they come in after
S2: a long day of work and they say, hey, honey,
S2: how you doing? Don't honey me. You know what? Because
S2: you just filled your mind with everything that's negative, bad.
S2: Anything that you can think of or conspire to think
S2: of is in your mind. And here's listen what the
S2: Bible says. Listen. The Bible says, I want you to
S2: be clear about this. He's talking about guarding our thinking.
S2: He's talking about reducing stress. He's talking about fighting anxiety.
S2: If it's true, if it's noble, if it's right, if
S2: it's pure, if it's lovely, if it's admirable, if there's
S2: any excellence or praiseworthy fill your mind with those things. Basically,
S2: what the Apostle Paul is saying is you need to
S2: start focusing on other things. You say, well, I want to.
S2: I'm a realist. I'm a realist too. But listen, in
S2: my orchestration and understanding and schematics of the universe, when
S2: God is on the throne and he is in control,
S2: then there is always good news. The world may be difficult,
S2: but God is good and he's in control. The world
S2: may be tough, but the God of the universe, who
S2: is just and kind and forgiving and loving and and
S2: generous and gracious, he's in control of all things. So
S2: therefore we have a lot to be grateful for, a
S2: lot to thank God for. We have a default to
S2: joy in our life because God is in control. And
S2: sometimes what we need to do is we need to
S2: take the remote of our thoughts and click to the
S2: next channel.
S1: Mark, I know this strikes a chord with people who
S1: are listening today who are feeling a bit tangled, huh?
S2: You know, Wayne, there is so much anxiousness and the
S2: Apostle Paul says, be anxious for nothing. And so if
S2: you find yourself in a moment of anxiety, especially because
S2: you're having family dynamics that aren't going well or because
S2: you're not getting along with another person, or because there's
S2: some undealt with issues, then I want to pause right now,
S2: and I want to pray with you, but I want
S2: to challenge you before I pray. I want to challenge
S2: you that you would put into practice what God says. Yeah,
S2: pray about the situation. But he says with thanksgiving, so
S2: start thanking God for what he's already doing. Begin to
S2: bless him that he's in control and it says the
S2: peace of God will start to descend. So, father, I
S2: pray for that person right now that is just stressed
S2: over relational tension. I pray for that person right now
S2: that is anxious because they have a situation at work
S2: that they're not sure how to solve, or because they
S2: have tension with their spouse or siblings or sons or daughters. God,
S2: I pray in Jesus name that they would pause right
S2: now and that they would give it to you and
S2: start thanking you for your involvement, thanking you for what
S2: is right. And I pray God that you would redirect
S2: their thoughts to those things that are pure and good,
S2: that they would change the channels. I pray for peace
S2: where there's been worry, stress and anxiety and we ask
S2: this in Jesus name. Amen.
S1: Amen. Thank you Mark. We'll continue talking about untangling relationships
S1: Monday with our next message called the Trap of Unforgiveness.
S1: So make plans to join us then. But over the weekend,
S1: we encourage you to check out our sister program, which
S1: is heard Saturdays or Sundays or at Bold Steps weekend. Org.
S1: It's your chance to dive into a powerful, fresh new
S1: study titled When You Believe Everything Changes by Pastor Mark Jobe.
S1: The study will challenge and inspire you as Mark explores
S1: how our faith in Christ transforms every aspect of our lives,
S1: from relationships to circumstances and even our perspective on life's
S1: biggest challenges. You'll gain practical insight and encouragement that can
S1: help you step into a new season of bold faith.
S1: So don't miss out on this uplifting message that could
S1: change the way you approach your life. To find out
S1: when and where you can hear Bold Steps weekend, just
S1: go to our website Bold Steps on our homepage. You
S1: can also check out our brand new Bold Step Gift,
S1: a book that we really want to send to every parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle,
S1: or mentor of young boys. Let me ask you, do
S1: the boys in your life believe they're too young to
S1: make a difference? Are they convinced that reading the Bible
S1: isn't for them? Well, these are just two of the
S1: dangerous lies tackled in lies. Boys believe written by parents
S1: of four boys, this engaging resource helps young men separate
S1: truth from fiction in a way that captures their imagination
S1: and speaks to their hearts through an engaging story of
S1: adventure and discovery. This bold step gift equips boys to
S1: recognize lies and stand firm in God's truth. So reach
S1: out today and request a copy of Lies Boys believe
S1: when you give a gift of any amount to support
S1: bold steps, just call us at 800 D.L. Moody. That's
S1: (800) 356-6639 or give online at Bold Steps. You can also
S1: send your gift through the mail to Bold Steps. 820
S1: North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. And right now,
S1: we'd also like to invite you to become a bold partner.
S1: A bold partner is someone who supports this ministry with
S1: a monthly financial gift. You set the amount that works
S1: best for you and your family, and you become part
S1: of the Bold Steps family, helping us spread the truth
S1: of God's Word across the globe all year long. With
S1: your gift as a bold partner, we'll send you some
S1: special bonuses like a signed copy of Mark's book unstuck.
S1: There's access to our Bold Partner post, and when your
S1: gift is $30 or more each month, you'll receive a 50%
S1: discount on all items at the Moody Publishers online store.
S1: Signing up is simple and easy. Just visit Bold steps.
S1: I'm Wayne Shepherd wishing you a wonderful weekend. Make plans
S1: to join us again Monday when Mark continues our series
S1: on untangling relationships with a new message titled The Trap
S1: of Unforgiveness. That's coming up Monday right here on Bold
S1: Steps with Mark Jobe. Bold steps is a production of
S1: Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.