S1: Today on bold steps with Mark job. Once in Christ,
S1: we represent God to the world and we need to
S1: be a pleasing aroma.
S2: Listen, when you preach about purity, you're not hearing pastors
S2: deal with things straight up upfront. But I'm I believe
S2: God has called us to be a holy people, a
S2: people that has power, a people that has strength, a
S2: people that changes our culture. And it's not going to
S2: happen until we get a handle on this area.
S1: Welcome to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe, senior pastor of
S1: New Life Community Church and president of Moody Bible Institute
S1: in Chicago. We're online 24 over seven, so if you
S1: ever miss a message, you can hear it when you
S1: visit us at Bold Steps. Today, as we move forward
S1: with our brand new series called Bold Living, Mark will
S1: be asking us some tough questions like, are you living
S1: out the new you? What are you hanging around and
S1: what or who are you exposing to the light? We
S1: need to live in such a way that we remember
S1: purity is a priority with our message titled, what do
S1: you smell like? Here's pastor Mark Jobe.
S2: Your body belongs to God. And I know someone will say, well,
S2: I'm not involved. I don't do anything physically, but I
S2: like to talk. I like to joke. I like to,
S2: you know, joke around with my buddies and we get
S2: into some sort of nasty kind of conversation. But it's
S2: all in fun, pastor. It's no big deal as long
S2: as I'm not touching anything, right? Well, then it says
S2: in verse four, nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk,
S2: or coarse jesting which are out of place. Well, everybody's
S2: doing it. Yeah, but you're not everybody but rather giving thanks.
S2: In other words, what the Apostle Paul is telling us
S2: is that we live in a sex saturated society. We
S2: live in a society in which, by and large, to
S2: live chaste and pure and with self-control is something that
S2: no longer exists. By and large, we live in a
S2: society where marital marital infidelity is rampant. We live in
S2: a society where moving in with your girlfriend or boyfriend
S2: is normal. We live in a society where Netflix and
S2: chill are part of the common vernacular. And what happens
S2: around there. We live in a society where people give
S2: each other sexual favors and they feel like, hey, is
S2: that your boyfriend? No, no, no I'm not. That's not
S2: my boyfriend. Just, you know, we just went out. We
S2: live in a society, basically, that's come to a point
S2: where sexuality is not viewed as moral or immoral. Yet
S2: God says, hey, you may live in the world, but
S2: you are not of the world. I've called you to
S2: a different standard. I've pulled you out. Take off the old.
S2: Put on the new. You are called to live a
S2: different way. By the power of the Most High God.
S2: So you need to ask yourself this question. What am
S2: I tolerating in my life? Secondly, you need to ask
S2: yourself the question. What are you hanging around? So verse
S2: five says, for of this you can be sure no immoral,
S2: impure or greedy person. Such a person is an idolater,
S2: has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
S2: That's pretty strong. You say, pastor, what are you saying?
S2: That if I fell into immorality with my girlfriend that
S2: I'm not going to make it to heaven. No, that's
S2: not what this passage says. But this passage does say
S2: that if someone lives continually in a lifestyle that way,
S2: without being convicted, without repenting, without turning around, that you
S2: have made something in your life bigger than God? Yes.
S2: And if you've made something in your life bigger than God,
S2: then you are an idolater. Someone says, well, pastor, I
S2: thought an idolater was someone that worshiped an idol or
S2: bowed down to a tree. How many of you know
S2: that you can be an idolater to things that aren't physical?
S2: You can be an idolater to the lust of the flesh.
S2: You can have an idol of. Listen, if you are
S2: here today and you are a follower of Jesus and
S2: you are dating someone that's not a follower of Jesus,
S2: and that follower of Jesus expects that he's going to
S2: have his treat every weekend, and you're giving him his
S2: way every weekend, and you're coming to church and say, yeah,
S2: but I want to follow God. I want to love Jesus.
S2: And when? When the Word of God comes forward about
S2: breaking up with that boyfriend that wants to have sex
S2: every weekend, you say, you know, I want to, but I,
S2: I just, you know, ah, it's so hard. I don't
S2: want to be alone. I don't want to sit there
S2: on Friday night and not have anybody to hold me there.
S2: He meets a need in my life. He's really nice.
S2: He's nicer than a lot of Christians I know. How
S2: many times have I heard that? Listen, listen. If God,
S2: if you're not willing to give it up because of
S2: God and you're convicted about it, then you, my, my
S2: dear sister, you have an idol in your life. You
S2: have just put something above God because you know what
S2: God is asking you to do. to do, but you say, no,
S2: I'm hanging on to this. You cannot have both. You
S2: have to choose who you will follow and which way
S2: you will go. But you cannot have both. And that's
S2: exactly what he's saying here. He says, let no one
S2: deceive you with empty words. Because of such things, God's
S2: wrath comes upon the disobedient. Yea, there's wrath that comes.
S2: You don't want to be on that side of the
S2: wrath of God. You want to be on this side
S2: of the grace of God. And he says, because of
S2: such things, the wrath of God come upon the disobedient.
S2: Therefore do not be partakers with them. Let no one
S2: deceive you with empty words. How many of you know
S2: that it's easy to justify what we're doing? Yes. Oh,
S2: I've heard it all, by the way. I've been pastoring
S2: for a long time. I've heard every excuse under the
S2: under the sun, every excuse to Used to justify the
S2: fact that we're not living for God. Every excuse to
S2: justify the fact that we're giving in to our sexual
S2: desires without following God. Everybody's doing it as long as
S2: the two of us are consenting, it's okay. As long
S2: as no one gets hurt, it's all right. Hey, if
S2: God gave me these urges, it's to follow through on them.
S2: If it feels good, do it. Doesn't God want me
S2: to be happy? And this makes me happy? If we
S2: love each other and are planning on getting married, it's okay, right? Hey,
S2: I know we're living together, but we have a son.
S2: We've been married. We've been together for four years already.
S2: It's like we're married. Yeah, I know, I'm stepping on
S2: some toes here. Listen, when you preach about purity. Security
S2: when you preach in this way. I may be a
S2: solo voice because you're not hearing this from a lot
S2: of churches, a lot of pulpits around this nation. You're
S2: not hearing pastors deal with things straight up, up front.
S2: But I'm I believe God has called us to be
S2: a holy people, a people that has power, a people
S2: that has strength, a people that changes our culture. And
S2: it's not going to happen until we get a handle
S2: on this area. And so he says, and listen, he says,
S2: therefore do not partake with them. You know, I, I
S2: remember talking to a young man that was really struggling
S2: in this area, and I like this guy. He really
S2: wanted to follow Jesus. He had a a heart of
S2: telling other people about Christ. And so he came to
S2: me one time and he says, I'm really broken. I'm
S2: trying to overcome this. I can't seem to have victory
S2: in this area of sexuality. I was very promiscuous before
S2: I came to Christ, but I keep falling over and over.
S2: I don't know what to do. I feel like I
S2: don't have power over it. I say, well, tell me
S2: how you fall. Tell me what happens. And he said, well,
S2: you know, on the weekends he said, I like to dance.
S2: So I tell myself, you're going to go to the club,
S2: but you're not going to fall. So I get Spiffed up,
S2: I go to the club with some friends, music starts going,
S2: bodies start shaking. Suddenly my hormones start going up to
S2: loosen up. I have one drink, sometimes more than one drink.
S2: By the time the evening's over. I have a girl
S2: in my bed that I just met and I, I,
S2: I really am trying to overcome it. I said, bro, bro, bro.
S2: You're like an alcoholic saying, I'm going to go to
S2: a wine tasting event and hope to do well If
S2: you struggle with fallen, the last place you need to
S2: be is in a club where women are dressed scantily
S2: and shaking everything and bumping and grinding and think that
S2: you're going to do okay. That's the last thing that
S2: you need to do. That's the last place you need
S2: to be. Hey, stay out of it. Run, run! Flee!
S2: Get out of there! Some of it's. Hey! Some of
S2: it's no big intellectual spiritual secret. Some of it's just
S2: plain old common sense.
S1: You're listening to Bold Steps with pastor Mark Jobe, and
S1: today's message is interestingly titled, what do you Smell Like?
S1: If you'd like to learn more about this daily program
S1: or Moody Bible Institute, visit us at boldsystems.org. You know, Mark,
S1: connecting with listeners and sharing the Word of God is
S1: what we're all about here, and it's exciting to hear
S1: how the program is having an impact. I have a
S1: few comments here printed out that we can share. Should
S1: we go through a couple of these? Let's do it.
S1: All right. This one comes from Sugar Grove, Illinois. I
S1: truly love and appreciate your programming. Listening to Mark Crawford
S1: Loritts Erwin Lutzer keeps me focused on God and helps
S1: keep my path straight. Thank you, gentlemen. That comes from Michael.
S3: That's great.
S2: Michael, thank you for that word of encouragement.
S3: And by the way, I also love listening to Crawford
S3: Loritts and Erwin Lutzer. They're just.
S1: Familiar voices on Moody.
S3: Radio. They are. And just just great teachers of the word.
S1: Another one from Lakeland, Florida. I listen to it all
S1: day while at work and it helps me get through
S1: the day.
S3: You know, we hear that from so many people, Wayne,
S3: that they have it on the dial, is constantly on
S3: Moody Radio, and it's just that spiritual background that's encouraging.
S3: So so thank you, Vince. Thank you for your encouragement. Yeah.
S1: All right. Let's look at this one from Jerry. You
S1: want to read this one from Pleasant Grove, Alabama?
S3: Yeah. This says Bold Steps is very informative to us.
S3: Things that are preached are very powerful, thought provoking topics
S3: that help us in our spiritual journey. And this is
S3: from Jerry. Jerry, thank you for your words of encouragement,
S3: and we're so grateful for all of those of you
S3: that take a moment to respond, ask a question, make
S3: a comment. And I think we've mentioned before, Wayne, that
S3: if people want to leave a comment or ask a question,
S3: they can just go to bold Steps and leave a message.
S3: And we're also always super encouraged when someone decides to
S3: make a commitment to be a monthly partner, right? And
S3: if you go to Bold Steps org, there's a link
S3: that says Monthly Partner. And I don't know if we've
S3: mentioned this before, Wayne, but if you give I believe
S3: it's $30 a month or more. You get a 50%
S3: discount on all of our moody books.
S1: Think about that. Think about the Moody catalog and all
S1: that's available there. You get a 50% discount when you
S1: become a bold partner at $30 a month or more.
S3: Yeah, and that in itself is worth it if you
S3: purchase Moody Books. So thank you partners, you are very encouraging.
S1: As Mark said, go to Bold steps.org and on the
S1: left side of the screen there look for become a
S1: bold partner and click on it there. It's very easy.
S1: Just takes a moment and it will be so encouraging.
S1: Now Mark will be back at the end of the
S1: program with some final words. But right now, let's get
S1: back into the second half of this message. Mark will
S1: be addressing the third point regarding purity and bold living.
S2: Number three. And lastly, so not only what are you tolerating,
S2: what are you hanging around? But lastly, what are you
S2: exposing to the light? Verse eight says, for you were
S2: once darkness. You know that's who you used to be.
S2: By the way, I think it helps us not to
S2: be judgmental and condemning because all of us used to
S2: be that way. Hey, we all were there, right? We
S2: all were darkness. We all didn't have the same sins,
S2: but we were all there. That's who you were. So
S2: when someone comes in and they're struggling, don't. Don't judge them.
S2: Pounce on them. Break them down. Beat them up. Remember,
S2: that's who you were. Maybe not too long ago. That's
S2: who we all were. That's what we all were. We
S2: were darkness. And that's the way that we lived. And
S2: he says, remember, that's who you once were. But now,
S2: thank God for now. But now, hey, now you are light.
S2: It doesn't say now. You walk in the light. It says,
S2: now you are light in the Lord. So if you
S2: are light, start living as children of the light. For
S2: the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness
S2: and truth. And listen. Find out what pleases the Lord,
S2: it says. You know, the more time you spend with God,
S2: the more you start to realize what pleases God. Some
S2: of us have engaged in what the culture's engaged in
S2: and God's like, not pleased with it. The more you
S2: hang out with a person, the more you realize what
S2: they like. I know, I know what my wife likes
S2: really well because I've been married to her for a
S2: long time. I know what she doesn't like. I know
S2: the food she likes. I know the kind of movies
S2: she likes. I know the kind of evening she likes.
S2: And I know what she doesn't like. Why? Because I
S2: hang out with her. Some of you need to start
S2: asking yourself not what do I want, but what pleases God.
S2: Because ultimately, whatever pleases God, even though it may seem
S2: hard at the time, ultimately that will bring you the
S2: greatest fulfillment. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds
S2: of darkness, but rather expose them. It's shameful even to
S2: mention what the disobedient do in secret. You know what
S2: it's telling us in this passage? It says in verse 13,
S2: but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, and everything
S2: that is illuminated becomes a light. Let me break that
S2: down for you. Sometimes the enemy keeps us bound by
S2: our dark secrets and our struggles. There are people in
S2: this auditorium today that as I'm talking about this, you
S2: and your mind are kind of sinking back in your
S2: seat because you know that you struggle in an area
S2: and the enemy beats you with it. He overcomes you
S2: with it. He makes you feel guilty about it. You
S2: don't want it in your life, but you've never exposed
S2: it to the light. How do you expose it to
S2: the light? You confess it to God, but you confess
S2: it to others. And you say, this is part of
S2: my life. I don't want it in my life. So
S2: it says it's gotta become visible. Listen, you can't heal
S2: that which you conceal. You gotta bring it to the
S2: light and say, yeah, I struggle with pornography. Yeah, I
S2: struggle with fantasies in my mind. Yeah. As a single man,
S2: you know, I've struggled and I've gone out. Yeah, I
S2: struggle in these areas. How can I overcome? I gotta
S2: bring it to the light. I gotta admit that I struggle.
S2: I gotta say, this is a problem. And then when
S2: the light shines upon it, it becomes visible. It doesn't
S2: solve the problem, but it exposes the problem. And as
S2: I start walking in the spirit. Listen, you don't fight
S2: flesh with flesh. You fight flesh with the spirit. You
S2: can only overcome by the power of the Spirit of
S2: God that lives inside of you. And then listen to
S2: what it says. And when it becomes visible, then it
S2: becomes light. Let me tell you what that means. Some
S2: of you, as you begin to overcome that which has
S2: held you bound, not only do you see it, but
S2: that becomes a light and a testimony to others around
S2: you of how great God is, and how he can
S2: also break the chains of other people's lives. And he
S2: says that is why it said, wake up, sleeper, rise
S2: from the dead and Christ will shine upon you. There
S2: are some of you When I give this altar call,
S2: that you should come to the front and get on
S2: your knees and say, you know, God, I'm choosing to
S2: walk in purity, but the fact that you don't want
S2: to bring it to the light will keep you in
S2: your seat. That's what I know. I believe God is
S2: raising a generation of married men who stop excusing their
S2: wandering eyes and wandering mind and heart and say, By
S2: God's grace, I will be faithful to my wife until
S2: the day that we part only through death. And I'm
S2: not going to make excuses. I'm going to turn my
S2: affection to her. And you say, well, pastor man, my
S2: wife is like ice. I call her frozen. Come over here. Frozen, babe.
S2: You know, I'm guessing that I've had a chance to
S2: talk to your frozen wife. That there's probably some good
S2: reasons of neglect. Of issues that have caused her to
S2: freeze up. But I can't think of one woman that
S2: really wants to be married. That when she, her husband,
S2: humbles himself and is honest and deals with his issues
S2: and asks forgiveness and nurtures her and pursues her not
S2: just when he wants something but pursues her emotionally that
S2: that doesn't thaw out the most frozen person. So? So
S2: some of you may need to start working on that.
S2: I also believe that God is raising up a generation
S2: of young men and women that are saying to themselves,
S2: you know what? Everybody's doing it. But I'm not everybody.
S2: That's what I came from. But I'm going to break
S2: the cycle. God's raising up some 19, 20, 17, 25,
S2: 24 year olds that are saying, you know what? It
S2: may seem crazy. My friends may seem what is wrong
S2: with you? They may be asking me when I start
S2: to date, what base I've gotten to. And I'm going
S2: to ask them, are you talking about baseball? Because that's
S2: the only base I get to in baseball. And I'm
S2: going to I'm going to choose, by the grace of
S2: God and the power of God, to live in celibacy
S2: and chastity until the day I marry. No matter what
S2: my background has been like, it may seem crazy, but
S2: I'm going to be one of those crazy Jesus followers
S2: that knows that my body is the temple of the
S2: Holy Spirit. And when I'm weak and when I'm feel
S2: like I'm missing out, I'm going to press into God
S2: and say, fill me God, because I can't do it
S2: on my own. Love me God because I feel unloved.
S2: Fill me God. embrace me because I feel lonely. I'm
S2: going to learn what it means to meet my needs
S2: in God. And when the right time comes, man, I'm
S2: going to let loose in marriage. Some of you need
S2: to make some of those decisions and live. Listen, you
S2: will definitely be living counterculture. Definitely.
S1: That's Mark Jobe on bold steps. Mark, I know this
S1: is one of your most urgent and critical messages for
S1: young people today. Really, for any of us who want
S1: to live boldly.
S3: Yes. And the call of Jesus is strong. It's a
S3: countercultural lifestyle, and I know messages that emphasize purity, and
S3: walking in a holy living before God are very challenging.
S1: And talk about countercultural.
S2: It really is. But I know so many young people,
S2: by the way, that have made the decision, I'm going
S2: to walk in the kind of purity that God has
S2: called me to. My body is the temple of the
S2: Holy Spirit. So if you're struggling with that, I want
S2: to just pray really quickly with you right now. Father,
S2: I pray for that. I pray for that young lady
S2: that has been sleeping with her boyfriend, but is a believer,
S2: but is convicted deeply over it. I pray for repentance
S2: and a new walk of purity. I pray for that
S2: young man that struggling with just walking in, in containment
S2: and and purity of body, that you would give him
S2: the perseverance and power to continue on. I ask this
S2: in Jesus name. Amen.
S1: Amen. Thank you. Mark. If you want to revisit any
S1: part of this lesson called What Do You Smell Like,
S1: just head over to our website, Bold steps.org. While you're
S1: on our homepage, don't miss our latest Bold Step gift offering.
S1: Because in today's culture, young girls face countless messages contradicting
S1: biblical values. That's why we're featuring Dana Gres's powerful book lies,
S1: Girls Believe. This vibrant, captivating resource tackles 20 deceptions commonly
S1: affecting girls ages 7 to 12, empowering them to recognize
S1: falsehoods and embrace God's truth instead. If you're a mom, grandma,
S1: or have influence over the young girls in your life,
S1: this book is for you. Secure this valuable, bold step
S1: gift to strengthen the faith foundation of the special girls
S1: you care about. Your gift of any amount to bold
S1: steps qualifies you to receive a copy. To donate online,
S1: visit Bold Steps. And if you prefer to call, reach
S1: out to us at 800. D.L. Moody. That's (800) 356-6639. Or
S1: send your gift through the mail by addressing an envelope
S1: to bold steps. 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten.
S1: That's bold. Steps 820 North LaSalle, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten.
S1: These daily messages and valuable resources exist thanks to faithful
S1: listeners like you who support us monthly. We finally call
S1: these supporters our bold partners because they're committed to helping
S1: share the transformative gospel message nationwide. Ready to join this mission?
S1: Become part of the team today when you go online
S1: to Bold Steps. Org. That's bold. That's all the time
S1: we have today. On behalf of Mark Jobe and all
S1: your friends at Bold Steps, I'm Wayne Shepherd, inviting you
S1: to join us again tomorrow when Mark shows us how
S1: to fight for our families futures. One of the main
S1: battlegrounds where the enemy provokes us is through our spouses
S1: and our children. And if you're struggling in either of
S1: those areas, this message is for you. It's part of
S1: our series called Bold Living. And you'll hear it Wednesday
S1: on Bold Steps with Mark John. Bold steps is a
S1: production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.