S1: Today on Bold Steps, Mark Jobe explains what it means
S1: to be a true and authentic follower of Jesus.
S2: They have incredible riches, spiritual riches that are theirs. They've
S2: been given a position in God, but oftentimes live their
S2: lives as though they were much less than who they
S2: are because they have not quite understood how God sees
S2: them and what God has given them.
S1: Welcome to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. Mark is president
S1: of the Moody Bible Institute and the senior pastor of
S1: New Life Community Church in Chicago. We're working our way
S1: through the book of Ephesians and exciting new series of
S1: messages designed to show us what happens in the life
S1: of someone who truly and authentically Mark believes in Jesus.
S2: Yeah, and Wayne, the apostle Paul starts the book of
S2: Ephesians with our identity, who we are. What is our position?
S2: How do we relate to God? And this is a
S2: message that's so very important, because I believe that even
S2: so many Christians don't really understand their position and what,
S2: you know can really change you.
S1: That's the title of this message from our series. When
S1: you believe Everything Changes, here's Mark Jobe.
S2: His name was Victor. He felt like a loser. He
S2: didn't do very well in school. In fact, when he
S2: was about 16 years old, a teacher advised him that
S2: it would be better for him to drop out of
S2: high school and get a job. So he did. He
S2: got one job and he lost it and got another
S2: job and didn't do too well, got another job and
S2: another job. By the time he was 32 years old,
S2: Victor had had 76 jobs and not done very well
S2: at any of those jobs. That was about to change.
S2: He applied for his 77th job. Part of the hiring
S2: process at the 77th job was that they required some tests,
S2: personality and IQ tests. Victor took an IQ test. The
S2: normal average IQ was about 100. Victor tested at 161,
S2: in the range where they consider it the range of
S2: a genius. When the results of the test came back,
S2: the the person giving the test said, you have just
S2: tested in a range that we call the range of genius.
S2: Victor was flabbergasted. Shot. Surprised it was a changing moment
S2: for him. He was never to be the same. In fact,
S2: it so altered the way he viewed himself. So changed
S2: the way he perceived himself. That Victor Serenko went on
S2: to become famous for his research in laser surgery and
S2: became the president of an organization called Mensa, an organization
S2: for geniuses. All because a test said that he was special. Oh,
S2: you see, Victor had always been a genius, but he
S2: did not know who he was until the revelation came.
S2: I went into so many Christians that are that way.
S2: They have a lot at their disposal. They have incredible riches,
S2: spiritual riches that are theirs. They've been given a position
S2: in God, but oftentimes live their lives as though they
S2: were much less than who they are, because they have
S2: not quite understood how God sees them and what God
S2: has given them. Well, I'm praying that for some of you,
S2: this passage in Ephesians will be what Victor Sancho's test
S2: was him an eye opening experience that kind of reveals
S2: to you who you really are in God. So are
S2: you ready this morning? Alright, we're going to be reading
S2: in Ephesians chapter one, beginning in verse 11. It says,
S2: In Him, in Christ we were also chosen, having been
S2: predestined according to the plan of him who works out
S2: everything in conformity to the purpose of his will. We
S2: saw this last week, but let me just reiterate it
S2: that you in Christ, you were chosen. Chosen before the
S2: foundation of the world. You are chosen even though God
S2: knew who you were and how you would be. God
S2: knew your character and your weaknesses. God knew your name
S2: and your middle name and your last name and the
S2: names they called you in school when you were growing up.
S2: God knew your blood pressure and God knew your heart rate.
S2: And God knew your genealogy. And God, who knew all
S2: things about you, chose you in advance to belong to him.
S2: He fully understood who you were, and he fully understood
S2: all of your weaknesses and your propensity to the failures
S2: that you have, and yet understanding all of that, God
S2: still chose you. Predestined you because God knew in his
S2: foreknowledge Knowledge that one day you also would believe and
S2: choose him in return. That's a powerful thought. Listen to
S2: what it says. Listen. Having been predestined according to the
S2: plan of him who works out everything in conformity to
S2: the purpose of his will, in order that we who
S2: were the first to hope in Christ may be for
S2: the praise of his glory. I like that God chose us,
S2: predestined us in advance, knew that we would be chosen
S2: because in his foreknowledge he knew also that we would
S2: in turn believe in him and choose him for the
S2: purpose of the praise of his glory. God understood that
S2: your transformation would lead people to praise him and say,
S2: look what God has done in him or her. Thank God.
S2: And it says, it tells us here, listen, verse 13.
S2: And you also were included in Christ when you heard
S2: the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, having believed,
S2: you were marked in him with the seal. Here's how
S2: it works. God knew you before you were born. God
S2: knew who you would be and how you would be.
S2: God did not orchestrate that. You would sin even though
S2: he knew you would. Let me just clarify. There's a
S2: difference between foreknowledge. There's a difference between foreknowledge, in other words,
S2: that I know in advance, and the actual making someone
S2: do something. God knew that Adam and Eve would sin,
S2: but God was not the author of evil. How many
S2: of you are tracking with me? with me, just kind
S2: of nod your head. Just because I know something doesn't
S2: mean I've made it happen. Some people believe that because
S2: God knows it. He must be the author of it.
S2: Because God knows that you will fall. Doesn't mean that
S2: God wants you to fall, or makes you fall, or
S2: orchestrates your fall, or desires you to fall. He knows
S2: the future, but he's not the author of evil in
S2: any kind. He knows. He knew that Adam and Eve
S2: would sin, but he was not the author of their sin.
S2: He wasn't the creator of their sin. He wasn't the
S2: planner of their sin. He wasn't. He did not desire
S2: them to sin. But it doesn't preclude the fact that
S2: he knew that it would happen. And for some people,
S2: it's hard to understand the difference between foreknowledge and actually
S2: making something happen or responsibility for it. When God chose
S2: you before the foundation of the world, he knew that
S2: one day, one day. Oh, I love this. That one
S2: day you would choose him in return when you were
S2: still raising your fist at God. And the only time
S2: you use the name of Jesus was to as an
S2: expletive in your swearing when you, uh, criticize Christians, when
S2: you laughed at holy rollers, God already knew that he
S2: had chosen you. God already knew that one day you
S2: would believe God already knew. He was just saying, oh wait, wait,
S2: because yours is coming. God already knew in your hardness
S2: that one day you would bow your knee and weep
S2: and repent and say, I've had enough. Jesus, I need
S2: you to be my Savior and my Lord. I repent
S2: of my ways. I invite you to come into my heart.
S2: You see, he already knew that it didn't catch him
S2: by surprise. Even when you were swearing at God, even
S2: when you were bitter at God, even when you were
S2: hard against God, God already knew that the day and
S2: time would come when you would bow your knee to
S2: his lordship and his sovereignty. Because God is a God
S2: that knows the future. So it says you were included
S2: in Christ. You were chosen before, but you were included
S2: in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the
S2: gospel of your salvation. And when you believed, you were
S2: marked in him with a seal the moment that you
S2: believed you were marked. You know, the problem with tattoos
S2: is that they just don't change. You change, but your
S2: tattoo doesn't change. When you're 16 years old and you're
S2: madly in love with Susie. And think she'll be the
S2: love of your life. And you'll never break up. And
S2: you can never love another woman. And you put a
S2: big heart and say, Susie on your arm. And when
S2: you're 18, you don't even know where Susie is. But
S2: let me tell you, you still have that tattoo because
S2: you have changed. But that tattoo doesn't change. I had
S2: a guy that I was mentoring, I was helping in
S2: a Bible study, and, um, one day I showed up
S2: at his house and it was kind of warm, and
S2: we were meeting for a Bible study, and he said, pastor,
S2: I got something to tell you. I really don't like this.
S2: I said, what, what? What's wrong? And he put out
S2: his leg and he had on his leg a big
S2: tattoo that ran up all the leg, and it was
S2: a tattoo of a naked woman. And he said, now
S2: that I'm a Christian, I just. I don't like it.
S2: It's a naked woman on my leg. He said, I
S2: got an idea though, pastor, I'm going to go back
S2: to that tattoo guy and have her dress her up.
S2: So he was going to make her a little bit
S2: more modest, put a little clothes on this woman and okay, whatever.
S2: You see, because the thing with the tattoo is you change.
S2: But but your tattoo doesn't change. It's a mark that
S2: doesn't change. Now, here's the thing. The moment that you
S2: believed in Christ, you were marked. It tells us you
S2: were marked. Now, what kind of marking is that? It
S2: says you were marked in him with a seal.
S1: You're listening to Bold Steps with Mark job. We'll continue
S1: today's message in a moment. Mark, there's something I've been
S1: noticing lately that I think many of our listeners are
S1: thinking about, with so many voices competing for our attention.
S1: There's social media news cycles, workplace demands. It's easy to
S1: lose sight of what matters eternally. And I find myself
S1: wondering how many Christians today are investing their best resources
S1: in things that won't ultimately last.
S2: You know, Wayne.
S3: I remember when my youngest son was playing football in
S3: high school. It was a big game and I went there.
S3: I was cheering him on, and I got a phone
S3: call and I thought, well, let me pick up this
S3: phone call just for a moment. So I went down
S3: and I got on the phone call, and it was
S3: right at that time that my son, he intercepted a pass.
S3: And afterwards he said, dad, did you see that? And
S3: I had to say I missed the moment I was
S3: distracted by something. And in the end, it wasn't an
S3: urgent phone call. Listen, right now, there's a lot of distraction.
S3: The political environment in our country, there's a drama every day.
S3: There's a lot that's happening internationally. There's wars, there's natural disasters.
S3: It feels like we are just sucked into it. But
S3: I want to say, don't Miss the moment. I believe
S3: that we are seeing more people come to Christ at
S3: this season at a time, especially under the age of 35,
S3: than I have ever seen in our lifetime. It's happening
S3: in Africa and Europe. It's happening in the United States
S3: of America. We at Bold Steps are committed to not
S3: get distracted, but to make sure that we are proclaiming
S3: the gospel of Jesus at a time of uncertainty so
S3: that people can come to know him in this window
S3: of opportunity that we have. So we want to encourage you. Pray.
S3: Don't miss the moment.
S1: Such an important word, Mark. Thank you. And if you
S1: would like to become part of this eternal work today
S1: by visiting us, you can do that at Bold steps.org
S1: and make a gift or call us at 800 Moody.
S1: That's (800) 356-6639. And when you do, we'll send you a
S1: special gift as a way of saying thanks for partnering
S1: with us and sharing God's truth that will last eternally.
S1: More on that later. But let's get back to the
S1: message now. Again, here's Mark job.
S2: Now let me talk about that for a minute, because
S2: I want you to fully understand what's a mark and
S2: what's a seal. The seal has to do with how
S2: they sent correspondence and official letters. In those days. I
S2: think it was. I was talking to a high school
S2: student not too long ago, and they told me that
S2: one of their assignments in their class was they had
S2: to write a letter, put it in an envelope, put
S2: the address, put a stamp on and mail it. And
S2: these were juniors in high school. And the high school
S2: student was telling me that a whole bunch of people
S2: in the class didn't know how to do it. They
S2: just didn't know how to send a letter. Because we
S2: live in the age of text messaging, emails, Facebook, Book,
S2: and in their world, they never have to send a letter, right?
S2: But in the world that Paul lived in, they had
S2: to send letters often. And the way that they would
S2: authenticate a letter is they would take a someone would
S2: write a letter or an official document. They would put
S2: it in a scroll, tie it, usually with the ribbon.
S2: They would melt wax on the place where the the
S2: paper would meet together. They would melt wax, and then
S2: they would take a signature ring or an emblem, and
S2: they would put the imprint of it on the soft wax.
S2: So when someone received this note or this letter, this
S2: official document, they would look at the wax signature and
S2: they would realize that this is an authentic document, not
S2: a forgery, but this is the real thing. When you
S2: came to Christ The moment that you bowed your knee
S2: and came to Christ, you were marked. You were sealed. Uh,
S2: you were given something that authenticates the fact that you
S2: are truly a follower of Jesus Christ. It's called the
S2: Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, the moment that you came
S2: to Christ, the Holy Spirit is deposited in your being.
S2: So that in the spiritual realm, when every when anybody
S2: looks at you from the angels to the demonic to
S2: God Himself, when he looks at you, he sees the
S2: mark of God upon your life, which is the indwelling
S2: of the Holy Spirit that cannot be raised, that cannot
S2: be taken off, that cannot change because you may change,
S2: but the mark never changes. It's the indwelling of the
S2: Holy Spirit of God. You were marked in him with
S2: a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. Now, I love this
S2: about this passage. Who is the Holy Spirit? The Holy
S2: Spirit is the third person of the Triune God. Now,
S2: this is difficult for some people to understand. It's difficult,
S2: I think, for all of us to understand in one
S2: way or another. There's a lot of, uh, aberrations of
S2: Christianity that have developed out of a misunderstanding of the
S2: Triune God. But in essence, the way the Bible explains
S2: it is we. We worship one God, not three gods.
S2: We have one God that we worship, but that one
S2: God is manifest in three persons with the same essence
S2: and the same nature. And those three persons have different functions.
S2: They're not three different gods. They are three persons that
S2: exist in one God. So therefore, when we pray, we pray. Technically,
S2: I know you say Jesus when you pray, and that's okay.
S2: I know you may say Holy Spirit when you pray,
S2: and that's okay, but technically you are praying to God
S2: the Father.
S1: You're listening to Bold Steps, the Bible teaching of Mark job.
S1: Today's message was called what you know will Change You.
S1: And you can hear part two of this message tomorrow.
S1: So please keep listening. But before then, we want to
S1: invite you to request our new bold step gift. It's
S1: one that really speaks to the moms and dads of
S1: young boys.
S2: Mark Wayne. We have Jason and Aaron, their authors. They
S2: are a married couple and they have written a book
S2: called Lies Boys Believe and the Epic Quest for truth.
S2: And great to have you in the studio with us.
S2: And one of the lies you address in this book
S2: is that following Jesus is boring. And I think that's well,
S2: that's an important lie. Jesus is anything but boring, isn't it? Uh,
S2: so tell me why you think boys are susceptible to
S2: this particular deception?
S4: Well, a lot of times when boys are introduced to
S4: to faith and to Jesus, it involves a lot of
S4: sitting still, listening to a Bible story. If there is
S4: an activity, a lot of times, at least me growing up,
S4: it was like a flannel board with the story up there. And, uh.
S1: And Moses kept falling off the flannel board in my life. Yeah.
S4: That's right. And, uh, if if our modern boys are
S4: anything like I was, I had a real hard time appreciating, um,
S4: the stories when I had to sit still and be
S4: forced to hold my hands in my lap and, um,
S4: be super well behaved. But what we what we find
S4: in Scripture is that the life of Jesus was anything
S4: but boring. Uh, the things that boys yearn for in
S4: their innermost parts is the adventure of following a leader
S4: and leading other men. And that's exactly what we see
S4: in in The True Stories of Jesus, where he, uh,
S4: he went fishing. And when he was on adventure all
S4: the time, he was, uh, challenging people and encouraging them
S4: and healing them. And, uh, the people who follow Jesus,
S4: the disciples were anything but boring men. Um, they were
S4: very real, very active, very engaged. There were arguments. There
S4: were lots of challenges in their lives. And that's really
S4: part of the adventure that we kind of, I don't know,
S4: whitewash out of Jesus. A lot of times when we're
S4: telling Bible stories to our young men, following him is
S4: anything but boring.
S1: Aaron, I don't know about your four boys, but sometimes
S1: it can be hard to get boys to read. And
S1: I know this book is for parents to use with
S1: their boys. You had that in mind as you wrote
S1: and designed this book, right?
S5: Yeah. It's different. There's actually several books in the live series.
S5: Lies women believe lies, men Believe lies, Girls believe, which
S5: you mentioned. And this book is very different from the
S5: format of those. And yeah, our boys did not love
S5: to read. I remember being a little girl and if
S5: I had a free afternoon, I would spend it with
S5: a book. That's not how my boys operate. They want
S5: to be outside playing swords with sticks. So how do
S5: we get them in the content? So we were really intentional.
S5: It's a fiction book. The others are not. They're just
S5: straight trade books. And it follows a dad and his
S5: sons on this big adventure that actually models a trip
S5: that Jason and our boys have taken. They go out
S5: west and they encounter all kinds of excitement. Um, and
S5: there's also things that happen in the book. They're going
S5: to turn the book all different ways as they're reading it.
S5: They're going to there's things they're supposed to do with
S5: the corners of the book. There's quests they do within
S5: the book. There's cryptograms where they're trying to solve riddles,
S5: and none of that is an attempt to bait and
S5: switch them into the Bible. As Jason said, we think
S5: the Bible is the most exciting book in the world,
S5: and so this is to be in parallel with the Bible.
S5: And what we've heard from parents and boys over and
S5: over again is my boy couldn't put it down, and
S5: he hasn't done that with any other book. And that's
S5: because we intentionally invite him into this story with these
S5: other men and boys that are people they're going to
S5: want to be like, and they're encountering truth all along
S5: the way. And I actually think that models life pretty well.
S5: Life is an adventure, and we are encountering challenges, and
S5: Jesus is with us every step. And so, um, we
S5: we were excited to give it to boys in a
S5: format that we thought they would love, and our boys
S5: loved it. They're fiction readers. Our boys are. We toss
S5: a nonfiction book at them, they might roll their eyes
S5: and they might or might not read it, but a
S5: great fiction story with an epic adventure, they're going to
S5: read it. So we hope this book is that. Yeah.
S2: That's great. Well, there you have it. Jason and Aaron
S2: have written this book specifically for 6 to 12 year
S2: old boys. So if you are a grandparent, a parent,
S2: if you know someone that's raising boys in that category, listen,
S2: this is the book to get into their hands as
S2: soon as possible.
S1: Well, once again, it's written by Jason and Aaron Davis,
S1: and we'll be happy to send you a copy. This
S1: bold step gift today when you give a donation to
S1: support Bold Steps. So call us at 800. D.L. Moody.
S1: That's (800) 356-6639. Or give your gift online at Bold Steps.
S1: You can also send your gift and request the book
S1: Lies Boys Believe by writing to us in the mail.
S1: Just address your letter to Bold Steps. 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago,
S1: Illinois 606 ten. And then don't forget if you've missed
S1: any of these messages, you can listen to Mark's daily
S1: program online at Bold steps.org or catch Mark from the
S1: road no matter where you are, just download the Bold
S1: Steps app to your favorite smart device, or subscribe to
S1: the Bold Steps podcast wherever you listen. For more details
S1: on all the ways you can listen, just visit Bold
S1: Steps dot. One more thing before we leave today, why
S1: not sign up for The Bold Stepper Weekly? It's a
S1: free devotional from the desk of pastor Mark Jobe, designed
S1: to help you apply biblical truth to everyday life with
S1: clarity and purpose. Just visit bold steps to get it
S1: delivered to your inbox automatically. And that is our time
S1: for today. I'm Wayne Shepherd on behalf of Mark Jobe
S1: and the entire Bold Steps team. We invite you to
S1: join us again tomorrow. And Mark continues this message. It's
S1: part of our new series. When you believe Everything changes.
S1: And you can hear more Friday right here on Bold
S1: Steps with Mark Jobe. Bold steps is a production of
S1: Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.