S1: Today on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. We're learning to
S1: make some noise for the Lord.
S2: I believe there's a whole world out there. Most of
S2: them are not asking themselves, what must I do to
S2: be saved? They haven't seen people live out their faith
S2: in such a way that makes them wonder, what do
S2: you have that I don't have? That makes them come
S2: to you and say, tell me. I want to have
S2: what you have. What must I do to be saved
S2: like you're saved.
S1: Welcome to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. Mark is founding
S1: pastor of New Life Community Church in Chicago. I'm Wayne Shepherd.
S1: When things are going well in our lives, it's easy
S1: to be noisy about God's goodness. But what happens when
S1: you're in a trial or a circumstance that is less
S1: than ideal? What then? Well, that's the topic we'll address today.
S1: This message comes from our series relentless, and it's all
S1: about learning to press on when the pressure is on.
S1: So if you have your Bible, let's open it together
S1: to acts chapter 16. Mark will be reading through verses
S1: 11 through 34 in a message titled Make some Noise.
S2: I think that the world makes a lot more noise
S2: sometimes than the church makes. I've told you this before,
S2: but I have men that come to church and say, well, pastor,
S2: you know, I'm not really a singer shouter. I'm not.
S2: I'm just not a very emotional person. So when we're
S2: like praising, I just don't I just sit there like
S2: this because I'm kind of reserved. They'll tell me that
S2: in church and then I'll see him at a bears game.
S2: There shouting, screaming, have their face painted, screaming at the
S2: top of their lungs, shouting, jumping up and down. I'm like, hey,
S2: what happened to the reserved man? It's not that you're reserved.
S2: It's what you get excited about. You've learned to get
S2: pumped up about the the the message of a sports team.
S2: But what hasn't grasped you is to make get excited
S2: about the message that can transform people's lives for eternity
S2: and change the destiny of people and cities around. My
S2: goal is for some of you just to start making
S2: some noise in the right direction. So jot this down.
S2: The sound of praise. Our most powerful sound is the
S2: voice of praise lifted up from the dark moments of life.
S2: You see, the Bible says that they put Paul and
S2: Silas in prison. They flogged them, put them in the
S2: deepest prison, and in the middle of their hardest time,
S2: their darkest moment, their most difficult season, they decide to
S2: make some noise. And it's not the noise of complaining. Oh, God,
S2: where were you? How come this has happened to us?
S2: We're trying to follow you and we're in prison. They
S2: decide in their darkest moment to make some noise of praise.
S2: So they, with their chains on their legs and their
S2: backs bloody, they decide to start singing a little bit.
S2: They just start to to lift up their voice and
S2: to praise the King of Kings and the Lord of lords.
S2: And I'm sure when they first started, their voices were
S2: a little crackly. But you know, when you get to singing,
S2: then suddenly the energy comes in and you get into
S2: it and they're doing a duo in that prison. They're
S2: both just singing. And the Bible says that all the
S2: prisoners stop and start listening to them. Why? Because there's
S2: something compelling about the voice of praise in the middle
S2: of a dark moment. That's called a sacrifice of praise. Now,
S2: many of us are used to the reaction of praise.
S2: That's easy. You go to work and the boss tells
S2: you you've been just given a promotion and a raise
S2: and it's Hallelujah. Thank you Jesus. Whoa! God is so good.
S2: That's a reaction of praise. It's a reaction. You're waiting
S2: for a diagnosis from the hospital about that lump that
S2: you weren't sure was benign or malignant. And the doctor
S2: report comes back and says, no, it's just benign. There's
S2: no operation. You don't have to worry about it. It's, oh, Lord,
S2: you're so good. Oh, hallelujah. I just feel like praising
S2: and thanking you. That's a reaction of praise. A sacrifice
S2: of praise comes at our dark moment. It comes when
S2: instead of the doctor saying, no, it's benign. He says
S2: it's malignant, and we think it's stage four. And then
S2: when you hear that news and you say, blessed be
S2: the name of the Lord God Almighty because he's sovereign
S2: and in control and he's still Jehovah Rapha. I entrust
S2: myself to you. That's a sacrifice of praise. A sacrifice
S2: of praise is when you get a bad report from
S2: your job and say, no, I think you're going to
S2: get the pink slip here. And you say, thank you, Lord,
S2: because you are Jehovah Jireh, the God that provides all
S2: my needs according to your riches and glory. And I
S2: still bless your name. And ultimately, you're in charge of
S2: my finances, God and not my boss. So I lift
S2: up a praise to your name, God. That's a sacrifice
S2: of praise. You see, it's in the middle of your
S2: dark moment when you start praising that people listen because
S2: anybody can praise when things are good. It's when things
S2: are bad and ugly and difficult and challenging and the
S2: pressure's on. Then when you praise, people start listening to
S2: your praise. They listen to the sound that you make.
S2: The Bible tells us in Hebrews chapter 13, verses 15
S2: through 16. Through Jesus, through whom Jesus. Because without the
S2: supernatural empowerment of Jesus, you would never be able to
S2: do it through Jesus. Therefore, anytime you see the word
S2: therefore in the Bible, you have to ask yourself, what
S2: is it there for? Therefore, is the is a preposition
S2: that ties together the previous thought to the next thought
S2: that's coming through Jesus. Therefore, because of Jesus, you can
S2: do this without the Jesus. You cannot do this through Jesus. Therefore,
S2: what can we do through Jesus? Let us continually, continually
S2: means that this goes on and on without interruption or break.
S2: It means a constant flow that is uninterrupted. Through Jesus. Therefore,
S2: let us continually, without interruption, not stopping. Offer to God
S2: a sacrifice. Say it together with me. Sacrifice a sacrifice
S2: of praise. Sacrifice of praise. It's not a sacrifice unless
S2: it's hard to give. If it's easy to give, it's a.
S2: If it's a reaction. It's not a sacrifice. When it's hard,
S2: it's a sacrifice. When it costs me something, it's a sacrifice.
S2: When I have to wrestle to give it. It's a
S2: sacrifice when I have to say, oh, I don't know
S2: if I can give it. I don't know if I can.
S2: Then it's a sacrifice. When I have to go contrary
S2: to my natural reaction, then it's a sacrifice when when
S2: I have to pay a price to give it, then
S2: it's a sacrifice. So I need to continually offer a
S2: sacrifice of praise. And what is a sacrifice of praise?
S2: He defines it, the fruit of my lips, openly professing
S2: his name. It's the fruit of my lips saying, you, Jesus,
S2: are the one. Thank you father, because you are the one.
S2: I give glory and honor to you. Even though it's
S2: difficult in this circumstance and this trial. But I still
S2: lift up my voice and I bless your name and
S2: give you the honor that you deserve, even though it's hard.
S2: It's a sacrifice of praise. The next sound that I
S2: hear is not only the singing of Paul and Silas,
S2: but the next sound that I hear is the sound
S2: of freedom. You see, our praise sets in motion an
S2: opportunity for God to show his power. An atmosphere of
S2: faith provides an opportunity for God to show up and
S2: manifest his power. So as they fill their cell with
S2: praise and thanksgiving and singing, they turn their cell into
S2: a little home group. And what happens as soon as
S2: you start praising in the middle of a dark moment,
S2: is that you start changing the culture of the crisis
S2: that you're in. And it says, about midnight, Paul and
S2: Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the
S2: other prisoners were listening to them. And then suddenly you
S2: hear another noise, because I believe the sound of praise
S2: invites the sound of God. Oh, I wish you could
S2: hear me today, because this is really important. I believe
S2: that the sound of praise incites The sound of God.
S2: Have you ever seen a baby that starts crying? If
S2: you look at dads, they're just kind of like, hey,
S2: the baby's crying. But there's something about the reaction of
S2: a mother when she hears a baby crying. Every fiber
S2: in her being is activated by the cry of a baby. It.
S2: It awakens something inside of her, something irresistible. Something like.
S2: I cannot say no. She cannot listen to her baby
S2: cry without responding to it. Because the cry of a
S2: baby awakens something within a mother. The sacrifice of praise
S2: awakens something in the heart of God that cannot be
S2: ignored on earth. The sacrifice of praise does something to
S2: the heart of God. It awakens every fiber of his being.
S2: It calls the Holy Spirit into that place. It causes
S2: the presence of God. That's the kind of voice that
S2: brings the motion and commitment of God. It's when we
S2: sacrifice praise in the middle of our difficulty, it invokes
S2: the presence of God. It causes the attention of God
S2: to zoom in on what's happening there. And the Bible
S2: says as they were singing. Then suddenly in verse 26,
S2: there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of
S2: the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors
S2: flew open and everyone's chains came loose. The jailer woke up,
S2: and when he saw that the prison doors were open,
S2: he drew his sword and was about to kill himself
S2: because he thought that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted,
S2: do not harm yourself! Do you see what's happening here?
S2: You see, the sound of praise is bringing about the
S2: reaction of God. And now. And now you hear the
S2: sound of freedom. What does freedom sound like? It sounds.
S2: Chains dropping, doors opening. God. Setting something in motion. Uh,
S2: what does it sound like? Let me tell it again.
S2: It sounds like chains breaking doors, opening bars bending. Why?
S2: Because the sound of praise triggered the response of God.
S1: You're listening to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe, and we'll
S1: continue in a moment. But I want to make sure
S1: you know where to go. If you ever miss one
S1: of these daily lessons. That's our website, Bold steps.org. And
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S1: real soon. Now let's get back to our message here
S1: again as pastor Mark Jobe.
S2: I heard one preacher say one time that Paul and
S2: Silas were singing in the prison, and God was so
S2: into their song that he started tapping his foot like, yeah,
S2: I like that. And when God started tapping his foot,
S2: then suddenly the earth started shaking. And the more he
S2: tapped his foot, the more the earth started shaking and quaking.
S2: And pretty soon liberation came because God was into their music.
S2: A sacrifice of praise draws the reaction of God. It
S2: leads me to my third point here. Not only were
S2: they set free, but when the jailer woke up, he
S2: was about to kill himself. Because under the Roman law,
S2: if you let a prisoner escape, it was a life
S2: for a life. And so he thought, the prisoners have escaped.
S2: I'm going to kill myself. And Paul shouts, do not
S2: harm yourself. We're still here. Number three, I hear the
S2: sound of surrender. Our freedom opens the doors for the
S2: Word of God to be heard loudly. So now this
S2: jailer that's seeing what God has done is about to
S2: kill himself. Paul says, stop! And this jailer sees God
S2: intervene in crisis. And when he sees, hears their praise
S2: and sees God intervene in crisis, he is actually moved
S2: and hears the sound of God calling his own life.
S2: Let me tell you something. I know some of you
S2: like to have a victory testimony to share. But some
S2: of your most powerful testimonies won't be from the mountaintop.
S2: Some of your most powerful testimonies will be from the Valley.
S2: You say, I really want my family to hear the word.
S2: I wish they would listen to me. I hope they
S2: see how good my life is going, and then they're
S2: going to listen to me. But, you know, sometimes it
S2: doesn't work that way. Sometimes your most powerful message is
S2: when things are going bad, when life is terrible. And
S2: then suddenly your family is looking at you and they
S2: see the strength of your heart, the perseverance of your character.
S2: And they're saying to myself, if I were in that situation,
S2: I'd be falling apart. Look at them. What is it
S2: that's sustaining them? What is it that's holding? And when
S2: they ask you. Then suddenly you begin to share Jesus
S2: with them. And for the first time in their life,
S2: they listen to your message because it's being spoken from
S2: the place of trial. And so. He sees what God does.
S2: This jailer. And I love his response. He, he comes
S2: to Paul and Silas and he says to them, sirs,
S2: what must I do to be saved? Now that's spiritual openness.
S2: That is someone that's hungry for God. What caused them
S2: to be hungry for God? He saw the deliverance of God.
S2: He saw God move in the midst of their crisis.
S2: He saw God spare them. He saw God at work
S2: in two people that were prisoners, broken, beaten. And he
S2: saw how God was in the midst of their crisis.
S2: And because God was in the midst of the crisis,
S2: even though they hadn't escaped. And listen, the Bible tells
S2: us that they let them go the next day. God
S2: knew that they were let him going to let him
S2: go the next day, but he still caused the earthquake
S2: to happen to open up the doors of their jail cell. Why?
S2: Because God cared for this Philippian jailer. This Philippian jailer
S2: needed to see Paul and Silas in crisis. And then
S2: he fell on his knees and said, what must I
S2: do to be saved? Listen to me. I believe there's
S2: a whole world out there. Most of them are not
S2: asking themselves, what must I do to be saved because
S2: they haven't seen a believer survive crisis. They haven't seen
S2: strong faith that doesn't give up. They haven't seen people
S2: live out their faith in such a way that makes
S2: them wonder, what do you have that I don't have
S2: that makes them come to you and say, tell me.
S2: I want to have what you have. What must I
S2: do to be saved like you're saved? And then I
S2: love the response. And lastly, number four. The sound of splashing.
S2: You see, the Word of God has the power to
S2: affect the destiny of our entire household. They replied to him,
S2: believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved
S2: and your whole household. That's the shortest synopsis of the
S2: gospel in all of Scripture, I believe. Believe in the
S2: Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved and your
S2: entire household. You say, pastor, is it as simple as that? Yeah,
S2: it's as simple as that. Now, what does it mean
S2: to believe? I believe that he's the Son of God.
S2: I believe that he's God himself. I believe that he
S2: came to this earth. I believe that he died on
S2: the cross. I believe that he rose again on the
S2: third day. I believe that he's the only mediator between
S2: man and God. I believe that Jesus has power to
S2: forgive my sins. That's what it means to believe. Believe
S2: in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.
S2: And he spoke and said, yet thou shalt be saved,
S2: and thy entire household. And then they spoke the word
S2: of God to him, and all of the others in
S2: his house. And at that hour of the night the
S2: jailer took them, washed their wounds. Then right after, then
S2: it says something, do you see what it says? And
S2: then immediately say it out loud with me immediately. What
S2: does immediately mean? It means right away. It means as
S2: soon as he made the decision and then immediately as
S2: soon when was it? What time was it after midnight?
S2: Two in the morning. Wait at night? We're there in
S2: a church service. No, no, they weren't in a church service.
S2: They were just after a major crisis in someone's house.
S2: The gospel is presented. And then immediately. What did they do?
S2: He and all his household were not baptized. You say? Well, pastor,
S2: I gave my life to Jesus five years ago. I've
S2: just been waiting for the right timing and I'm I'm
S2: sort of building up to it. I'm a little afraid
S2: of water. I want to get my testimony. Hold on,
S2: hold on. What part of. Immediately have you not understood? Seriously,
S2: if you are a follower of Jesus Christ today and
S2: have given your life to Jesus Christ, there is no
S2: reason that you shouldn't be taking the step of believer's
S2: baptism immediately. When he heard the gospel and received immediately
S2: him and his whole household were baptized. I love that.
S2: I don't know if you're the only one in your
S2: household today that's following God. Listen, God loves you so
S2: much that he chose you to be the first. Oh,
S2: I know it feels lonely sometimes. I know it feels
S2: like they don't understand. Sometimes I know that maybe they
S2: call you the Holy roller or the Jesus freak. Or
S2: maybe they laugh at you. And when are you going
S2: to come back? And when are you going to get
S2: over this phase? But let me tell you, God loves
S2: you so much that he entrusted you to be the
S2: first in your family to come to know Jesus. Stand
S2: in that position and don't let go of it, because
S2: you now have become the funnel through which the rest
S2: of your family can experience the blessing and the splash
S2: of God upon them. Don't give up. Don't get discouraged.
S2: Don't be dissuaded. Stand in that place and say, God,
S2: I'm believing you for the rest of my family. I
S2: want my whole family to come to Jesus. I want
S2: all my family to experience the power of God. But
S2: it has to start with one. It's gotta start with one.
S3: It has to start with one. Just two weeks ago,
S3: a father went to a men's retreat and gave his
S3: life to Christ. And on Sunday I saw him with
S3: a young lady sitting next to him. It was his
S3: 22 year old daughter. And he said, she's never been
S3: to church. She's new here. At the end of the service,
S3: he was crying and I said, what's wrong? And he
S3: pointed over and his 22 year old daughter was giving
S3: her life to Christ.
S1: My goodness.
S3: Wow. And so I want to encourage you. You can't
S3: save your relatives, your husband, your kids, your wife. But
S3: as you follow Jesus and begin to pray earnestly for them,
S3: I believe they have a much, much better chance to
S3: come to Jesus because they're related to you. So be encouraged.
S3: Don't give up. I've seen people intercede for decades and
S3: finally see a breakthrough. So I want to encourage you.
S3: Your family is blessed because you know the Lord and
S3: you are a part of that family.
S1: All right. Thank you, Mark. And if you would like
S1: to learn more about drawing closer to Christ, let me
S1: invite you to go online to bold steps.org. Find the
S1: more tab and then click on the link that says
S1: My Next Step in Faith. There you'll find a helpful
S1: video from pastor Mark laying out what it means to
S1: really follow Jesus day by day, and what you can
S1: do to take that bold step of faith. This month
S1: we have a resource we'd love to put into your hands.
S1: It's our bold step gift, a book called The Case
S1: for Faith by Lee Strobel. Just as Paul and Silas
S1: made a sound that others couldn't ignore. This book gives
S1: you a faith that can speak clearly and confidently to
S1: the toughest questions the world is asking. Lee Strobel investigates
S1: eight major barriers to belief, including the problem of suffering,
S1: the challenge of silence and exclusivity of Christ. And he
S1: delivers thoughtful, honest, research backed answers for every one of them.
S1: Request your copy today. When you give a gift of
S1: any amount to support this ministry. Visit us online at
S1: bold steps.org/give or call us at 800 DL. Moody, that's (800) 356-6639.
S1: And you can also send your gift and request Lee's
S1: book in the mail when you write to us at
S1: Bold Steps, 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois. 606 ten. Now,
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S1: bold steps.org. I'm Wayne Sheppard, wishing you a noisy, faith
S1: filled week. Join us tomorrow when Mark begins a message
S1: on pressing forward toward our spiritual goals that's pressing toward
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