S1: This is Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. I'm Wayne Shepherd,
S1: and today we're celebrating Good Friday with a powerful message
S1: about identity. And Mark, this is such a significant day
S1: in the Christian calendar. You're going to be sharing about
S1: what the cross means for our identity.
S2: Yeah that's right. This is a huge topic, Wayne. Especially identity,
S2: because so many people struggle across the board with understanding
S2: who they are that affects what they do. It affects
S2: how they relate to people. It affects their calling. Yes.
S2: And it all changed on Good Friday when Jesus the
S2: Christ died on that cross and gave us a ability
S2: to have a new identity in God.
S1: I'm so excited about this message to come here on
S1: bold steps today. The life changing truth about the Cross
S1: on Good Friday. Here on Bold Steps. Once again, welcome
S1: to this special Good Friday edition of Bold Steps with
S1: Mark Jobe. Mark is a senior pastor of New Life
S1: Community Church and president of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. Mark,
S1: as we reflect on their crucifixion today, many people understand
S1: that Jesus died for our sins, but sometimes we miss
S1: the implications of what that means for our identity. So
S1: let's elaborate on that transformation.
S2: Yeah, Wayne. The death of Jesus Christ is not just
S2: about sin. That's a big component, but it is about
S2: when our sin is removed, who we become. And the
S2: power of the cross of Jesus Christ is exemplified. When
S2: Jesus died and the veil of the temple that separated
S2: the Holy of Holies from just the regular worshiper was
S2: torn in two from the top down.
S1: That's one of my favorite points of what happened that day.
S1: I love that story.
S2: Probably people on the outside didn't realize, but God wanted
S2: to give a physical manifestation of what was happening there.
S2: He didn't have to tear the the temple veil, but
S2: for for decades and decades, man had been separated from
S2: the Holy of Holies. But when Jesus died, he tore it,
S2: symbolizing that now we have access to the Holy of Holies.
S2: In other words, our identity has changed because now we
S2: have been cleansed, and we are sons and daughters of
S2: the Most High God. And as sons and daughters of
S2: the Most High God that have been cleansed, washed and redeemed,
S2: we have access to the very holiest place in the universe.
S2: And that's the presence of God.
S1: What a moment, huh? What a moment, I love that.
S2: Yeah, and you know what I've discovered, Wayne, is that
S2: a lot of people, well, even though they may know
S2: the basics of salvation, they really still struggle with identity.
S2: How does God see them? Him. And even when we
S2: say God the Father, so many people have had bad
S2: experiences with their father. Absent fathers, critical, demeaning, abandoned fathers.
S2: When we say father, it doesn't conjure up this loving
S2: image of an affirming person in their life. Oftentimes it
S2: conjures up negative images.
S1: I know it does.
S2: I was at a women's retreat speaking about the father
S2: daughter factor, and I had a young girl come and
S2: stand in front of a mirror. She was about college
S2: age and I said, tell me, when you look at
S2: that mirror, how you see yourself. And she just started
S2: looking at that mirror. She stared at that mirror and
S2: started just saying, unworthy, ugly, no purpose, no call. As
S2: she looked at herself and described herself, she started to weep,
S2: just weeping. When she was done, I paused and I said,
S2: and now I want you to look at that mirror,
S2: and I want you to hear what God says about you.
S2: Daughter of the Most High God, clean, made in the
S2: image of God breathed in by His Holy Spirit. A
S2: woman of destiny, purpose and identity in God. Someone that
S2: God wants to spend eternity with. And she wept again.
S2: But this time it was tears of. Yeah, that's how
S2: the father sees.
S1: That's so powerful.
S2: Yeah, it was a really powerful moment. And I believe
S2: there's a lot of people that struggle with those same issues. Now,
S2: by the way, I love the story of the angel
S2: of the Lord, which is God himself appearing to Gideon
S2: in Judges chapter six, because I think it's such a
S2: powerful image. He appears to Gideon, and he's ready to
S2: call Gideon to do something extraordinary. And the Bible says,
S2: and the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and said,
S2: the Lord is with you, mighty warrior. Now Gideon at
S2: the time was Scared young. Hiding from the Midianites. Defeated.
S2: And it's just strange that God calls someone a mighty
S2: warrior who's never, ever fought a battle. And Gideon protests
S2: and he said, hey, Lord, I don't know if you
S2: got this right, but I'm of the lowest. I'm small.
S2: I'm of the smallest tribe. I'm defeated. But I want
S2: you to know that God saw in Gideon not who
S2: he was, but who God had called him to be
S2: and who he was becoming. So, through the cross of
S2: Jesus Christ, God has called you to be a son
S2: or daughter of the Most High God. Sin has been defeated.
S2: The accuser has been brought to his knees. You have
S2: been given a new identity. You've been sealed with the
S2: Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption. Your name is new.
S2: Your identity is new. Your purpose is new. And that's
S2: all through the cross of Jesus Christ. In fact, the
S2: Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians chapter two, I am
S2: crucified with Christ. I no longer live. Now I live
S2: a new person in God. The person I live now
S2: is a new person. It's a new identity, the new man,
S2: the new woman. And that's what Good Friday is all about.
S1: If any man is in Christ, he's a new creature,
S1: a new creation, huh?
S2: The old is gone and the new has come.
S1: Mark, thanks for bringing up Gideon and that story of identity.
S1: I'm just wondering, in your own life, has this ever
S1: been an issue for you, perhaps when you were a
S1: new believer?
S2: Yeah, absolutely. I think that, you know, I had a
S2: very strong, affirming father and so and mother that really
S2: loved the Lord. And so I counted a huge blessing
S2: that he spoke into my life. But I remember, like
S2: any teenager, young college student trying to figure out where
S2: I fit in, who am I.
S1: As we all do, right?
S2: Yeah, it's a very there's periods of our life where
S2: we're establishing our identity. I remember one particular time where
S2: I had just started pastoring. I was 21 years old.
S2: I was a little bit frustrated. I was trying to
S2: step into this role with very little experience. I remember
S2: sitting down at the table with my father and saying,
S2: I don't know if I'm cut out to be a pastor, dad.
S2: I said, I don't know. This is not coming easy,
S2: natural to me, and maybe I should just hand this
S2: over to someone else. I think my father sensed at
S2: that time. He sensed that this was a bit of
S2: a defining moment I'll never forget. He looked at me
S2: in my discouragement and he said, you know, Mark, you
S2: are a man of God. You have a heart for God,
S2: a sensitivity to the Lord. He said, I would in
S2: a moment love to place myself under you as my pastor.
S2: I would trust you to follow God. I would listen
S2: to your words. I have seen how God has used
S2: you and spoken through you. You're young, but there's a
S2: call on your life.
S1: You talk about affirmation. You're incredible.
S2: I needed that. That was a moment that I needed
S2: to know my identity, because there's a lot of self-doubt
S2: that comes in. And, you know, I want to encourage you,
S2: if you're a father here listening to me today, never
S2: underestimate the power of your words to help shape the
S2: identity of your sons and daughters at crucial times of
S2: their life, especially when they're young, but not exclusively when
S2: they're young. Sometimes they enter into parenthood and aren't sure
S2: they're going to be a good parent, or sometimes they're
S2: going into marriage and they're not sure they're going to survive.
S2: And so never underestimate the power of the words of
S2: a father. And I love, by the way, what the
S2: father tells us. The apostle tells us, listen. See what
S2: great love the father has lavished on us that we
S2: should be called children of God, and that is what
S2: we are. The love of God has been lavished on
S2: us so that we are called children of God. He
S2: just reaffirms it. He says, and that is what we are.
S2: Not what we're trying to become. But that's who we are.
S1: Beautiful. Mark, thank you for this teaching, which will continue
S1: today here on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. We'll have
S1: more on this Good Friday about our identity as sons
S1: and daughters of Christ in a moment. This message continues
S1: in just a moment. You're listening to Mark Jobe on
S1: Bold Steps. We hope you'll take some time to check
S1: out the various resources, even opportunities we have available on
S1: our website at Bold Steps, including this month's new selection
S1: of our Bold Step gift. And Mark is going to
S1: tell us more about it.
S2: You know, recent studies have shown that nearly half of
S2: all adults report not having a meaningful conversation in their
S2: daily lives. Uh, that's pretty startling, I guess. But it's
S2: one of those things that motivated our guest today to
S2: write her book, doctor Heather Holloman. In the six conversations,
S2: you talk about four mindsets that are essential for meaningful conversations.
S2: Can you walk us through those four mindsets?
S3: Yes, and thank you for having me on this program.
S3: In order to have a warm connection with someone, you
S3: need to be curious, believe the best about them, express concern,
S3: and share your life. They seem really simple, but most
S3: people are deficient in one of those categories.
S2: That is good. Yeah, so this is some of the
S2: elements needed to have a meaningful conversation, which in your book,
S2: obviously you talk about how conversation is the bridge way
S2: to really communicate our faith.
S3: That's right. And I got really excited about the power
S3: of having a warm connection. Once you know how to
S3: deeply connect with someone, evangelism is never going to feel
S3: like a sales pitch or an awkward pivot in the conversation.
S3: Good point. So I was really delighted to read the
S3: social science research, and also how Scripture has always really
S3: supports all of that. We've learned this is ancient wisdom literature.
S2: I love it, Heather, because so many people, when they
S2: think about evangelism, they think of a sales pitch or
S2: I have to do a mini lecture, and most people
S2: it intimidates. But to have a healthy conversation that naturally
S2: goes to those important places of spirituality, I think, lowers
S2: the barrier of fear and allows us to more naturally engage.
S2: Thank you, Heather, for writing this book. This, I think,
S2: is going to be a great resource for people that
S2: are seeking to bridge the gap of meaningful conversations with
S2: their loved ones.
S3: Thank you.
S1: Well, to give and request your copy of this special
S1: Bold Step gift, just visit Bold steps.org or give us
S1: a call at 800 D.L. Moody. That's (800) 356-6639 or give
S1: online as always at Bold steps.org, and you can also
S1: request your copy of the six conversations and give your
S1: gift of any amount by writing to us. Just address
S1: your envelope to bold steps. 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago,
S1: Illinois 606 ten. This is a special edition of Bold Steps.
S1: I'm Wayne Shepherd with Mark Jobe. We're talking about the
S1: Cross of Christ here on Good Friday, and we're talking
S1: about it in the context of what it teaches us
S1: about our identity in Christ. And, Mark, I want our
S1: listeners to hear a clip from a message you gave
S1: recently on this topic of identity in Christ. Let's listen.
S4: Who we are and how we see ourselves determines how
S4: we behave and how we make our decisions. These labels
S4: are not always visible that we walk around with, but
S4: they invisibly affect our identity and who we are and
S4: how we live. If if I'm living with the identity
S4: of rejection, then when we say hi to someone, we
S4: immediately start thinking, what do they think about me? Are
S4: they accepting me? Rejecting me? Do they like me? Do
S4: they not like me? Immediately I start thinking that way. Why?
S4: Because I'm living with the identity of rejection. When God
S4: comes to our life. And this is why it's so important,
S4: and God starts to speak into our destiny. Peter is saying,
S4: I want you to know who you are, because until
S4: you know who you are, you will not know how
S4: to live. And so instead of rejected, he says, you know, no,
S4: you're chosen. You are a chosen generation. And he says,
S4: instead of broken, no, no, no, you are a royal
S4: priesthood because you belong to me. And you know what?
S4: Instead of failure, he says, no, you've been set apart
S4: for God's purposes, and he's got a purpose for you.
S4: And instead of unwanted, he says, no, you are my possession.
S4: You belong to me. And God is covering your bad
S4: identity with clothed with a new identity in Jesus Christ.
S4: And whatever may have been a part of your past
S4: is no longer what determines your future. He's given you
S4: a new identity. Oh, you may not feel like you
S4: are wanted yet, but as you start washing your mind
S4: in who God has made you and what he's said
S4: about you, one day you will wake up and you
S4: will feel like, hey, I belong to God. God wants me,
S4: I belong to him, and you start living that way.
S4: Some of you feel like you're a failure and you
S4: could never be used of God. But God says no,
S4: you are a royal priesthood. I've called you. You can
S4: be used. It takes a while for our new identity. See.
S1: Mark, let's talk about how we actually live in this
S1: new identity. What does it mean practically to our daily life?
S2: You know, identity, it's a little bit elusive, but it's
S2: so crucial because it really does affect everything about our life.
S2: I remember preaching, I, I'm not sure if it was
S2: this message or another one on identity, but I got
S2: a volunteer from the audience and I started writing labels
S2: and just pasting labels on the man that was a volunteer. Rejected. Worthless.
S2: No purpose. Abandon. He stood up there with labels all
S2: over him. Negative labels. And then I said, but you know,
S2: God is a a label remover. And as I started
S2: taking those labels off of him one by one and
S2: just speaking into his life. He just started to weep. Wow. Uh,
S2: because we all walk around with labels. Sometimes those labels
S2: are put on us early on in life. We don't
S2: choose the labels that are put on. If you're growing
S2: up in a household that's critical and you've been labeled,
S2: you're going to be a failure. You're just like your father.
S2: You're just you start to wear that label. It gets
S2: stuck into your identity.
S1: Yeah, I just had a conversation with someone who was
S1: an illegitimate child. And that's a bad word, isn't it? But,
S1: you know, and I brought up the fact that we
S1: are now adopted by God into his family.
S2: What the gospel does is it starts to strip those
S2: labels of condemned, unwanted, rejected. And if you start reading scripture,
S2: you have to renew your mind because our spirit is
S2: saved immediately, but our mind is renewed gradually. And so
S2: even though we are a Son of God, it doesn't
S2: mean we always feel like a Son of God, Even
S2: though we are forgiven, it doesn't mean that we walk
S2: like we're forgiven. Even though we are people of destiny.
S2: It doesn't mean that we fully understand that we're people
S2: of destiny. And I love what Romans chapter three, verse
S2: 38 and 39 says, I am convinced that neither death
S2: nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor
S2: the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, is
S2: able to separate us from the love of God.
S1: That's a pretty exhaustive list, isn't it?
S2: Yeah. I think what what Paul was trying to tell
S2: them is there is absolutely nothing on heaven and on
S2: earth or under the earth that can detach you from
S2: this compelling, powerful love that God has for you. And
S2: that changes our identity. And when our identity changes, we
S2: talk different. We behave different. We live different. We see
S2: the world in a different way.
S1: Yeah, well, this message goes hand in hand with a
S1: resource we'd like to put into our listeners hands called
S1: Discovering Who You Are in Christ. Uh, this is a
S1: very important resource that you've put together with your own pen, Mark.
S2: Yeah. Called More Than a Label. Discovering who you are
S2: in Christ. And these are thoughts from various messages that
S2: I've taught on in a bit of a devotional fashion
S2: on different messages that I've given dealing with the topic
S2: of identity. If you're struggling right now trying to figure out, hey,
S2: who am I really in God? If you're struggling with
S2: identity issues, it may take a while for you just
S2: to saturate your mind in some truth about who you are,
S2: and this would be a great place to start 15 days.
S2: Saturate in your mind in who you are in God,
S2: how God sees you, what your position is in Christ,
S2: your new labels that God has put on you, sons
S2: and daughters of the Most High God and taken other
S2: labels off. This is a resource, I think, that will
S2: help some of you just get started in the right direction.
S1: We've never offered this before.
S2: This is brand.
S1: New, brand new.
S2: Brand.
S1: New. And you're asking us to set aside 15 days.
S1: That seems that seems doable to me, right?
S2: Absolutely. And it's well packaged with some questions after each
S2: devotional thought, asking you some questions so you can think
S2: through it, pray through it, and just get you in
S2: the right mindset.
S1: And after you've been through it, maybe you want to
S1: lead your family through it or a small group Bible study.
S1: It can be used in that way as well.
S2: Absolutely. There's no more important thing for believers than to
S2: embrace their new identity in Christ, rooted in what Jesus
S2: Christ has done for us.
S1: Well, just go to npr.org. Click on the resources tab
S1: there in the website. And again, the devotional is titled
S1: More Than a Label Discovering Who You Are in Christ.
S1: It's a great resource from Bold Steps, and I really
S1: urge you to get a copy. Go through these 15
S1: days yourself of devotions and see what God reveals to you.
S1: I think it might surprise you the things that you'll discover.
S2: I believe so let God start ripping those labels off
S2: of your life one at a time, and placing his
S2: identity on you even today.
S1: By the way, I want to mention, as we talk
S1: about our resources here on bold steps, that we couldn't
S1: do this without our bold partners involvement. Mark, we're so
S1: grateful for listeners who step up with monthly support for
S1: this ministry.
S2: Yes, so, so very grateful for those that have committed
S2: to monthly giving and those that just give a one
S2: time gift. As Wayne said, we couldn't do it without them.
S2: I'm just reading a comment from one of the listeners here.
S1: Yeah, this came from a podcast listener. Do you want
S1: to share it with us?
S2: Yeah. It's encouraging. They said there's never been an episode
S2: that has not had me completely engaged and motivated. I
S2: relate to all of them. Every word spoken with conviction
S2: pours into my heart, faith and soul. A must if
S2: you simply need a good podcast not only about Christianity
S2: and the word, but hope restored. Love, fear, doubt, anxiety,
S2: real day to day struggles. Thank you for being such
S2: a part of my everyday life and I love that.
S1: That's wonderful.
S2: Thank you. Yes. And so thank you for your encouragement.
S2: We don't have time to tell you all of the
S2: stories and testimonies that come in, but you are partners
S2: in making that happen.
S1: Yeah. And by the way, we would like to hear
S1: from you. And you can leave your comment at bold steps.org.
S1: You know, through your faithful monthly partnership, you'll be investing
S1: directly in spreading the life changing message of Christ, extending
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S1: Access to special bonus teachings from Mark, and additional resources
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S1: this mission today. Become a bold partner today at Bold Steps. Well,
S1: here on Good Friday, we're focusing on our identity in Christ,
S1: the way made for us by Christ through the cross. Mark,
S1: it's been a wonderful conversation. What would you say in
S1: conclusion today?
S2: Yes. So I want to say on Good Friday, listen,
S2: if you're a believer, do not waste this weekend. First
S2: of all, make sure that your heart is ready to celebrate.
S2: But secondly, there are so many people that do not
S2: go to church but have some sort of historical roots
S2: in Christianity and feel like I probably should go to
S2: church somewhere on Easter. They might as well go to
S2: a church that preaches the gospel. So they tell us
S2: that only 4% of Christians invite people to church, but 80%
S2: of non-believers would go if invited.
S1: And you see this happening as a pastor, don't.
S2: Oh, I see that all the time. In fact, usually
S2: before Easter, I say pull out your phones. Some of
S2: these phones that you see are a thorn in my
S2: flesh because they ring or people are distracted by them.
S2: Pull them out. Everybody have their phone now. Text a
S2: friend and invite them this Sunday to Easter. And I
S2: tell you what, I have so many stories of people
S2: that said it was an Easter Sunday. I came not
S2: as a believer, but I heard the gospel and that's
S2: where God got Ahold of me. So make sure that
S2: you invite them to hear the greatest, most powerful message
S2: in the world. And that is the death, burial, and
S2: resurrection of Jesus the Christ.
S1: Well, this conversation today about identity has certainly, I'm sure,
S1: touched the lives of many who are listening, perhaps some
S1: who know they need Christ. And maybe we can close
S1: in prayer for them today.
S2: Yeah. So if you're struggling with your identity insecurities, uh,
S2: just the labels that have been slapped on you, I'd
S2: like to just pray over you now. It's going to
S2: be a process to strip those labels off you. But
S2: I want to start with a prayer. Father, I pray
S2: for that man right now that is just insecure in
S2: his manhood. That struggles with just viewing himself as a
S2: person of dignity, worth and value because of the words
S2: that were spoken into his life when he was young.
S2: I pray in Jesus name. Start ripping those labels off.
S2: I pray, father, for that woman right now that has
S2: really had a hard time keeping a good relationship because
S2: she goes from one relationship to another, allowing abuse sometimes, and, uh,
S2: abusive words because she doesn't know that she's a woman
S2: of worth, a value of dignity. I pray rip those
S2: labels off of her. I pray for that person right
S2: now that feels rejected by the world and by you, God.
S2: I pray in Jesus name. God, rip those labels of
S2: rejection off her, that she may experience your love in
S2: a strong, powerful, compelling way. And I pray God most
S2: of all, that those that don't know the love of Jesus,
S2: those that have never experienced the washing of their sins away,
S2: and that adoption into their family that this weekend, Easter weekend,
S2: will be the weekend that they finally surrender to you
S2: and become a adopted son or daughter of the Most
S2: High God. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.
S1: Amen. Thank you, Mark, and Happy Easter to you and
S1: your family.
S2: And yours as well.
S1: And from all of us at Bold Steps, we wish
S1: you a meaningful Good Friday and a joyous Easter. Remember,
S1: because of the cross, you are a son or daughter
S1: of the Most High God. I'm Wayne Sheppard. We'll see
S1: you next time here on Bold Steps with Mark Joh.
S1: Bold steps is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry
S1: of Moody Bible Institute.