WEBVTT - The Power Habits – Part 2 0:00:00.960 --> 0:00:04.680 Any good habit we develop in our life involves a struggle, 0:00:04.680 --> 0:00:07.080 but we do it because there's something good waiting for 0:00:07.080 --> 0:00:10.080 us at the end. More on becoming fully devoted to 0:00:10.119 --> 0:00:11.479 God coming up. 0:00:12.280 --> 0:00:15.320 God says, stop babbling. I don't want to hear your babbling. 0:00:15.360 --> 0:00:18.680 Talk to me. God loves to see people that are 0:00:18.680 --> 0:00:21.640 passionately expressing their heart to them. You don't need to 0:00:21.640 --> 0:00:23.760 learn a prayer. You need to pray. 0:00:36.360 --> 0:00:39.640 Welcome to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe, president of Moody 0:00:39.640 --> 0:00:42.680 Bible Institute and senior pastor of New Life Community Church 0:00:42.680 --> 0:00:49.320 in Chicago. God seeks authentic, sold out, all in passionate followers. Today, 0:00:49.320 --> 0:00:53.160 we continue with part two of the Power Habits disciplines that, 0:00:53.159 --> 0:00:56.840 when implemented in practice, create a fully devoted heart for God. 0:00:57.320 --> 0:00:59.760 It's our prayer that you are moving in that direction. 0:01:00.080 --> 0:01:02.320 This is a powerful series, and if you'd like to 0:01:02.320 --> 0:01:04.520 listen again or hear any past message, you can do 0:01:04.520 --> 0:01:08.760 so at Bold Steps Radio.com. Or perhaps there's someone you 0:01:08.760 --> 0:01:11.000 know who would be blessed by the teaching. You can 0:01:11.000 --> 0:01:13.440 easily share bold steps with them when you go to 0:01:13.480 --> 0:01:18.679 bold steps. All right. Now continuing in Matthew chapter six. 0:01:18.840 --> 0:01:22.000 Here is Mark Jobe with today's bold steps. 0:01:24.720 --> 0:01:30.080 Verse one says, be careful not to practice your righteousness 0:01:30.080 --> 0:01:33.080 in front of others, to be seen by them. If 0:01:33.080 --> 0:01:37.720 you do, you will have no reward from your father 0:01:37.720 --> 0:01:41.520 that is in heaven. The word reward is used seven 0:01:41.520 --> 0:01:47.640 times in this passage. Give. There's a reward. Pray. There's 0:01:47.640 --> 0:01:51.680 a reward. Fast. There's a reward. But he also says. 0:01:51.720 --> 0:01:55.640 Be careful. Do you know that you can fast, pray 0:01:55.960 --> 0:02:01.210 and give and lose your spiritual or heavenly reward? And 0:02:01.210 --> 0:02:03.210 then Jesus goes on and tells us how we lose 0:02:03.210 --> 0:02:07.090 a reward. Now, no one likes to engage in a discipline. Typically, 0:02:07.090 --> 0:02:11.130 disciplines are difficult, but we engage in disciplines because we 0:02:11.130 --> 0:02:14.089 know that at the end of this discipline, something good 0:02:14.090 --> 0:02:17.450 is coming. Uh, someone goes to college and they engage 0:02:17.450 --> 0:02:21.850 in the discipline of study and doing midterm examinations and 0:02:21.889 --> 0:02:24.450 papers that they have to go through, not because they 0:02:24.450 --> 0:02:27.329 enjoy homework, but because they know at the end they're 0:02:27.330 --> 0:02:30.890 going to receive a degree. And that degree will facilitate 0:02:30.889 --> 0:02:33.890 job opportunities in the future. So they go through the 0:02:33.889 --> 0:02:37.610 discipline because they know there's a reward at the end. 0:02:38.970 --> 0:02:40.570 Some of you here get up and go to the 0:02:40.570 --> 0:02:44.770 gym at six in the morning. You get on that StairMaster. 0:02:45.370 --> 0:02:49.410 You hate that StairMaster. There's a reward at the end. 0:02:50.090 --> 0:02:53.210 And it is so with our spiritual disciplines, we fast, 0:02:53.250 --> 0:02:57.290 we pray, we give. Not because it's easy, but because 0:02:57.290 --> 0:03:00.050 we know at the end the favor of God or 0:03:00.050 --> 0:03:03.930 the reward of God is coming in our direction. And 0:03:03.930 --> 0:03:08.049 so this passage says, don't lose the reward, because it 0:03:08.050 --> 0:03:11.210 tells us that if you're not careful, you could lose 0:03:11.210 --> 0:03:13.730 the reward of giving. If you're not careful, you could 0:03:13.930 --> 0:03:16.850 lose the reward of praying, or you could lose the 0:03:16.850 --> 0:03:20.410 reward of giving. Notice what he says in verse two. 0:03:21.690 --> 0:03:25.850 He says, so when you give to the needy, do 0:03:25.850 --> 0:03:29.450 not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in 0:03:29.450 --> 0:03:34.250 the synagogue and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly, 0:03:34.250 --> 0:03:40.330 I tell you, they have received their reward. And he 0:03:40.330 --> 0:03:43.490 goes on to say, but when you give, do not 0:03:43.490 --> 0:03:45.970 let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 0:03:45.970 --> 0:03:48.890 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your father, 0:03:48.890 --> 0:03:52.610 who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 0:03:52.970 --> 0:03:56.610 In essence, what he's saying is that if you give 0:03:57.050 --> 0:04:01.220 simply so that others will think you're spiritual, then you 0:04:01.220 --> 0:04:05.940 received your reward. But if you give driven out of 0:04:05.980 --> 0:04:09.980 God opportunities because you feel like God is calling you 0:04:09.980 --> 0:04:12.820 to give and you want the favor of God, then 0:04:12.820 --> 0:04:17.460 you will receive your reward. It's like the guy that's 0:04:17.460 --> 0:04:20.420 walking down the street and sees a homeless person, and 0:04:20.420 --> 0:04:23.099 he pauses for a second. The homeless person asks for something. 0:04:23.100 --> 0:04:25.740 He looks around. He noticed several people are there, and 0:04:25.740 --> 0:04:29.300 so he says, okay. People look around. He pulls out 0:04:29.300 --> 0:04:33.820 his wallet, flips through his bills a little bit. Someone's 0:04:33.820 --> 0:04:36.460 watching him. So he goes through, pulls out. He was 0:04:36.460 --> 0:04:38.260 going to give a one. Then he pulls out a 0:04:38.260 --> 0:04:41.419 five because someone's watching. He crumbles. Make sure she sees 0:04:41.420 --> 0:04:44.580 it over there. He says, here you go, sir. This 0:04:44.580 --> 0:04:47.940 is what you deserve. This is what you deserve and 0:04:47.940 --> 0:04:50.020 gives it to him. And after he gives him, he says, 0:04:50.020 --> 0:04:52.779 how about a selfie? Boom! We got a selfie together. Hey, 0:04:52.779 --> 0:04:55.860 I just helped a homeless person puts on Instagram and 0:04:55.860 --> 0:04:59.260 Jesus says if you do it to be seen by others, 0:04:59.300 --> 0:05:05.020 guess what? You already receive your reward. Because you're not 0:05:05.020 --> 0:05:09.060 giving really out of a heart of generosity that says, God, 0:05:09.060 --> 0:05:12.980 I'm compelled to give. I give because you're calling me 0:05:12.980 --> 0:05:15.340 to give, to be generous. Because I know that in 0:05:15.339 --> 0:05:18.739 my releasing there will be an increased spiritual you're giving 0:05:18.740 --> 0:05:21.260 so that people will think you're generous. And God says, 0:05:21.260 --> 0:05:24.180 don't give so that people can see what you give. 0:05:24.220 --> 0:05:27.540 Give so that I know what you're giving and I 0:05:27.540 --> 0:05:34.060 will reward you exponentially. Rewards you in what you do. 0:05:36.020 --> 0:05:37.660 Let me ask you the question when's the last time 0:05:37.660 --> 0:05:42.420 you really gave sacrificially and didn't tell anybody about it? Seriously? 0:05:44.740 --> 0:05:46.460 Or how about it? The last time that you gave 0:05:46.460 --> 0:05:48.940 to your cousin that was in need and you said, okay, 0:05:48.940 --> 0:05:53.740 I'm going to give you $300, but, you know, and 0:05:53.740 --> 0:05:56.500 then you brought it up about ten times since then 0:05:57.300 --> 0:05:59.580 and told the other cousin and the other cousin and 0:05:59.580 --> 0:06:01.390 the uncle and the aunt and the other. And so 0:06:01.390 --> 0:06:03.670 everybody knows you gave and you kind of bring it 0:06:03.670 --> 0:06:07.510 up subtly. Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know, I gave $300 0:06:07.510 --> 0:06:09.750 to Cousin Jake the other day. Yeah, you told me 0:06:09.750 --> 0:06:11.989 that already. Oh, yeah. I probably already told you that. 0:06:13.750 --> 0:06:18.510 You got your reward. The heart of generosity gives out 0:06:18.510 --> 0:06:22.310 of something. That's that God is driving you to give. 0:06:22.550 --> 0:06:24.550 You give because you know that God has given so 0:06:24.550 --> 0:06:26.230 much to you that you want to give back. You 0:06:26.230 --> 0:06:29.549 don't give so that people will think you're generous. Because 0:06:29.550 --> 0:06:31.950 if you do it to be seen by men, this 0:06:31.950 --> 0:06:35.750 is what Jesus says you've lost your reward from God. 0:06:35.750 --> 0:06:38.670 You've gained your reward from men. So your reward is 0:06:38.670 --> 0:06:42.350 that people will think you're generous, but God is. God 0:06:42.350 --> 0:06:44.790 is erased. The reward that's going to come to you 0:06:44.790 --> 0:06:47.349 from heaven. Let me tell you, you want God's reward 0:06:47.350 --> 0:06:52.230 much more than you want men's reward. And he says, 0:06:52.270 --> 0:06:56.469 and when you pray. It's the same thing. If you're 0:06:56.470 --> 0:06:59.950 praying to be seen by others, do not be like 0:06:59.950 --> 0:07:03.270 the hypocrites. It says in verse five. For they love 0:07:03.270 --> 0:07:06.310 to pray, standing in the synagogues and on the street 0:07:06.310 --> 0:07:09.950 corners to be seen by others. Truly, I tell you, 0:07:10.350 --> 0:07:15.350 they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, 0:07:16.190 --> 0:07:19.070 go into your room, close the door, and pray to 0:07:19.070 --> 0:07:22.310 your father who is unseen. Then your father, who sees 0:07:22.310 --> 0:07:24.990 what is done in secret, will reward you. And when 0:07:24.990 --> 0:07:27.910 you pray, do not keep babbling like the pagans, for 0:07:27.950 --> 0:07:30.910 they think that they will be heard by their many words. 0:07:30.950 --> 0:07:34.310 Don't be like them. For though your father already knows 0:07:34.310 --> 0:07:36.590 what you need before you ask them, you know what 0:07:36.590 --> 0:07:39.990 he's saying. If you pray, don't pray. Just when you're 0:07:39.990 --> 0:07:45.430 in public. Long, flowery prayers to be heard or seen 0:07:45.430 --> 0:07:48.550 by others. When you pray, if you really want God 0:07:48.550 --> 0:07:50.910 to listen to your prayers, you really want to impress 0:07:50.910 --> 0:07:57.910 the heart of God. Pray in private. Go to your closet. 0:07:58.350 --> 0:08:03.760 Literally mean the storage room. Go to your basement. Spend 0:08:03.760 --> 0:08:06.960 some time in the presence of God in your basement 0:08:06.960 --> 0:08:08.680 where no one can see you. It's just you and 0:08:08.680 --> 0:08:14.640 God and you call out. You pray, Lord, touch my 0:08:14.640 --> 0:08:18.160 prodigal son or daughter. God work in my heart. God 0:08:18.160 --> 0:08:20.920 move in my marriage. God, may my heart be on 0:08:20.920 --> 0:08:26.200 fire for you. Lord, I pray for and pray in private. 0:08:26.200 --> 0:08:29.960 And when you pray in private, the Bible says that 0:08:29.960 --> 0:08:34.680 your heavenly father will see that, and he will reward you. 0:08:37.280 --> 0:08:38.679 And by the way, he says, and when you pray 0:08:38.679 --> 0:08:42.080 and don't babble, you know, some of you are taught 0:08:42.080 --> 0:08:47.480 to babble when you prayed. He says, don't babble like 0:08:47.480 --> 0:08:50.880 the pagans. Pagans are people that you know, follow. False 0:08:50.880 --> 0:08:53.200 gods don't babble like the pagans because just because you 0:08:53.200 --> 0:08:55.160 say a lot of words doesn't mean you're really praying. 0:08:55.160 --> 0:08:58.240 I mentioned that before. Some of you were actually, some 0:08:58.240 --> 0:08:59.920 of you came from traditions, and I don't want to 0:08:59.920 --> 0:09:02.080 offend anybody, but some of you came from traditions where 0:09:02.080 --> 0:09:05.320 you were taught to babble when you pray, because I've 0:09:05.320 --> 0:09:07.280 asked some people. So you pray. Oh yeah, I pray. 0:09:08.080 --> 0:09:12.320 And you were given instruments to count your prayers. And 0:09:12.760 --> 0:09:14.600 you say, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I prayed the 0:09:14.600 --> 0:09:19.960 Our Father 25 times. I'd rather have a job well 0:09:20.080 --> 0:09:22.840 done one. Our father, our father in heaven, hallowed be 0:09:22.840 --> 0:09:24.280 thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. Give 0:09:24.280 --> 0:09:26.160 us this day our daily bread. Two. Our father, who 0:09:26.160 --> 0:09:28.440 art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Three. 0:09:29.920 --> 0:09:33.240 You know what that's called? Babylon. How many of you 0:09:33.240 --> 0:09:34.880 know what I'm talking about? Just nod your head at 0:09:34.880 --> 0:09:36.280 me like I know what I'm talking about. How many 0:09:36.280 --> 0:09:37.320 of you. How many of you used to do that? 0:09:37.320 --> 0:09:38.600 You don't have to raise your hand. Just kind of 0:09:38.600 --> 0:09:40.120 nod at me like, I know. I know what you're 0:09:40.120 --> 0:09:45.599 talking about. And you know, that's babbling. You're not praying. 0:09:45.600 --> 0:09:49.439 You're reciting a prayer. And it makes no sense to God. 0:09:49.920 --> 0:09:53.640 It's like me coming home to my wife and saying, honey, 0:09:53.640 --> 0:09:57.200 I want to tell you something. Roses are red, violets 0:09:57.200 --> 0:10:01.449 are blue. No one's as pretty as you. And she 0:10:01.450 --> 0:10:04.410 would say, oh that's nice. And I said, no, no, no, wait. 0:10:04.809 --> 0:10:07.410 Roses are red, violets are blue, and no one's as 0:10:07.410 --> 0:10:10.809 pretty as you two. No, no. Okay, I got it. No, no. 0:10:10.809 --> 0:10:13.449 Roses are red. Violets are blue. And no one's as 0:10:13.450 --> 0:10:15.690 pretty as you. Three roses are red. Violets are roses. 0:10:15.690 --> 0:10:19.089 She'd say. Get out of here, I heard it. Stop 0:10:19.090 --> 0:10:22.490 just repeating something to me. Talk to me. And some 0:10:22.490 --> 0:10:24.930 of you repeat a prayer to God as though repeating 0:10:24.929 --> 0:10:28.250 a prayer to God somehow impresses God. And God says, 0:10:28.250 --> 0:10:31.329 stop babbling. I don't want to hear your babbling. Pray. 0:10:31.770 --> 0:10:36.090 Talk to me. Converse with me. Share your heart with me. 0:10:36.410 --> 0:10:40.330 Be passionate about it. Know what you're saying. Get involved 0:10:40.330 --> 0:10:43.890 in it. I'm your father. God. God loves to see 0:10:43.929 --> 0:10:47.570 people that are passionately expressing their heart to them, that 0:10:47.570 --> 0:10:50.530 are praying in Jesus name, that are in faith, are 0:10:50.530 --> 0:10:53.130 talking to God. You don't need to learn a prayer. 0:10:53.130 --> 0:10:57.250 You need to pray. You say, well, pastor, why is 0:10:57.250 --> 0:10:59.770 the Lord's Prayer in the Bible? Because Jesus says, pray 0:10:59.770 --> 0:11:03.130 after this manner. He didn't say pray this prayer. He said, 0:11:03.130 --> 0:11:07.850 pray after this pattern. The pattern is worship thy kingdom come. 0:11:08.010 --> 0:11:12.290 Our personal finances don't fall into temptation. Let us forgive 0:11:12.290 --> 0:11:16.010 other people and you deserve all the glory. That's the 0:11:16.010 --> 0:11:18.370 pattern of the Lord's Prayer. Some of you need to 0:11:18.410 --> 0:11:21.010 learn how to pray. We can't be a church that 0:11:21.010 --> 0:11:23.969 has power. You can't be a person that has spiritual 0:11:23.970 --> 0:11:28.610 influence and power unless you learn the power of prayer. 0:11:33.450 --> 0:11:36.490 You're listening to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. I hope 0:11:36.490 --> 0:11:39.690 you'll go to Bold steps.org for more. And if you 0:11:39.690 --> 0:11:42.690 enjoy listening to podcasts during your workout, your lunch break, 0:11:42.690 --> 0:11:44.809 or any other time of day, be sure to add 0:11:44.809 --> 0:11:48.170 the Bold Steps podcast to your lineup. Once you subscribe, 0:11:48.170 --> 0:11:50.890 you'll receive all of these daily teachings from Mark automatically 0:11:50.890 --> 0:11:53.530 to your phone or mobile device, making it easy to 0:11:53.570 --> 0:11:55.770 catch up on anything you might miss on the radio. 0:11:56.010 --> 0:11:58.890 Just open up your podcast app, search for bold steps 0:11:58.890 --> 0:12:02.700 with doctor Mark Jobe. And then click subscribe. Then one 0:12:02.700 --> 0:12:05.420 more podcast you'll definitely want to get is the Bold 0:12:05.420 --> 0:12:09.540 Steps Minute. This convenient 62nd feature for Mark will offer 0:12:09.540 --> 0:12:12.820 you both encouragement and biblical insight to listen to first 0:12:12.820 --> 0:12:15.380 thing in the morning, or at any minute of the day. 0:12:15.700 --> 0:12:19.220 Just search for Bold Steps Minute on your podcast app 0:12:19.220 --> 0:12:22.780 and subscribe for these helpful daily features. All right, back 0:12:22.780 --> 0:12:25.060 to the message. Now here's Mark Jobe as we conclude 0:12:25.059 --> 0:12:26.059 this message. 0:12:31.300 --> 0:12:36.140 And then in verse 16 he talks about fasting. He says, 0:12:36.179 --> 0:12:39.900 and when you fast, do not look somber as the 0:12:39.900 --> 0:12:44.220 hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others 0:12:44.220 --> 0:12:49.939 that they are fasting. Truly you have received your reward 0:12:49.940 --> 0:12:54.540 in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head, 0:12:54.700 --> 0:12:57.699 wash your face so that it is not obvious to 0:12:57.740 --> 0:13:00.780 others that you are fasting, but only to your father, 0:13:00.780 --> 0:13:03.700 who is unseen. And your father, who sees what is 0:13:03.700 --> 0:13:09.179 done in secret will reward you. So he's talking about 0:13:09.179 --> 0:13:13.220 people that come to church. Maybe you're not in a fast. 0:13:13.300 --> 0:13:15.140 It's not a corporate fast. So no one knows. And 0:13:15.140 --> 0:13:18.820 you come to church and you get up and you say, 0:13:18.820 --> 0:13:22.179 I'm not going to comb my hair. I do that 0:13:22.179 --> 0:13:23.460 all the time. I'm not going to comb my hair. 0:13:23.460 --> 0:13:25.540 But some of you that have more hair, your ladies, 0:13:25.540 --> 0:13:27.540 I'm not going to comb my hair. I'm fasting. I'm 0:13:27.540 --> 0:13:29.620 not going to put up makeup on. Boy, you look 0:13:29.620 --> 0:13:31.900 really different without it, I'm not going to put makeup on. 0:13:31.900 --> 0:13:34.620 I'm going to get all my dirty clothes that I 0:13:34.660 --> 0:13:36.860 use to clean the house in, and I'm going to 0:13:36.900 --> 0:13:39.420 show up in church and you show up in church and, 0:13:39.460 --> 0:13:48.420 and someone says, are you okay? Yeah. Are you sick? No. 0:13:48.940 --> 0:13:52.339 Are you sure something's not wrong with you? Well, if 0:13:52.380 --> 0:13:58.820 you insist. I'm fasting. You just lost your reward because 0:13:58.820 --> 0:14:01.190 you were just dying for someone to ask you so 0:14:01.190 --> 0:14:03.189 you could tell them you're fasting. So they would think, oh, 0:14:03.230 --> 0:14:08.150 you're really spiritual. You're fasting. And Jesus says, if you 0:14:08.150 --> 0:14:11.870 do it for people, you've lost your reward. But instead 0:14:11.870 --> 0:14:14.030 put on your best clothes, comb your hair like you 0:14:14.070 --> 0:14:16.350 normally do, put on that makeup like you do. Tweeze 0:14:16.350 --> 0:14:19.350 your eyebrows again, put on those high heels. Go to 0:14:19.390 --> 0:14:24.150 work and look good when you're fasting. That's what he's 0:14:24.150 --> 0:14:27.190 basically saying. People shouldn't be able to see that you're 0:14:27.190 --> 0:14:31.750 fasting because you're not doing it for people's acclaim. You're 0:14:31.750 --> 0:14:36.790 doing it so that your father in heaven could see 0:14:37.150 --> 0:14:40.350 that you are actually giving up food for the purpose 0:14:40.350 --> 0:14:43.910 of pressing in to follow God, not out of. Can 0:14:43.910 --> 0:14:46.110 I just say this about fasting? I know some of 0:14:46.110 --> 0:14:48.190 you have never fasted before. Some of you are new 0:14:48.190 --> 0:14:51.310 to this. Some of you it's a new discipline. But 0:14:51.310 --> 0:14:55.510 let me tell you, you don't fast for God to 0:14:55.510 --> 0:15:03.480 take away your sins. That's heresy. Your sins were paid 0:15:03.480 --> 0:15:09.720 for in full at the cross of Jesus. 100%. 100%, 100%. 0:15:09.720 --> 0:15:12.200 There's nothing that you can add or take away from that. 0:15:12.200 --> 0:15:15.280 You can't work to get your sins taken away. The 0:15:15.280 --> 0:15:19.120 full price was paid by the spotless Lamb of God. 0:15:19.160 --> 0:15:22.280 All God, all man on that cross. If you try 0:15:22.280 --> 0:15:25.200 to work for your salvation, if you try to add 0:15:25.200 --> 0:15:28.960 to your salvation, you are insulting the God that is 0:15:28.960 --> 0:15:32.120 forgiven you. The only way that you can receive forgiveness 0:15:32.160 --> 0:15:36.200 is by repenting and believing and humbling yourself, and receiving 0:15:36.200 --> 0:15:39.200 this mighty gift of God. As you receive Jesus as 0:15:39.200 --> 0:15:42.920 Lord and Savior of your life. If you add, if 0:15:42.920 --> 0:15:45.320 you do penance, if you whip your back, if you 0:15:45.320 --> 0:15:48.240 go on your knees, if you abstain from food, if 0:15:48.240 --> 0:15:51.680 you do pilgrimages somehow to take away your sin, you 0:15:51.680 --> 0:15:55.720 are insulting and insulting the work of Jesus Christ on 0:15:55.720 --> 0:16:02.600 the cross, paid in full For by grace, through faith, 0:16:02.800 --> 0:16:05.360 nothing of your own. Some of you need to understand that. 0:16:06.320 --> 0:16:11.680 So when we fast, we don't fast to take sins 0:16:11.680 --> 0:16:17.600 away or to purify our life. When we fast, we 0:16:17.600 --> 0:16:23.840 fast to acknowledge that we need God more than we 0:16:23.840 --> 0:16:30.040 need food. We fast so that our physical hunger reminds 0:16:30.040 --> 0:16:34.560 us of our spiritual desire and appetite for God. We 0:16:34.560 --> 0:16:37.520 fast so that we can press in and pray. When 0:16:37.520 --> 0:16:40.720 I fast, I always know I'm fasting because my body 0:16:40.720 --> 0:16:44.640 reminds me. I get up in the morning and I think, wow, 0:16:44.640 --> 0:16:47.040 I'm hungry. And then I remember I'm fasting. Yeah, I 0:16:47.040 --> 0:16:50.400 need to press in and seek God. Lunchtime comes and 0:16:50.400 --> 0:16:55.560 I smell Paco's Tacos and I smell carne asada tacos. 0:16:55.560 --> 0:16:57.920 Al pastor. That's my favorite tacos. Al pastor. Of course, 0:16:57.920 --> 0:17:03.440 I'm a pastor. Tacos al pastor. And you know, there's 0:17:03.440 --> 0:17:06.080 something about my stomach that says, go in. But I 0:17:06.080 --> 0:17:08.760 have to tell myself, no, I'm fasting. And why am 0:17:08.760 --> 0:17:10.760 I fasting? I'm fasting so I can seek God. And 0:17:10.760 --> 0:17:14.919 so it reminds me depression and seek the heart of God. 0:17:15.960 --> 0:17:19.000 That's what you're fasting is for. The first time I 0:17:19.040 --> 0:17:23.680 fasted when I was about 16 years old and I'd 0:17:23.680 --> 0:17:25.359 heard about it, I'd never really done it. So I 0:17:25.359 --> 0:17:27.120 took a tent. I was going to fast for three days, 0:17:27.119 --> 0:17:30.480 took a tent, went out to the hills with my 0:17:30.480 --> 0:17:36.359 Bible and my tent, and spent two days there. I 0:17:36.400 --> 0:17:39.800 felt like I was dying of hunger and I was 0:17:39.800 --> 0:17:44.160 alone in the mountains, and I just, I it was hard. 0:17:45.920 --> 0:17:48.359 I ran back home and I ate so much I 0:17:48.359 --> 0:17:50.760 can't believe I think I got sick, I ate so much. 0:17:51.920 --> 0:17:55.240 It was hard. But over the years I've learned something 0:17:55.240 --> 0:17:59.560 about fasting. What our body tends. Your body tends to 0:17:59.690 --> 0:18:05.290 tell you that it dominates. Carnal people are driven by 0:18:05.290 --> 0:18:07.929 the desires of the flesh. The body says have sex 0:18:07.930 --> 0:18:10.170 and they have sex. Don't care if they're married, unmarried, 0:18:10.170 --> 0:18:12.929 who it is, what they look like. Party. You get 0:18:12.930 --> 0:18:18.490 a little drunk. I'm having sex. Your body's dominating. Your 0:18:18.490 --> 0:18:22.090 body says eat. You overeat over stuff. Eat what's not 0:18:22.130 --> 0:18:26.250 healthy because your body says you're hungry. Appetites. The flesh. 0:18:28.609 --> 0:18:32.490 Your body says sleep. You oversleep. Sleep. Way lazing around. 0:18:32.810 --> 0:18:38.729 And sometimes our body dominates us. You're a slave to 0:18:38.770 --> 0:18:41.609 the desires of your flesh. The mastery of your body. 0:18:42.130 --> 0:18:44.450 But there's something about getting up and saying, no, I'm 0:18:44.450 --> 0:18:46.290 not a slave to my body. I'm a slave to 0:18:46.330 --> 0:18:50.810 my spirit. Jesus. His spirit rules in me. So body, 0:18:50.810 --> 0:18:53.690 get in line. No. No body. I'm telling you today 0:18:53.690 --> 0:18:56.450 you're not eating because I'm seeking God. No body. I'm 0:18:56.450 --> 0:19:00.020 telling you today we're getting up early because I'm getting 0:19:00.020 --> 0:19:03.780 into my Bible and praying nobody. I'm telling you today 0:19:03.780 --> 0:19:05.739 I'm getting out of bed because I want to be 0:19:05.740 --> 0:19:07.859 in the house of God, worshiping the King of Kings 0:19:07.859 --> 0:19:10.380 and the Lord of Lords. Because my spirit rules over 0:19:10.380 --> 0:19:14.020 my body. My body doesn't tell my being what to do. 0:19:14.060 --> 0:19:21.460 My spirit tells my body to get in line. That's 0:19:21.460 --> 0:19:24.060 what it means to be spirit led as opposed to 0:19:24.100 --> 0:19:27.660 fleshly led. And some of you are making the transition 0:19:27.660 --> 0:19:30.620 from being led by the spirit. Because you've lived years 0:19:30.660 --> 0:19:35.940 dominated by the flesh, you barely know, you barely can 0:19:35.940 --> 0:19:38.900 say no to your body because your body is dominated 0:19:38.900 --> 0:19:42.980 you for so long. But God says, no, I've put 0:19:42.980 --> 0:19:46.260 my spirit inside of your body and you are ruled 0:19:46.260 --> 0:19:51.660 by the spirit instead of by the flesh. The last thing, 0:19:51.660 --> 0:19:57.380 the last point is not only God expects. God sees. 0:19:57.540 --> 0:20:04.260 God rewards. Seven times the word reward is used. Verse four. 0:20:06.380 --> 0:20:09.140 Then your heavenly father, who sees what is done in 0:20:09.140 --> 0:20:14.580 secret will reward you. That's about giving. Verse six. Then 0:20:14.619 --> 0:20:16.780 your father, who sees what is done in secret, will 0:20:16.780 --> 0:20:21.820 reward you. That's about prayer. Verse 14. So then it 0:20:21.820 --> 0:20:24.260 will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, 0:20:24.460 --> 0:20:26.780 but your father who is in heaven is unseen. And 0:20:26.780 --> 0:20:29.420 your father who sees what is done in secret, will 0:20:29.420 --> 0:20:34.979 reward you. That's about fasting. Think about God says, I'm 0:20:34.980 --> 0:20:41.139 wanting to reward your giving, your fasting, your praying. I'm 0:20:41.180 --> 0:20:45.980 guaranteeing you God is saying that I will reward you, 0:20:47.460 --> 0:20:50.540 but I want you to do it for me. I 0:20:50.540 --> 0:20:52.700 want it to be driven out of your love for me. 0:20:52.740 --> 0:20:56.100 God says out of your heart's desire to please me, 0:20:56.140 --> 0:20:58.580 out of your hunger for me. And then I will 0:20:58.580 --> 0:21:01.899 reward you. And this reward, by the way, splashes into 0:21:01.940 --> 0:21:06.860 every area of our life. Hebrews 11 says, and without 0:21:06.859 --> 0:21:11.340 faith it's impossible to please him. To please God. For 0:21:11.340 --> 0:21:15.780 whoever draws near to God must believe that he exists, 0:21:16.180 --> 0:21:20.260 and that he rewards those who seek him. You have 0:21:20.260 --> 0:21:25.700 to believe that God exists. This is this intangible being 0:21:25.700 --> 0:21:29.340 in the universe that you cannot see or touch or 0:21:29.340 --> 0:21:34.940 grab on to. This spirit, God who created the heavens 0:21:34.940 --> 0:21:38.939 and the earth, who transforms you, yet you cannot see 0:21:38.940 --> 0:21:42.780 him who speaks to you, yet you have never heard 0:21:42.780 --> 0:21:47.859 an audible voice. You must believe that he is. And 0:21:47.859 --> 0:21:51.020 not only that he is, but that he rewards those 0:21:51.020 --> 0:21:56.100 that diligently seek him. That's what Hebrews says. Believe that 0:21:56.100 --> 0:22:00.790 he is and that he rewards. There's something powerful about 0:22:00.790 --> 0:22:07.350 faith that God says I will honor. Faith that drives 0:22:07.350 --> 0:22:11.310 us to give. It drives us to pray. And it 0:22:11.310 --> 0:22:12.750 drives us to fast. 0:22:19.030 --> 0:22:22.230 That's Mark Jobe, and this is Bold Steps wrapping up 0:22:22.230 --> 0:22:25.790 the message entitled The Power Habits. Next time, the first 0:22:25.790 --> 0:22:28.110 of two parts to the message. It's not over yet. 0:22:28.109 --> 0:22:30.910 The conclusion to our series. Mark, I want to share 0:22:30.910 --> 0:22:32.470 an email that came in recently, and I want to 0:22:32.470 --> 0:22:34.709 read this to you. It should be an encouragement. Susan 0:22:34.710 --> 0:22:37.670 in Colorado Springs writes to us. I am giving an 0:22:37.670 --> 0:22:40.590 offering to Moody Radio Bold Steps because I'm so happy 0:22:40.590 --> 0:22:43.390 to hear Mark Jobe teach the truth in depth in 0:22:43.390 --> 0:22:46.150 a way that reveals the heart of God. She says, 0:22:46.150 --> 0:22:48.350 simply amazing. Thank you. 0:22:48.590 --> 0:22:51.590 Susan, thank you so much. That's encouraging. By the way, 0:22:51.590 --> 0:22:54.270 I've been to Colorado Springs. Beautiful place. 0:22:54.310 --> 0:22:54.909 Sure is. 0:22:55.310 --> 0:22:57.149 And, you know, that's part of our goal here at 0:22:57.150 --> 0:23:00.109 Bold Steps. We want to take the truth, the Word 0:23:00.109 --> 0:23:02.429 of God. And by the way, can I say as 0:23:02.470 --> 0:23:04.990 as I preach the Word of God, I'm not just 0:23:04.990 --> 0:23:08.630 preaching to people that need to listen. I am preaching 0:23:08.630 --> 0:23:12.790 to myself. God is doing a work in me. I'm convicted. 0:23:12.790 --> 0:23:15.189 As I study, I have to repent. I have to 0:23:15.190 --> 0:23:17.190 get on my face and say, Lord, am I living 0:23:17.190 --> 0:23:19.510 this out? And so I love the fact that I 0:23:19.510 --> 0:23:22.990 get to go through it before I actually share it out. 0:23:23.430 --> 0:23:25.310 But that's our goal, is we don't want to just 0:23:25.310 --> 0:23:28.790 fill your head with, um, knowledge about the truth. We 0:23:28.790 --> 0:23:33.590 want you to have the practical challenge to apply the 0:23:33.590 --> 0:23:35.750 truth in your day to day living. 0:23:35.790 --> 0:23:37.629 Oh, that's such a good word, Mark. Thank you for 0:23:37.670 --> 0:23:41.070 that vulnerability. Maybe you're like Susan. And you can also 0:23:41.070 --> 0:23:43.790 say that Bold Steps has blessed your life. Would you 0:23:43.830 --> 0:23:47.670 consider helping support this ministry? Because your prayers and financial 0:23:47.670 --> 0:23:50.870 gifts keep us on the air and online? When you 0:23:50.869 --> 0:23:52.949 send your gift of any amount, we'll be happy to 0:23:52.990 --> 0:23:55.830 send you a gift in return. It's called our Bold 0:23:55.830 --> 0:23:58.950 Step gift, and this month we have a particularly relevant 0:23:59.080 --> 0:24:02.880 resource to share because in today's fast paced world, genuine 0:24:02.880 --> 0:24:06.640 connection often takes a back seat to convenience. After all, 0:24:06.640 --> 0:24:08.800 sending a text is a lot easier than sitting down 0:24:08.800 --> 0:24:12.960 for coffee. But in doctor Heather Holloman's book, The Six Conversations. 0:24:13.119 --> 0:24:16.280 She shows us there's a better way. Through real world 0:24:16.280 --> 0:24:19.080 guidance and biblical wisdom, this book will transform how you 0:24:19.080 --> 0:24:23.000 approach every interaction, helping you build the meaningful relationships that 0:24:23.000 --> 0:24:26.320 we were designed to have. This bold step gift offers 0:24:26.320 --> 0:24:29.280 proven strategies to help you move beyond small. Talk to 0:24:29.320 --> 0:24:32.760 conversations that truly matter. So reach out today and get 0:24:32.760 --> 0:24:35.479 your copy of this life changing resource. We'll send you 0:24:35.480 --> 0:24:37.679 a copy with your gift of any amount to support 0:24:37.680 --> 0:24:41.959 bold steps. Just call us at 800. D.L. Moody. That's 0:24:41.960 --> 0:24:49.000 (800) 356-6639 or give online at Bold steps.org. You can also 0:24:49.000 --> 0:24:51.000 send that gift through the mail by writing to us 0:24:51.040 --> 0:24:56.879 at bold steps. 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60,006 ten. 0:24:57.680 --> 0:24:59.920 And if you want to make a long lasting impact 0:24:59.920 --> 0:25:03.280 with your giving, consider becoming a bold partner and sign 0:25:03.280 --> 0:25:06.040 up to give on a monthly basis. When you do 0:25:06.080 --> 0:25:08.560 sign up to give $30 a month or more, you'll 0:25:08.560 --> 0:25:12.240 also get the Moody Publishers discount code of 50% off. 0:25:12.600 --> 0:25:16.480 That means you'll get half off every devotional Bible study 0:25:16.480 --> 0:25:20.480 kids book available at Moody Publishers website. So take your 0:25:20.480 --> 0:25:23.000 next bold step today and sign up to become a 0:25:23.000 --> 0:25:29.480 bold partner at Bold steps.org or call 800 Moody. Well, 0:25:29.480 --> 0:25:32.080 coming your way tomorrow, a special message titled It's not 0:25:32.080 --> 0:25:35.000 over yet. We're all in a race and there's still 0:25:35.000 --> 0:25:37.600 time to get life back on track. I hope you're 0:25:37.600 --> 0:25:40.240 able to join us next time for this encouraging message. 0:25:40.480 --> 0:25:43.080 I'm Wayne Sheppard. We'll see you Friday. For more bold 0:25:43.080 --> 0:25:47.199 steps with Mark John. Bold steps is a production of 0:25:47.240 --> 0:25:50.399 Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.