WEBVTT - Unleashing People Power – Part 2 0:00:00.760 --> 0:00:04.200 Today on Bold steps with Mark job. We're learning how 0:00:04.200 --> 0:00:07.480 to mature and grow in God's power and provision. 0:00:08.000 --> 0:00:11.080 When you begin to realize that God can use me, 0:00:11.360 --> 0:00:17.080 you start growing. You start maturing. You move from being 0:00:17.120 --> 0:00:20.400 a needy person to being a person that has the 0:00:20.400 --> 0:00:24.400 power to give. Oh, there's a change that happens there. 0:00:37.320 --> 0:00:40.440 Welcome to Bold Steps with Mark job. Mark is senior 0:00:40.479 --> 0:00:42.800 pastor at New Life Community Church and the president of 0:00:42.840 --> 0:00:46.199 Moody Bible Institute, both in Chicago. Well, we all have 0:00:46.200 --> 0:00:48.559 been given unique gifts and talents to help further the 0:00:48.560 --> 0:00:51.519 Kingdom of God. But how should we use those abilities 0:00:51.520 --> 0:00:54.640 to encourage and help bring people to Christ? That's the 0:00:54.640 --> 0:00:57.320 topic we're going to explore today in our message called 0:00:57.360 --> 0:01:00.600 Unleashing People Power. It's part of our brand new series 0:01:00.600 --> 0:01:03.880 When You believe everything changes. If you're looking for more 0:01:03.880 --> 0:01:06.520 resources and tools to help you study God's Word on 0:01:06.520 --> 0:01:09.080 your own, let me invite you to visit our website. 0:01:09.080 --> 0:01:11.960 You'll find a variety of resources. You can even sign 0:01:11.959 --> 0:01:14.760 up for Mark's email devotional, The Bold Step or weekly. 0:01:15.000 --> 0:01:18.399 This devotional is free and automatically delivered to your inbox 0:01:18.400 --> 0:01:21.720 each Monday morning. To learn more or to sign up, 0:01:21.720 --> 0:01:25.479 visit Bold Steps. All right, now let's get started with 0:01:25.480 --> 0:01:28.000 today's bold steps. Here's Mark Jobe. 0:01:29.680 --> 0:01:33.319 Your prayers are heard because you are a son or 0:01:33.319 --> 0:01:35.680 daughter of God as well. If you've been washed by 0:01:35.680 --> 0:01:37.880 the blood of the lamb. And so you don't need 0:01:37.880 --> 0:01:42.440 an intermediary of a pastor clergy rabbi to pray for 0:01:42.440 --> 0:01:47.840 you because God hears your prayers as well. Listen, when 0:01:47.840 --> 0:01:51.440 we baptize, if you've ever been to a new life baptism, 0:01:51.480 --> 0:01:54.960 have you noticed that we make sure that it's not 0:01:54.960 --> 0:01:59.720 the pastors that baptize everybody? Why? We do it on purpose? 0:01:59.720 --> 0:02:03.170 Because I want you to understand and know that it's 0:02:03.170 --> 0:02:06.330 not the holy men, so to speak, that baptize and 0:02:06.330 --> 0:02:09.690 mentor that you, the people of God, empower with the 0:02:09.690 --> 0:02:12.970 Spirit of God, disciples of Jesus Christ. You have the 0:02:12.970 --> 0:02:18.010 power also to baptize in Jesus name as we make disciples. 0:02:18.010 --> 0:02:21.410 So we have men and women and young and old 0:02:21.450 --> 0:02:25.330 baptizing in Jesus name. Why? Because we want you to 0:02:25.370 --> 0:02:29.090 understand that you have the power in yourself and the 0:02:29.090 --> 0:02:32.690 calling of God upon your life to help make disciples. Now, 0:02:32.690 --> 0:02:40.370 are you tracking with me? Because this is huge. When 0:02:40.370 --> 0:02:44.530 we serve communion, I make sure that it's the ushers 0:02:44.530 --> 0:02:48.130 that serve communion. Well, I may participate and be a 0:02:48.130 --> 0:02:52.730 part of it, but but but I, I take no 0:02:52.850 --> 0:02:58.250 special communion that you can't take. I don't say no. 0:02:58.250 --> 0:02:59.930 You could take the bread, but I take the wine 0:02:59.930 --> 0:03:05.570 and the bread. because I'm holier. No, no, no, that's 0:03:05.570 --> 0:03:08.490 not the way it works here. I take the same 0:03:08.490 --> 0:03:11.530 cracker and the same juice you take. Why? Because I 0:03:11.530 --> 0:03:15.970 want you to understand there is no dichotomy between the 0:03:15.970 --> 0:03:20.130 holy and unholy here. There is just what the Bible 0:03:20.130 --> 0:03:27.209 calls the priesthood of all believers. This is important. This 0:03:27.210 --> 0:03:30.730 is huge, because some of you were brought up into 0:03:30.770 --> 0:03:35.650 in traditions that caused you not to pray, not to minister, 0:03:35.690 --> 0:03:38.570 not to reach out, not to use your gifts because 0:03:38.570 --> 0:03:42.650 you've been taught you're not qualified or holy enough to 0:03:42.690 --> 0:03:46.250 do that. That's only for certain holy people that do that. 0:03:46.250 --> 0:03:51.050 And I want you to know, know, know that spiritual 0:03:51.050 --> 0:03:57.530 leaders have been called to prepare God's people and release 0:03:57.530 --> 0:04:00.820 God's people to do the work of the A ministry 0:04:01.260 --> 0:04:03.540 that my main job is not to see how many 0:04:03.540 --> 0:04:06.100 people I can pray for, although I pray for people. 0:04:06.100 --> 0:04:08.500 But my job is how can I get others to 0:04:08.540 --> 0:04:11.460 pray for others? My main job is not let me 0:04:11.500 --> 0:04:14.380 see how many people I can lead to Christ. My 0:04:14.380 --> 0:04:17.580 main job is how can I empower the body to 0:04:17.620 --> 0:04:20.580 share their faith and lead a lot of people to Christ? 0:04:20.620 --> 0:04:23.020 My main job is not how many people can I 0:04:23.060 --> 0:04:26.300 personally teach, but how can I empower a lot of 0:04:26.300 --> 0:04:28.980 you to be teachers so that you take the faith 0:04:28.980 --> 0:04:31.620 and teach others? My main job is not to see 0:04:31.620 --> 0:04:34.780 how many people I can personally visit at the hospital 0:04:34.779 --> 0:04:38.100 that are sick, but how can I release and empower 0:04:38.260 --> 0:04:41.140 the body to care about people that are sick in 0:04:41.140 --> 0:04:43.700 the hospital and release the body of Christ to do 0:04:43.700 --> 0:04:49.780 the work of the ministry? I have no desire to 0:04:49.820 --> 0:04:53.980 minister to 4000 people. Me personally, no desire. I don't 0:04:53.980 --> 0:04:57.779 have the capacity. I don't have the time. It's not 0:04:57.779 --> 0:05:03.580 my desire to personally Pray for everybody and personally visit 0:05:03.580 --> 0:05:08.060 everybody and personally minister to everybody. Because if that were 0:05:08.060 --> 0:05:12.260 my heart, then I would somehow believe that I'm the 0:05:12.260 --> 0:05:15.060 only one that can do it, which is a lie, 0:05:15.220 --> 0:05:18.619 because the Spirit of God has been spread around this 0:05:18.620 --> 0:05:21.460 place and there is a body full of the spirit. 0:05:27.740 --> 0:05:29.300 Do you understand how this is one of the greatest 0:05:29.300 --> 0:05:32.299 lies that have kept the people of God? Christians trapped 0:05:32.300 --> 0:05:38.900 and bound, not using their gifts, not stepping up to 0:05:38.940 --> 0:05:42.500 the calling in life, not feeling like they could read 0:05:42.500 --> 0:05:45.060 the Bible, but someone had to read the Bible to them. 0:05:45.339 --> 0:05:49.340 Not praying, not ministering, not leading anything, but kind of 0:05:49.380 --> 0:05:52.420 waiting for the holy people to do that. Listen, I 0:05:52.420 --> 0:05:54.700 want to unleash the power of the body, for the 0:05:54.700 --> 0:05:57.260 church can become the church full of God, full of 0:05:57.260 --> 0:06:00.950 the gospel of Jesus Christ, fully empowered by God, fully 0:06:00.950 --> 0:06:07.030 accomplishing the mission of God upon this earth. And so 0:06:07.029 --> 0:06:13.150 he says that apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists. They are there 0:06:13.150 --> 0:06:17.550 to prepare God's people, to equip, to prepare, to empower 0:06:18.310 --> 0:06:22.750 God's people so that the body of Christ may be 0:06:22.750 --> 0:06:27.110 built up, leads to my third point. The third thing 0:06:27.150 --> 0:06:30.589 to remember is that we use our gifts. Remember that 0:06:30.589 --> 0:06:33.110 we use our gifts so that we can grow to 0:06:33.150 --> 0:06:40.150 the full maturity and leave spiritual nursery behind. Notice what 0:06:40.150 --> 0:06:43.630 it says in verse 12. It says to prepare God's 0:06:43.630 --> 0:06:47.469 people for works of service so that the body of Christ, 0:06:47.470 --> 0:06:49.510 we are the body of Christ, may be built up. 0:06:49.510 --> 0:06:53.589 Verse 13, until we all reach unity in the faith 0:06:54.310 --> 0:06:57.230 and knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, 0:06:57.790 --> 0:07:00.670 attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 0:07:01.150 --> 0:07:04.870 Verse 14. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed 0:07:04.870 --> 0:07:07.710 back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there, 0:07:07.710 --> 0:07:11.150 by every wind of teaching, and by every cunning and 0:07:11.150 --> 0:07:16.310 craftiness of men in their deceitful schemings. In essence, what 0:07:17.030 --> 0:07:22.830 Paul is saying is that spiritual leaders are given to 0:07:22.870 --> 0:07:28.390 help empower us to release the church to do its work. 0:07:29.950 --> 0:07:32.550 And when the church is released, the people of God 0:07:32.550 --> 0:07:35.270 are released to begin to do the work of God. 0:07:37.070 --> 0:07:40.710 Then something happens when you begin to discover that you 0:07:40.710 --> 0:07:43.510 have a gift and that God can use you. When 0:07:43.510 --> 0:07:47.110 you begin to mentor someone, pray over someone. When you 0:07:47.110 --> 0:07:51.830 begin to share your faith, when you begin to learn that, 0:07:51.830 --> 0:07:55.590 you also can be a blessing and encouragement. When you 0:07:55.590 --> 0:07:58.470 can share a verse, when you can. When you begin 0:07:58.470 --> 0:08:02.080 to realize that God can use me and you start 0:08:02.080 --> 0:08:06.560 moving in that way. Then there's something that happens to you. 0:08:06.600 --> 0:08:13.920 You start growing. You start maturing. You start realizing, I'm 0:08:13.920 --> 0:08:17.360 not a person that always needs, but I'm a person 0:08:17.360 --> 0:08:21.360 that has the ability to give. You move from being 0:08:21.360 --> 0:08:24.640 a needy person to being a person that has the 0:08:24.640 --> 0:08:31.160 power to give. Oh, there's a change that happens there. Oh, 0:08:31.200 --> 0:08:34.160 there's something that happens when you transition from I need, 0:08:34.200 --> 0:08:39.960 I need to I can give, I can give. Uh, 0:08:39.960 --> 0:08:42.640 there's something that happens when you transition from, hey, can 0:08:42.640 --> 0:08:44.880 you pray for me to. Can I pray for you? 0:08:46.640 --> 0:08:49.480 There's something that happens when you bring someone and you say, hey, 0:08:49.720 --> 0:08:56.319 pastor Mark, I brought I got one for you. Get em, pastor, 0:08:56.320 --> 0:09:00.440 tell em. Go ahead. Tell em they need Jesus. Tell em. 0:09:00.440 --> 0:09:03.200 You tell em. Oh, I'm willing to do that. Never 0:09:03.200 --> 0:09:04.880 be afraid to do that. I'm blessed to be able 0:09:04.880 --> 0:09:08.240 to do that. But I'm even more blessed when you 0:09:08.240 --> 0:09:10.840 don't have to bring em to pastor Mark to say, 0:09:10.880 --> 0:09:15.360 tell em, pastor, when you can. Tell em yourself, when 0:09:15.360 --> 0:09:18.000 you can say, let me lead you to Jesus. Let 0:09:18.000 --> 0:09:21.440 me pray with you. Let me explain the gospel. Let's 0:09:21.480 --> 0:09:24.439 kneel on our knees right now. Let's give your life 0:09:24.440 --> 0:09:26.920 to Jesus and pray over you. When you begin to 0:09:26.920 --> 0:09:30.199 have that power and confidence inside of you, that you 0:09:30.200 --> 0:09:33.600 can lead someone to the feet of Jesus. Hey, I'm 0:09:33.600 --> 0:09:37.000 blessed to baptize people, but hey, it's a great blessing 0:09:37.040 --> 0:09:40.520 to me when you finally learn to mentor someone and 0:09:40.520 --> 0:09:44.200 teach them the the the Bible studies that lead to 0:09:44.240 --> 0:09:47.040 baptism and that you pray over someone as they go 0:09:47.040 --> 0:09:49.600 into the water and you dunk them in the water 0:09:49.600 --> 0:09:51.679 and they come out of the water and you do 0:09:51.679 --> 0:09:55.840 it in Jesus name. Hey, that's a incredible blessing to me. Why? 0:09:55.880 --> 0:09:58.840 Because now I know you've you've gone from I need, 0:09:58.880 --> 0:10:01.530 I need to I can give, I can give, and 0:10:01.530 --> 0:10:04.690 you are going from one place of maturity to the 0:10:04.690 --> 0:10:06.290 next place of maturity. 0:10:13.890 --> 0:10:16.130 You're listening to the Bible teaching of Mark Jobe here 0:10:16.130 --> 0:10:18.290 on Bold Steps, and we've paused our program to let 0:10:18.290 --> 0:10:20.290 you know that we would love to hear from you. 0:10:20.490 --> 0:10:24.650 You'll find us online at npr.org. Just click on Bold Testimonies. 0:10:24.650 --> 0:10:26.650 We'd love to hear your story of God at work 0:10:26.650 --> 0:10:29.850 in your life. And these are so encouraging to us, Mark. 0:10:30.170 --> 0:10:32.329 Here's a listener recently who took time to write us 0:10:32.330 --> 0:10:34.970 a note. Leon in Chicago, and he says, I feel 0:10:34.970 --> 0:10:38.170 like pastor Mark spoke directly to me on the radio today. 0:10:38.370 --> 0:10:42.010 His message has truly blessed me in my struggle. Thank you. 0:10:42.210 --> 0:10:46.210 Yeah, well, Leon, that was the Holy Spirit taking his 0:10:46.210 --> 0:10:49.450 word and speaking to you. Right? Exactly what you needed 0:10:49.450 --> 0:10:52.090 to hear. And I love that about preaching the Word 0:10:52.090 --> 0:10:54.410 of God. And so I want to encourage you, please 0:10:54.410 --> 0:10:57.170 give us feedback. We love to hear from our listeners 0:10:57.570 --> 0:11:01.730 like Leon. So many people that just tell us what 0:11:01.770 --> 0:11:03.689 God is doing in their life and the bold steps 0:11:03.690 --> 0:11:04.449 that they're taking. 0:11:04.490 --> 0:11:06.850 It's amazing how radio can be such a personal ministry, 0:11:06.850 --> 0:11:07.450 isn't it, Mark? 0:11:07.490 --> 0:11:08.330 It really is. 0:11:08.330 --> 0:11:10.730 Thank you. Leon. Anyone who wants to tell us their story, 0:11:10.770 --> 0:11:15.809 your bold story go online. Bold steps.org. Click on Bold Testimonies. 0:11:16.170 --> 0:11:18.329 Let's return to the second half of today's study. Mark 0:11:18.330 --> 0:11:20.969 has one last point to make about truth and love. 0:11:26.370 --> 0:11:28.010 Oh, you say, well, pastor, I need to. I need 0:11:28.010 --> 0:11:31.410 to know more. Oh, I know we all need to 0:11:31.450 --> 0:11:36.410 know more. The pastor I'd love to be used, but 0:11:36.410 --> 0:11:40.850 I need. I need to take more notes. Oh, I'm 0:11:40.850 --> 0:11:44.490 sure you do. I need to learn more about God. 0:11:45.490 --> 0:11:50.530 I need to, like, get it all down first. Well, 0:11:50.530 --> 0:11:56.569 I'm sure you do. But here's the thing. I have 0:11:56.570 --> 0:12:01.620 two teenagers, one that's gotten their driver's license and won. 0:12:02.300 --> 0:12:06.100 Help me. Lord, that's getting his driver's license. No, he's 0:12:06.140 --> 0:12:09.780 actually a pretty good driver. So my 16 year old 0:12:09.780 --> 0:12:11.540 son right now, that's in the midst of getting his 0:12:11.540 --> 0:12:16.420 driver's license. He's got his permit right now. He can 0:12:16.420 --> 0:12:19.140 go to class after class and read book after book 0:12:19.140 --> 0:12:23.260 and watch video after video on how to drive. Put 0:12:23.260 --> 0:12:26.220 your turn signal on, how to merge, how to park 0:12:26.220 --> 0:12:29.060 and do all that. But I can guarantee you that 0:12:29.059 --> 0:12:32.820 after months and months of studying a book, he's still 0:12:32.820 --> 0:12:36.219 not ready to drive. I can't put him in a 0:12:36.220 --> 0:12:38.220 car and then say, okay, you're ready, son. Take a 0:12:38.220 --> 0:12:43.340 trip to California, because the best way you need to learn, 0:12:43.340 --> 0:12:46.939 he needs knowledge. But the best way to really learn 0:12:46.940 --> 0:12:50.300 to drive is you have to start driving. And everybody's 0:12:50.340 --> 0:12:53.900 a little rough in the beginning, and everybody's a little jerky. 0:12:55.100 --> 0:12:58.180 And everybody has a little bit of a trouble merging 0:12:58.179 --> 0:13:03.900 onto the expressway. away. When you first learn it right. 0:13:06.580 --> 0:13:09.380 When Josiah first started learning, he says, dad, I'm pretty 0:13:09.380 --> 0:13:12.580 good at everything but merging on the expressway. I said, okay, son, 0:13:12.580 --> 0:13:16.620 let's do it. We got up there first time emerged 0:13:16.620 --> 0:13:21.100 on the expressway. There's a big semi. Merging on. We're 0:13:21.100 --> 0:13:23.300 going like side by side by the semi. He said, dad, 0:13:23.300 --> 0:13:25.220 what do I do? I said, you either speed up 0:13:25.220 --> 0:13:27.699 or slow down, but let's not compete with this semi. 0:13:30.580 --> 0:13:33.020 One or the other. But you know what? You don't 0:13:33.020 --> 0:13:35.380 learn that from a book. You have to get out 0:13:35.380 --> 0:13:37.500 there and you have to do it. Listen, you can 0:13:37.540 --> 0:13:40.220 gain a lot of wisdom by sitting in a service 0:13:40.220 --> 0:13:42.980 like this or going to a Bible, a Bible study. 0:13:42.980 --> 0:13:45.300 But I'm going to tell you, you will never grow 0:13:45.300 --> 0:13:48.220 to the place you need to grow until you actually 0:13:48.220 --> 0:13:52.460 start doing the work of ministry, until you actually start 0:13:52.460 --> 0:13:56.100 talking to someone, praying for someone, sharing your faith, ministering 0:13:56.140 --> 0:13:59.860 to someone, encouraging someone doing the work because that's the 0:13:59.950 --> 0:14:04.150 way you grow. You grow when you discover your gift. 0:14:04.190 --> 0:14:08.349 You roll up your sleeves and you start serving somewhere, 0:14:08.390 --> 0:14:13.030 doing something, utilizing your gifts because that's the way you 0:14:13.030 --> 0:14:18.270 grow the most. And what the Apostle Paul is telling 0:14:18.270 --> 0:14:23.630 us is that when we begin to use our gifts, everybody, 0:14:23.910 --> 0:14:26.590 then we grow in faith and we grow in the 0:14:26.630 --> 0:14:29.070 knowledge of the Son of God to become mature to 0:14:29.110 --> 0:14:31.950 the full measure of the fullness of Christ. And then 0:14:31.950 --> 0:14:37.990 we're no longer babies, infants. Babies are tossed this way 0:14:38.350 --> 0:14:42.990 and tossed that way. They're inconsistent. They're up and down. 0:14:43.630 --> 0:14:46.750 Someone comes in. They can easily be deceived because they 0:14:46.750 --> 0:14:49.990 don't have a lot of discernment. He says, when you 0:14:49.990 --> 0:14:53.790 start using your gifts, when you start operating in your gifts, 0:14:53.830 --> 0:14:58.150 you will leave babyhood behind and you will start to mature. 0:14:58.350 --> 0:15:01.280 So now you're less up and down and now you're 0:15:01.280 --> 0:15:04.400 not so easily deceived. And now it's not every little 0:15:04.440 --> 0:15:07.480 teaching that sends you over here and sends you over there. Why? 0:15:07.520 --> 0:15:19.480 Because you're developing maturity. Spiritual maturity. And then finally, number four, 0:15:19.520 --> 0:15:25.720 I'm talking about unleashing the body. In verse 15, he 0:15:25.720 --> 0:15:28.880 tells us the atmosphere in which this needs to happen. 0:15:30.880 --> 0:15:35.239 He says instead, instead of being babies tossed back and forth, 0:15:35.480 --> 0:15:43.840 instead speaking the truth in love. Oh. Number four, remember 0:15:43.840 --> 0:15:46.680 that truth and love are the atmosphere that releases full 0:15:46.680 --> 0:15:52.360 participation and growth. Speaking the truth in love. We will 0:15:52.360 --> 0:15:55.400 grow up into him who is the head that is Christ, 0:15:55.920 --> 0:15:58.600 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by 0:15:58.600 --> 0:16:02.600 every supporting ligament grows and builds itself up in love 0:16:02.640 --> 0:16:08.360 as each part does its work. Now hear me. We 0:16:08.360 --> 0:16:11.480 want to be a church that is full of truth 0:16:11.480 --> 0:16:15.720 and love. What happens if we're just a church that's 0:16:15.720 --> 0:16:19.880 full of truth? Well, when all you have is truth 0:16:19.880 --> 0:16:23.000 but you don't have love, you tend to come across 0:16:23.000 --> 0:16:27.720 as judgmental, critical. Have you ever talked to someone? That's right. 0:16:27.720 --> 0:16:32.840 But they say it wrong. Well, you know they're right, 0:16:32.840 --> 0:16:38.320 but they just say it wrong. Well, this person, they're 0:16:38.320 --> 0:16:40.720 going to hell. Well, maybe they are going to hell. But, 0:16:40.760 --> 0:16:43.960 you know, there's a way of saying it differently. Like, man, 0:16:44.520 --> 0:16:50.800 I really want to help them not go there. There's 0:16:50.800 --> 0:16:54.360 truth in love. And if all you know is truth, 0:16:55.840 --> 0:17:01.680 then you'll you'll be critical, Dogmatic. Even though your truth 0:17:01.680 --> 0:17:06.719 is right, your truth will typically push people away, offend 0:17:06.720 --> 0:17:12.919 people because all you're concerned about is truth. Is it right? Now, 0:17:12.920 --> 0:17:15.320 on the other hand, if all you have is sort 0:17:15.320 --> 0:17:21.479 of this gushy, mushy love, we just need to love them. Well, hey, 0:17:21.480 --> 0:17:22.919 they're really messing up. I know, I don't want to 0:17:22.920 --> 0:17:27.320 say anything. I just want to love them. Hey, they're 0:17:27.320 --> 0:17:29.400 lying and cheating. I know I'm going to love them. 0:17:32.080 --> 0:17:34.239 Help them feel the love of God, the people of God. 0:17:34.240 --> 0:17:38.520 I don't want to judge them either. One is is 0:17:38.520 --> 0:17:42.000 out of balance. Well, God says is you need truth 0:17:42.000 --> 0:17:45.760 and love, truth and love. You need the truth to 0:17:45.760 --> 0:17:48.600 be spoken and listen. The truth sometimes hurts. The truth 0:17:48.600 --> 0:17:52.320 sometimes offends. The truth sometimes cuts to your heart. The 0:17:52.320 --> 0:17:56.520 truth sometimes offends you. The truth sometimes will make you 0:17:56.520 --> 0:18:00.090 feel like, man, I'm mad at that pastor. He's. Oh, 0:18:01.690 --> 0:18:05.410 he told me this. Was it truth? Yeah, it's the truth, but. 0:18:09.210 --> 0:18:13.410 But if it's mixed with love. Let me tell you something. 0:18:15.690 --> 0:18:18.810 If you try to take a tank across a bridge 0:18:18.930 --> 0:18:22.730 that's really flimsy. It's going to fall. If you're going 0:18:22.770 --> 0:18:27.090 to take your big truth across the bridge, it needs 0:18:27.090 --> 0:18:30.250 to be a strong bridge of love. The more people 0:18:30.250 --> 0:18:33.170 know you care, the more people will care what you know. 0:18:34.090 --> 0:18:37.050 The more people know you care, the more people will 0:18:37.050 --> 0:18:40.090 accept what you have to tell them in truth. If 0:18:40.090 --> 0:18:42.930 people don't know you care, then people don't care what 0:18:42.930 --> 0:18:45.970 you know or don't care what you tell them. And 0:18:45.970 --> 0:18:49.090 so the power of a healthy church is when a 0:18:49.090 --> 0:18:53.530 church has truth and love, where you wrap your arm 0:18:53.530 --> 0:18:56.330 around someone and say, bro, I need to talk to 0:18:56.330 --> 0:18:59.410 you and this is going to hurt, but I love you, 0:18:59.460 --> 0:19:02.180 And that's why I'm telling you it needs to be 0:19:02.180 --> 0:19:05.780 a place where there's strong truth. But there's strong love 0:19:05.820 --> 0:19:10.820 mixed together. And in that kind of atmosphere, people start 0:19:10.859 --> 0:19:15.140 growing and utilizing their gifts and releasing what God has 0:19:15.140 --> 0:19:18.180 called them to and grow. You know how many people 0:19:18.180 --> 0:19:23.139 you know? How many guys? Do you know how many guys? 0:19:23.140 --> 0:19:27.900 I've put my arm around at this altar and said, hey, bro, 0:19:28.300 --> 0:19:31.580 glad you're going in. Jesus. How come you're not marrying 0:19:31.580 --> 0:19:35.540 this woman that you're living with right now? You know 0:19:35.540 --> 0:19:42.780 how many guys have done that to. A lot, a lot, 0:19:44.220 --> 0:19:48.820 a lot of guys. And you know what? I can't 0:19:48.820 --> 0:19:50.820 think of one that said, hey, hey, don't don't tell 0:19:50.820 --> 0:19:54.580 me what to do. No, no, no, I don't, because 0:19:54.580 --> 0:19:56.540 I'm not saying why you living with that girl. You 0:19:56.540 --> 0:19:58.500 shouldn't be living. Are you a Christian? You shouldn't come 0:19:58.500 --> 0:19:59.780 to this church if you're living with. living. I never 0:19:59.780 --> 0:20:07.620 say that. Never. I'm not judging. I'm not kicking them out. 0:20:07.619 --> 0:20:10.939 I'm saying, man, I feel like a father here, bro. 0:20:12.260 --> 0:20:18.060 What's up? Who's dragging their feet on commitment here? Let's 0:20:18.060 --> 0:20:21.300 make this right with this woman. You going to get 0:20:21.300 --> 0:20:23.060 all the goodies, man? You need to make all the 0:20:23.060 --> 0:20:29.500 commitment to. You need to do what's right. Why? Listen, 0:20:30.780 --> 0:20:34.100 because I believe God's way is the best way, and 0:20:34.100 --> 0:20:36.940 I want to. And if there's a brother struggling, if 0:20:36.940 --> 0:20:39.220 there's a brother struggling, you know, I want to be 0:20:39.220 --> 0:20:41.700 able to put my arm around and say, hey, bro, 0:20:42.260 --> 0:20:45.540 I've heard you're struggling. Let's talk about that. What's going on? 0:20:45.900 --> 0:20:48.100 Truth and love. I don't avoid it. I don't want 0:20:48.100 --> 0:20:50.660 to avoid it. I want to speak direct. I want 0:20:50.700 --> 0:20:52.780 to be honest. But I want to do it in 0:20:52.780 --> 0:20:57.100 love and listen. When that atmosphere exists throughout the church, 0:20:57.100 --> 0:21:00.940 when people are speaking the truth and love, There's something 0:21:00.980 --> 0:21:06.500 releasing empowering that happens because people start to grow. When 0:21:06.500 --> 0:21:09.300 you start speaking into their lives, listen, you may be 0:21:09.300 --> 0:21:10.899 here in the church and you may be in a 0:21:10.900 --> 0:21:14.139 small group and someone's struggling and you say, well, I 0:21:14.180 --> 0:21:18.220 hope pastor Mark deals with this guy. He's really struggling, man. Listen, 0:21:18.220 --> 0:21:22.020 chances are I don't even know they're struggling. I may 0:21:22.020 --> 0:21:26.380 not even know their name. I may not even know 0:21:26.380 --> 0:21:31.659 who they are. But I tell you what, there's someone 0:21:31.660 --> 0:21:34.540 in the group that has the same spirit that pastor 0:21:34.540 --> 0:21:39.260 Mark has. The Holy Spirit has the same ability to 0:21:39.300 --> 0:21:43.100 love and truth. And so instead of waiting for pastor 0:21:43.100 --> 0:21:46.699 Mark to say, oh, pastor Mark knows about this person, listen, 0:21:46.700 --> 0:21:51.020 you need to say, hey, I know you. We've been 0:21:51.020 --> 0:21:53.939 in the same group. Let's talk, man. Let's have coffee together. 0:21:53.940 --> 0:21:56.260 I want to encourage you. I want to bless you. 0:21:56.260 --> 0:21:58.899 I want to push you forward. I know you're struggling. 0:21:58.900 --> 0:22:02.670 I've struggled to let me minister to you. That is 0:22:02.670 --> 0:22:04.230 the body of Christ. 0:22:12.350 --> 0:22:15.510 So I want to encourage you, on the heels of 0:22:15.510 --> 0:22:21.430 this message, to make a choice to get involved in 0:22:21.430 --> 0:22:24.030 your church. I know there's some of you that are 0:22:24.030 --> 0:22:27.310 listening right now. Maybe you don't even have a local church. 0:22:27.350 --> 0:22:29.990 If you are listening and saying, well, my church is 0:22:29.990 --> 0:22:33.950 Moody Radio, we are here to help you out. But 0:22:33.950 --> 0:22:35.750 it's not the substitute for a church. 0:22:35.790 --> 0:22:36.389 Amen. 0:22:36.430 --> 0:22:40.230 You need to find a Bible believing church and get involved. 0:22:40.230 --> 0:22:42.909 And maybe you're attending church, but you haven't been involved 0:22:42.910 --> 0:22:47.709 at all. I would encourage you to approach a ministry leader, 0:22:47.990 --> 0:22:51.990 the pastor, someone on staff, and just say, I want 0:22:52.030 --> 0:22:54.230 to serve. Can you direct me and help me know 0:22:54.230 --> 0:22:55.150 how to serve? 0:22:55.510 --> 0:22:57.670 Mark, you're a pastor. When someone comes up to you 0:22:57.670 --> 0:22:59.550 with that question at church, how church. How do you 0:22:59.550 --> 0:23:00.429 respond to them? 0:23:00.470 --> 0:23:02.830 Yeah, well, I try to start by telling them, hey, 0:23:02.869 --> 0:23:06.830 you have gifts that can be used in this place, 0:23:06.830 --> 0:23:10.670 and there's a place for you. And so we have 0:23:10.710 --> 0:23:13.550 a new to new life desk. I send them to 0:23:13.550 --> 0:23:15.790 the desk and say, get some information, but I like 0:23:15.790 --> 0:23:18.389 to encourage him. First of all, get involved with people. 0:23:18.390 --> 0:23:20.750 If there's a small group, join a small group, join 0:23:20.750 --> 0:23:23.590 a Sunday school class. Make sure you know some people 0:23:23.590 --> 0:23:26.510 and then say, what are my passions and how can 0:23:26.510 --> 0:23:28.070 I serve this body? 0:23:28.109 --> 0:23:29.470 Yes, and one of the ways you can be a 0:23:29.470 --> 0:23:32.110 blessing to people in your community and across the world 0:23:32.109 --> 0:23:35.030 is by partnering with us. When you give a financial 0:23:35.030 --> 0:23:37.710 gift of any amount on a monthly basis, we'll add 0:23:37.710 --> 0:23:40.510 your name to our growing list of fellow listeners who 0:23:40.550 --> 0:23:43.070 are using their gifts of time and finances to help 0:23:43.070 --> 0:23:46.310 further the mission of Bold Steps. Plus, you'll receive several 0:23:46.310 --> 0:23:51.230 other bonuses, including Mark's exclusive biweekly Bold Partner post, video, email, 0:23:51.510 --> 0:23:54.710 and a signed copy of Mark's book, Unstuck Out of 0:23:54.710 --> 0:23:57.590 Your Cave and Into Your Call. When you give a 0:23:57.630 --> 0:24:00.640 gift of $30 or more each month, you'll qualify for 0:24:00.640 --> 0:24:04.240 a special 50% discount off any item at the Moody 0:24:04.240 --> 0:24:08.320 Publishers online store. Partnering with us has never been easier. 0:24:08.320 --> 0:24:13.600 Just sign up today online at Bold Steps. And no 0:24:13.600 --> 0:24:15.600 matter how much you give, whether you sign up to 0:24:15.600 --> 0:24:18.440 be a partner or just start with a single gift 0:24:18.440 --> 0:24:22.800 of any amount like Brenda, Miriam, Barry, Eric and Maggie did. 0:24:23.080 --> 0:24:25.879 We'll say thanks for your donation this month by sending 0:24:25.880 --> 0:24:29.520 you a special book by pastor Mike Fabares titled envy. 0:24:30.320 --> 0:24:34.320 Feeling spiritually drained but can't figure out why. Perhaps the 0:24:34.320 --> 0:24:37.480 hidden sin of envy is stealing your joy. In his 0:24:37.480 --> 0:24:41.760 compelling book, pastor Mike reveals how resentment toward others feelings 0:24:41.760 --> 0:24:45.120 becomes a corrosive force in our hearts. This bold step 0:24:45.119 --> 0:24:49.360 gift offers practical wisdom biblical wisdom for finding contentment in 0:24:49.359 --> 0:24:52.840 Christ regardless of your circumstances. Ask for the book when 0:24:52.840 --> 0:25:00.640 you call 800 Moody, that's 6639 or give online at 0:25:00.640 --> 0:25:05.359 Bold steps.org. You can also send your one time gift 0:25:05.359 --> 0:25:08.440 in the mail by addressing your envelope to bold steps. 0:25:08.640 --> 0:25:14.840 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. And don't 0:25:14.840 --> 0:25:18.479 forget to join our online community. Find daily inspiration and 0:25:18.480 --> 0:25:22.840 connect with fellow believers by following bold steps on Facebook, Instagram, 0:25:22.880 --> 0:25:27.200 TikTok and Mark's YouTube channel. Just search for Bold Steps 0:25:27.200 --> 0:25:31.000 Radio and become part of the conversation. That's all the 0:25:31.000 --> 0:25:33.840 time we have today. I'm Wayne Shepherd. Join us again 0:25:33.840 --> 0:25:37.000 tomorrow when Mark starts his next message. It's titled putting 0:25:37.000 --> 0:25:39.719 on the New You. It's from our series when you 0:25:39.720 --> 0:25:43.480 believe everything changes and you will hear Thursday on Bold 0:25:43.480 --> 0:25:47.439 Steps with Mark John. Bold steps is a production of 0:25:47.480 --> 0:25:50.600 Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.