WEBVTT - Tearing Down the Walls– Part 2 0:00:00.880 --> 0:00:04.120 Today on Bold steps, Mark Jobe shows us what happens 0:00:04.120 --> 0:00:06.439 when the walls of division come down. 0:00:06.920 --> 0:00:10.760 The wall of hostility has been broken down. So that 0:00:10.760 --> 0:00:14.520 now we come together as one body, as one people 0:00:14.520 --> 0:00:18.560 from many backgrounds, many cultures. And he has created a 0:00:18.560 --> 0:00:21.640 new person or a new body in Jesus Christ. And 0:00:21.640 --> 0:00:24.439 we are the representation of that body. 0:00:37.240 --> 0:00:40.320 Welcome to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. Mark is the 0:00:40.320 --> 0:00:43.080 president of Moody Bible Institute and the senior pastor of 0:00:43.080 --> 0:00:46.720 New Life Community Church in Chicago. And I'm Wayne Shepherd. Today, 0:00:46.720 --> 0:00:48.720 as we move forward in our brand new series, When 0:00:48.720 --> 0:00:52.080 You Believe Everything Changes, we'll continue our lesson from Ephesians 0:00:52.080 --> 0:00:55.200 chapter two. Mark will give us three points to consider 0:00:55.200 --> 0:00:57.800 about who you are and what happens when the walls 0:00:57.800 --> 0:01:01.080 of division come down around us. If you missed part one, 0:01:01.080 --> 0:01:04.680 you can hear the complete message online at Bold steps.org. 0:01:04.800 --> 0:01:08.560 Just look for the message titled Tearing Down Walls. Right now, 0:01:08.560 --> 0:01:11.520 let's get started with today's message. Here's pastor Mark Jobe 0:01:11.520 --> 0:01:13.440 and today's bold steps. 0:01:14.959 --> 0:01:17.920 There is not this color or that color, or this 0:01:17.920 --> 0:01:21.520 person or that person. We have been created into one 0:01:21.520 --> 0:01:25.520 person in Christ Jesus that form one body. The wall 0:01:25.520 --> 0:01:29.160 of hostility has been broken down so that now we 0:01:29.200 --> 0:01:33.840 come together as one body, as one people from many backgrounds, 0:01:33.840 --> 0:01:39.920 many cultures, many different educational backgrounds. But we come as 0:01:39.920 --> 0:01:43.520 one people forming the body of Christ. That wall of 0:01:43.520 --> 0:01:47.400 hostility has been torn down, and he has created a 0:01:47.400 --> 0:01:50.520 new person or a new body in Jesus Christ. And 0:01:50.520 --> 0:01:58.240 we are the representation of that body. For he Himself 0:01:58.240 --> 0:02:00.400 is our peace, who has made the two one and 0:02:00.570 --> 0:02:04.890 destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. Verse 15. 0:02:05.090 --> 0:02:08.730 By abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments 0:02:08.730 --> 0:02:12.169 and regulations. You see, one of the things that kept 0:02:12.169 --> 0:02:16.049 the Jews and the Gentiles separated was the Mosaic Law. 0:02:16.889 --> 0:02:18.929 Many of you have decided to try to read through 0:02:18.930 --> 0:02:23.090 the Bible in a year, and you get to Genesis, Exodus, 0:02:23.090 --> 0:02:25.650 and then you start in Leviticus, and you just can't 0:02:25.650 --> 0:02:29.410 make it through Leviticus. Well, let me just read you 0:02:29.410 --> 0:02:37.170 some of the titles of Leviticus. Cleansing from mildew discharges 0:02:37.169 --> 0:02:47.410 causing uncleanliness. Day of atonement. Eating blood. Forbidden. Unlawful sexual relationships. 0:02:47.810 --> 0:02:56.049 Various laws. Punishment for sins. Rules for priests. Unacceptable sacrifices. 0:02:56.050 --> 0:03:01.250 The Sabbath. The Passover. Unleavened bread. First fruits. Feast of weeks. 0:03:01.250 --> 0:03:06.170 Feast of trumpets. Day of atonement. Feast of Tabernacles. Oil 0:03:06.169 --> 0:03:09.970 of bread set before the Lord. Blasphemer. Stones. Sabbath year. 0:03:10.010 --> 0:03:12.769 Year of Jubilee. Man. Not really the kind of reading 0:03:12.770 --> 0:03:16.250 that most of you like to do. What are all 0:03:16.250 --> 0:03:19.690 those rules about? I can't eat this. I can't eat that. 0:03:19.690 --> 0:03:24.210 I got to practice this. I can't just list rules 0:03:24.210 --> 0:03:27.970 after rules, after rules that were given to the Jewish 0:03:27.970 --> 0:03:32.530 people by God for them to practice. And when people 0:03:32.530 --> 0:03:36.490 started getting converted that weren't Jewish people, the Jewish Christians 0:03:36.490 --> 0:03:40.810 started saying, hey, you gotta practice all these rules if 0:03:40.810 --> 0:03:44.410 you're going to follow Christ. They were trying to make 0:03:44.410 --> 0:03:49.290 people Jewish that were trying to be Christian. And what 0:03:49.290 --> 0:03:55.770 Paul says is listen. But now in Christ Jesus, what 0:03:55.770 --> 0:04:00.940 he tells them is that Jesus abolished in his flesh, 0:04:00.940 --> 0:04:05.660 the law with its commandments and regulations. That's why there's 0:04:05.660 --> 0:04:09.500 an Old Testament and a New Testament. The Old Testament 0:04:09.500 --> 0:04:12.900 has a lot to do with the laws before Jesus. 0:04:13.060 --> 0:04:16.780 The New Testament is a new covenant in Jesus Christ. 0:04:16.980 --> 0:04:22.620 When Jesus Christ came, he came to be the fulfillment 0:04:22.620 --> 0:04:26.780 of the law. He was the ultimate sacrifice, so that 0:04:26.779 --> 0:04:31.020 you and I no longer are obligated to follow the 0:04:31.020 --> 0:04:35.540 Jewish and Mosaic laws that are given in the Old Testament, 0:04:35.740 --> 0:04:39.339 because we have been liberated from that law. He came 0:04:39.339 --> 0:04:43.740 to abolish the law and its regulations, because the law 0:04:43.779 --> 0:04:48.979 and its regulations could never save anybody. Only Jesus could. 0:04:50.380 --> 0:04:53.460 So never let anybody get trapped into the old law 0:04:53.500 --> 0:04:55.900 and say, well, hey, do you eat pork? And you're 0:04:55.900 --> 0:04:58.220 not supposed to eat? No. Never let anybody get you 0:04:58.260 --> 0:05:01.900 sucked into that because Jesus came to liberate us from 0:05:01.900 --> 0:05:05.060 that so that we would be under the law of grace. 0:05:06.180 --> 0:05:09.820 You understand that now, there are principles in the New 0:05:09.820 --> 0:05:12.900 Testament and laws in the New Testament, but they're different 0:05:12.900 --> 0:05:16.620 than the Old Testament laws. And Jesus came to set 0:05:16.620 --> 0:05:24.659 us free in that way. Number three, verse 15. The 0:05:24.660 --> 0:05:28.980 wall has come down to make room for a new creation. 0:05:29.540 --> 0:05:32.980 Notice what he says in the end of verse 15. 0:05:33.020 --> 0:05:36.219 He says his purpose, the reason he tore down the wall, 0:05:36.220 --> 0:05:40.059 the reason he abolished the law, the reason he's made 0:05:40.100 --> 0:05:45.140 us all into one. His purpose was to create in 0:05:45.140 --> 0:05:48.940 himself a new man out of the two. God is 0:05:48.940 --> 0:05:53.380 creating a new person, a new body out of the two, 0:05:54.339 --> 0:05:59.100 making his peace. Verse 16. And in this one body 0:05:59.100 --> 0:06:02.990 to reconcile both of them to God through the cross 0:06:03.350 --> 0:06:07.710 by which he put to death their hostility. He came, 0:06:07.710 --> 0:06:10.390 and he preached peace to you who were far away, 0:06:10.670 --> 0:06:14.349 and peace to those who were near. For through him 0:06:14.350 --> 0:06:18.110 we both have access to the father by one spirit. 0:06:18.550 --> 0:06:21.710 I want you to hear me. Well, what Paul is 0:06:21.710 --> 0:06:27.029 saying is that there's different types of people spiritually. Some 0:06:27.029 --> 0:06:32.150 people are. He calls them people that are near and 0:06:32.150 --> 0:06:36.990 others he calls them people that are far. Now, who 0:06:36.990 --> 0:06:39.870 are the people that are near? The people that are 0:06:39.910 --> 0:06:42.270 near are people that grew up in the church and 0:06:42.270 --> 0:06:46.510 grew up knowing Scripture. And maybe, you know, all the 0:06:46.510 --> 0:06:50.030 four stanzas of How Great Thou Art and you can 0:06:50.029 --> 0:06:53.910 quote all of amazing Grace, and you, you knew that 0:06:53.910 --> 0:06:57.430 John 316 was a verse in the Bible, and not 0:06:57.430 --> 0:07:00.750 just some sign that people put up at football games, 0:07:00.990 --> 0:07:05.510 and you knew that the Bible had a New Testament 0:07:05.510 --> 0:07:08.950 in the Old Testament, and you knew how to pray, 0:07:08.990 --> 0:07:11.670 and you grew up in the things of the church, 0:07:11.710 --> 0:07:15.710 and you always had this sense that God was around. 0:07:15.710 --> 0:07:19.630 Those are people that are near. Then there's a people 0:07:19.630 --> 0:07:25.030 that are far. That's those of you that grew up 0:07:25.030 --> 0:07:29.590 as basically die hard pagans, don't go to church, don't 0:07:29.590 --> 0:07:33.470 really think much about church. Parents didn't take you grew up, 0:07:33.630 --> 0:07:38.470 you're drinking, carousing, sleeping with girls. It's, you know, 14, 15, 0:07:38.470 --> 0:07:43.510 16 party life, no consciousness of right and wrong, not 0:07:43.510 --> 0:07:46.910 even a desire to think about God. Don't really pray. 0:07:47.070 --> 0:07:51.390 I mean, you're just out there living life to its craziest. 0:07:51.430 --> 0:07:54.390 No conscience of God. Not even trying to do right. 0:07:54.430 --> 0:07:56.670 Don't talk to me about God. I don't believe in 0:07:56.710 --> 0:08:01.400 that stuff. Just an agnostic pagan Megan. Living your life. Well, 0:08:01.400 --> 0:08:04.960 there's those that are near and those that are far. 0:08:05.240 --> 0:08:08.760 But here's what the Bible teaches. Whether you are near 0:08:09.040 --> 0:08:13.880 or whether you are far, you still need the same thing. 0:08:15.840 --> 0:08:21.960 You still need the sacrifice of Christ. You still need 0:08:22.160 --> 0:08:27.120 peace with God through Jesus Christ. Going to church and 0:08:27.120 --> 0:08:31.680 learning the culture of Christianity does not make you a Christian. 0:08:33.040 --> 0:08:36.079 You may have been raised in the church and know 0:08:36.080 --> 0:08:41.079 the verses and know the hymns and not be a Christian. 0:08:42.760 --> 0:08:46.319 Oh hello, this is huge. The thing that I like 0:08:46.360 --> 0:08:48.679 about die hard pagans is they know they need God. 0:08:50.360 --> 0:08:53.080 I am way out there. I know I'm need God. 0:08:53.840 --> 0:08:55.400 The thing that I don't like about people that are 0:08:55.440 --> 0:08:58.280 near is sometimes they don't think they need God. They 0:08:58.280 --> 0:09:03.320 think they already have God. Oh no. I pray before 0:09:03.320 --> 0:09:06.720 I go to bed, I pray. I try to do good. 0:09:07.360 --> 0:09:11.600 Try to follow the laws. Listen, it's not about how 0:09:11.600 --> 0:09:13.840 good you try to be. It's about do you have 0:09:13.840 --> 0:09:16.760 a relationship with God through Jesus Christ? Is the Holy 0:09:16.760 --> 0:09:19.960 Spirit inside of you? Have you been washed? Have you 0:09:19.960 --> 0:09:27.560 been transformed by the power of God? Because whether you're 0:09:27.559 --> 0:09:32.240 religious or not, you still need a conversion that changes 0:09:32.240 --> 0:09:32.920 your life. 0:09:40.480 --> 0:09:42.760 You're listening to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe, and we'll 0:09:42.760 --> 0:09:45.280 return to our message shortly. Mark, do you know what 0:09:45.280 --> 0:09:47.959 I've been reflecting on lately? The incredible privilege we have 0:09:48.000 --> 0:09:51.080 as believers living in this particular moment in history. I 0:09:51.080 --> 0:09:53.880 love to study history, but never before have we had 0:09:53.880 --> 0:09:58.160 such powerful tools for sharing the gospel globally, instantly reaching 0:09:58.160 --> 0:10:01.290 people in remote villages. That happens through bold steps, doesn't it? 0:10:01.330 --> 0:10:04.610 Or in close countries, in crowded cities alike. But we 0:10:04.610 --> 0:10:08.490 have this unprecedented opportunity, and it comes with a tremendous responsibility, 0:10:08.530 --> 0:10:09.130 doesn't it? 0:10:09.410 --> 0:10:14.770 You know, I heard recently that moody radio programming is, um, 0:10:14.809 --> 0:10:20.090 heard in 190 countries is what someone said. And, um, 0:10:20.130 --> 0:10:23.210 technology has allowed us to do that. And I'm amazed 0:10:23.210 --> 0:10:27.450 when suddenly we get a email from Eastern Europe of 0:10:27.450 --> 0:10:30.490 someone saying, hey, I haven't found a church yet, but 0:10:30.490 --> 0:10:35.210 I listened to Bold Steps recently. Someone told me that 0:10:35.690 --> 0:10:39.329 a doctor in Mexico had joined their church, and they 0:10:39.330 --> 0:10:43.690 got saved through bold steps. And I'm like, wow, this 0:10:43.690 --> 0:10:47.490 is amazing how seeds are just being shot throughout all 0:10:47.490 --> 0:10:51.449 the world. We know specifically that there are people in 0:10:51.450 --> 0:10:56.490 closed countries right now that listen in secret, because it's 0:10:56.490 --> 0:11:00.290 dangerous for them to be caught listening to Christian Radio. 0:11:00.850 --> 0:11:04.050 This is an amazing time to get the gospel out there. 0:11:04.370 --> 0:11:08.530 There are close to 9 billion people in the world, 0:11:08.530 --> 0:11:11.770 and there are millions and millions of people that have 0:11:11.770 --> 0:11:17.410 very little gospel presence in their world. They are saturated 0:11:17.410 --> 0:11:21.330 with false religion, with heresies, with a lot of different 0:11:21.370 --> 0:11:25.330 ideology that does not allow Jesus Christ to come to 0:11:25.330 --> 0:11:31.130 the forefront. And so radio, podcasting, our technology as people 0:11:31.130 --> 0:11:33.610 can live stream, this is one of the ways that 0:11:33.610 --> 0:11:37.930 we get past the guards at the borders and we 0:11:37.970 --> 0:11:40.970 through the airwaves. God has given us a beautiful gift 0:11:40.970 --> 0:11:45.370 to go past the guards, into the houses, into the homes, 0:11:45.370 --> 0:11:48.450 and right to into the bedrooms and kitchens of where 0:11:48.450 --> 0:11:51.490 people live, so that they are hearing the good message 0:11:51.490 --> 0:11:56.570 of Jesus like never before. And we are passionate about this. 0:11:56.970 --> 0:11:59.530 We know that there's a lot of other believers that 0:11:59.530 --> 0:12:03.380 are passionate as well. And we're saying, join us, please. 0:12:03.580 --> 0:12:06.940 This is a powerful moment for us to proclaim the 0:12:06.980 --> 0:12:10.260 gospel of Jesus Christ, especially as the world is being 0:12:10.260 --> 0:12:11.980 shaken in so many ways. 0:12:11.980 --> 0:12:14.380 I believe there are some listening right now who are 0:12:14.380 --> 0:12:16.300 not just hearers of the word, but want to be 0:12:16.300 --> 0:12:19.540 active participants in spreading that word. So today could be 0:12:19.540 --> 0:12:21.459 your day to step into that calling by giving to 0:12:21.500 --> 0:12:24.339 bold steps. Just go to Bold Steps to make a 0:12:24.420 --> 0:12:31.500 gift or call 800 D.L. Moody. That's (800) 356-6639. Remember, your 0:12:31.500 --> 0:12:33.660 gift of any amount helps share God's Word with those 0:12:33.660 --> 0:12:36.620 who need it most. Really, around the world, when you 0:12:36.620 --> 0:12:38.820 give any amount, we'll send you a special gift as 0:12:38.820 --> 0:12:40.860 our thanks and we'll take time to tell you about 0:12:40.860 --> 0:12:43.179 that just a little bit later here in the program today. 0:12:43.179 --> 0:12:45.339 But let's get back to the message now. Here again 0:12:45.340 --> 0:12:46.059 is Mark. 0:12:51.100 --> 0:12:52.060 He tells us. 0:12:55.380 --> 0:13:03.059 In verse 19, consequently, You are no longer foreigners and aliens, 0:13:03.860 --> 0:13:09.780 but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household. Listen, 0:13:09.780 --> 0:13:11.780 if you have the Spirit of God inside of you, 0:13:11.780 --> 0:13:14.500 you're no longer a foreigner or an alien. You are 0:13:14.500 --> 0:13:20.820 part of God's family. I love that you're part of 0:13:20.820 --> 0:13:25.340 God's family. Listen. Built on the foundation of the apostles 0:13:25.340 --> 0:13:29.500 and the prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief cornerstone. 0:13:29.620 --> 0:13:34.020 Verse 21. In him the whole building joined together, rises 0:13:34.020 --> 0:13:37.980 to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in 0:13:37.980 --> 0:13:41.620 him you too are being built together to become a 0:13:41.620 --> 0:13:46.700 dwelling place in which God lives by His Spirit. Listen, 0:13:46.700 --> 0:13:50.059 this is what he's saying. He's saying I destroyed the 0:13:50.059 --> 0:13:53.660 walls of partition. There's not black and white. There's not 0:13:53.660 --> 0:13:57.940 educated and uneducated. There's not rich or poor. You have. Now, 0:13:58.100 --> 0:14:00.510 if you've crossed the line into the body of Christ. 0:14:00.510 --> 0:14:05.030 You have become one people in God. Sons and daughters 0:14:05.030 --> 0:14:08.470 of God. And now what God says I'm doing. He says, 0:14:08.470 --> 0:14:12.309 I'm building a building, not a physical building, but a 0:14:12.309 --> 0:14:16.990 spiritual building. The chief cornerstone is Christ. We are being 0:14:16.990 --> 0:14:21.310 united together, building a building a temple. It calls it 0:14:21.310 --> 0:14:28.190 for God. What dwells in a temple? God. Why is 0:14:28.190 --> 0:14:31.550 God building the church, the body of Christ? Why is 0:14:31.550 --> 0:14:36.470 he building it? Because he wants his manifest presence to 0:14:36.510 --> 0:14:40.190 dwell there. That's what it says, doesn't it? Listen. And 0:14:40.190 --> 0:14:44.230 in him, you two being built together to become a 0:14:44.230 --> 0:14:50.830 dwelling in which God lives by his spirit. What is 0:14:50.830 --> 0:14:56.790 he building? He's building a people, a community. Why is 0:14:56.790 --> 0:15:00.840 he building that community? So that the manifest presence of 0:15:00.840 --> 0:15:05.320 God can live within that community and display his glory. 0:15:06.840 --> 0:15:09.160 Here's what I want you to understand. Look around for 0:15:09.160 --> 0:15:14.760 a second. What are you in? You're in a building. 0:15:15.840 --> 0:15:21.200 Look like a church. Traditional church? No. What's it look like? Factory. 0:15:22.480 --> 0:15:24.160 Why does it look like a factory? Because that's what 0:15:24.160 --> 0:15:30.640 it was. Oh, we've painted a little bit. Added a 0:15:30.640 --> 0:15:35.400 stage and some lights. See all these tubes and pipes 0:15:35.440 --> 0:15:40.880 going around their factory? This morning when you got up, 0:15:40.880 --> 0:15:48.920 you said, honey, let's get ready to go to church. Now, 0:15:48.920 --> 0:15:54.760 I understand what you said, but technically that's wrong. Terminology. 0:15:56.640 --> 0:16:04.640 This building is not. the church. I thought I was 0:16:04.640 --> 0:16:08.160 coming to church, and now you think I'll find somewhere 0:16:08.160 --> 0:16:12.160 else to go? It's not a church. No, this building 0:16:12.160 --> 0:16:21.920 is not the church. Technically, you and I and him 0:16:22.240 --> 0:16:37.360 and her. We are the church. We're the church. So 0:16:37.360 --> 0:16:41.320 when you say I'm going to church, you're not. This 0:16:41.320 --> 0:16:44.480 is not the church. What you should say is I'm 0:16:44.520 --> 0:16:50.000 gathering with the church because we are the church gathered 0:16:50.000 --> 0:16:55.360 this morning. But when we dismiss today, the church will 0:16:55.360 --> 0:17:01.240 continue to exist. We are simply the church Dispersed on 0:17:01.240 --> 0:17:05.879 Monday morning, the church will still exist. It'll exist in 0:17:06.640 --> 0:17:11.320 high rises downtown. It'll exist on the L and the universities. 0:17:11.320 --> 0:17:15.520 At high schools. The church will spread throughout the city. Well, 0:17:15.560 --> 0:17:20.480 how does it spread? You, us? We are the church. 0:17:20.800 --> 0:17:24.800 Where we go, we carry with us the presence of God, 0:17:25.440 --> 0:17:29.040 the glory of God. Why? Because the Spirit of God 0:17:29.040 --> 0:17:31.720 is inside of us. So when you get on, the 0:17:31.760 --> 0:17:35.480 L church has just come to the L. When you 0:17:35.480 --> 0:17:39.320 drive down the highway, church is on the highway. When 0:17:39.320 --> 0:17:43.160 you go to the office building, churches in the office building, 0:17:43.160 --> 0:17:46.240 when you go to the factory, church is in the factory. 0:17:46.240 --> 0:17:48.679 When you go to the grocery store, you just brought 0:17:48.680 --> 0:17:52.320 church to the grocery store. Why? You are the church. 0:17:52.640 --> 0:17:55.520 And what does the church hold? The church holds the 0:17:55.520 --> 0:17:59.440 presence of God, the holy temple of God. And so, 0:17:59.530 --> 0:18:04.210 wherever you go, you bring the essence and the presence 0:18:04.210 --> 0:18:08.369 and the blessing and the power of God Almighty, because 0:18:08.369 --> 0:18:22.609 you are the church. It's a powerful concept. The church 0:18:22.650 --> 0:18:28.410 is a movement. The church is a people. If this 0:18:28.410 --> 0:18:31.810 building were to be knocked down tomorrow, the church would 0:18:31.810 --> 0:18:37.970 still be around. If persecution would were to come and 0:18:37.970 --> 0:18:41.970 Christianity will would be illegal and every church door would 0:18:41.970 --> 0:18:45.330 have yellow tape on the front that says do not enter. 0:18:47.450 --> 0:18:50.929 The church would still be around. The church would do 0:18:50.930 --> 0:18:55.490 what it did in China went underground. People thought the 0:18:55.490 --> 0:19:00.700 church has been closed. Christianity is dead. Had China kicked 0:19:00.700 --> 0:19:03.580 all the missionaries out in the 1940s, they thought, we'll 0:19:03.580 --> 0:19:08.780 eliminate this. What we discovered is that when they kicked 0:19:08.780 --> 0:19:12.580 the missionaries out and closed the churches, there were only 0:19:12.580 --> 0:19:17.580 a couple million in the 80s. After 40 years or 0:19:17.580 --> 0:19:21.420 so of going underground, what they discovered is now there 0:19:21.420 --> 0:19:25.859 was tens of millions of believers because you can shut 0:19:25.859 --> 0:19:29.020 the buildings down, but you cannot stop the church of 0:19:29.020 --> 0:19:31.899 the Living God, housed by the power of the Spirit 0:19:31.900 --> 0:19:39.380 of God. Right now in China, conservative estimates believe that 0:19:39.380 --> 0:19:45.020 there's 140 million Christians in the in the country of China. 0:19:45.020 --> 0:19:47.180 Within the next ten years, there'll be more Christians in 0:19:47.180 --> 0:19:49.500 China than there are in the United States of America. 0:19:50.900 --> 0:19:55.180 Why the church cannot be stopped. We carry the seed 0:19:55.180 --> 0:19:58.940 of God inside of us via His Holy Spirit. And 0:19:58.940 --> 0:20:02.179 he says, I'm building up a I'm building a temple. 0:20:02.700 --> 0:20:06.300 The temple of God. And I've taken people from different 0:20:06.300 --> 0:20:11.220 backgrounds and colors. I've taken people from different races and ethnicities. 0:20:11.220 --> 0:20:14.460 I've taken the poor and the rich, the executive and 0:20:14.460 --> 0:20:18.060 the barely almost homeless. I've taken the white, the black 0:20:18.060 --> 0:20:22.060 and the Asian. I've taken women and children and the elderly, 0:20:22.060 --> 0:20:27.139 and I'm forming in them one temple, a building that 0:20:27.140 --> 0:20:30.780 houses the presence of God, that when the church is 0:20:30.780 --> 0:20:33.739 who it's supposed to be, people will walk into a 0:20:33.740 --> 0:20:37.859 place like this and say, truly, God is alive, for 0:20:37.859 --> 0:20:40.700 I see it among them. I see it in the 0:20:40.700 --> 0:20:43.979 way they worship. I feel it in when I walk 0:20:43.980 --> 0:20:47.140 into this place. I see it in the way they live. 0:20:47.220 --> 0:20:52.700 They have been transformed by this God. They are the representation, 0:20:52.740 --> 0:20:56.780 the reflection of the living God. Oh, not perfect because whoa! 0:20:56.820 --> 0:21:02.940 Are we full of imperfections? But a temple. A people 0:21:03.900 --> 0:21:09.740 that houses the manifest presence of God. Formed into one, 0:21:10.619 --> 0:21:16.300 merged into one people for the glory of the mighty God. 0:21:24.300 --> 0:21:27.820 And you may sense that God has been pulling you, 0:21:28.660 --> 0:21:33.660 reaching out to you. Just this past Sunday, a woman 0:21:33.940 --> 0:21:38.140 that got baptized. She shared that the first time she 0:21:38.140 --> 0:21:41.660 walked into service, she started to cry. She didn't know 0:21:41.660 --> 0:21:46.180 why she was crying, but she realized that her soul 0:21:46.220 --> 0:21:49.260 had been longing for the presence of God. She couldn't 0:21:49.260 --> 0:21:53.060 explain it. She couldn't describe it, but she just would 0:21:53.060 --> 0:21:54.500 weep when she came to church. 0:21:54.540 --> 0:21:55.460 Amazing. Wow. 0:21:55.660 --> 0:21:57.940 And I think there's some people that have been living 0:21:57.940 --> 0:22:03.430 so long without God that your soul is awakened is 0:22:03.430 --> 0:22:07.670 deeply touched when you encounter the Word of God, the 0:22:07.670 --> 0:22:10.030 presence of God. And maybe, as you've been listening to 0:22:10.030 --> 0:22:13.590 this message, your soul was touched or awakened. I'd like 0:22:13.590 --> 0:22:16.670 to pray for you right now in your journey. Father, 0:22:16.670 --> 0:22:19.950 I pray for that man, that woman that's been listening, 0:22:20.790 --> 0:22:26.550 that longs for your presence, that knows that something is missing. 0:22:26.550 --> 0:22:32.389 That is, there's a vacuum inside that they can't quite describe. 0:22:32.390 --> 0:22:35.710 They can't quite put their finger on it. But it's you, Lord. 0:22:36.109 --> 0:22:40.550 And I pray, father, as they awaken to you, as 0:22:40.550 --> 0:22:44.230 this spiritual world starts coming alive to them, as they 0:22:44.590 --> 0:22:47.430 decide to get closer to you. I pray, Lord, that 0:22:47.430 --> 0:22:51.949 you would give them the courage to visit a church. Father, 0:22:51.950 --> 0:22:54.030 I pray that you would give them the promptings to 0:22:54.070 --> 0:22:57.270 reach out to a Christian that they may know, uh, 0:22:57.510 --> 0:23:01.110 the ability or the boldness to be able to go 0:23:01.109 --> 0:23:03.950 to a Bible study. Father, so that they can encounter 0:23:03.950 --> 0:23:07.830 your presence. Hear the gospel, understand your message in a fresh, 0:23:07.830 --> 0:23:11.389 new way. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. 0:23:11.750 --> 0:23:14.750 Amen. Thank you Mark. And if you just prayed with Mark, 0:23:14.750 --> 0:23:16.630 or if you'd like to learn more about taking your 0:23:16.630 --> 0:23:19.190 next step, we'd love for you to visit our website 0:23:19.190 --> 0:23:22.110 and explore how you can know Christ more boldly and 0:23:22.109 --> 0:23:26.790 passionately this year. Just visit boldsystems.org. Click on the tab 0:23:26.790 --> 0:23:29.669 that says connect and go to the My Next Step 0:23:29.670 --> 0:23:32.830 in Faith page. You'll find a personalized video message from 0:23:32.830 --> 0:23:35.870 Mark waiting for you there. And while you're on that page, 0:23:35.910 --> 0:23:37.710 be sure to sign up to learn more, because we'll 0:23:37.710 --> 0:23:40.710 also send you a New Testament Bible, the book An 0:23:40.710 --> 0:23:43.229 Anchor for My Soul, and the latest edition of our 0:23:43.230 --> 0:23:45.750 monthly newsletter, today in the Word, as well as a 0:23:45.750 --> 0:23:49.750 personalized letter from Mark. Recently I saw a comment on 0:23:49.750 --> 0:23:53.230 Facebook that said, thanks for your inspiration and loving words. 0:23:53.230 --> 0:23:56.870 God is awesome and powerful. Another said thanks for these 0:23:56.869 --> 0:24:00.600 inspirational messages. I enjoy hearing them on the radio. Well said. 0:24:00.960 --> 0:24:03.480 This program and the platforms we offer are made possible 0:24:03.480 --> 0:24:07.120 by the voluntary contributions from our monthly bold partners. All 0:24:07.160 --> 0:24:10.720 those listeners who give one time donations right now, as 0:24:10.720 --> 0:24:13.359 we near the end of our fiscal year, we're making 0:24:13.359 --> 0:24:16.000 an effort to add more members to the team because 0:24:16.040 --> 0:24:17.920 nothing will help us make a difference in the lives 0:24:17.920 --> 0:24:21.880 of other listeners than your continued support. When you commit 0:24:21.880 --> 0:24:24.600 to becoming a bold partner today by giving a financial 0:24:24.600 --> 0:24:27.240 gift each month, we'll also send you a signed copy 0:24:27.240 --> 0:24:31.440 of Mark's book, unstuck. Access to the Bold Partner post 0:24:31.440 --> 0:24:34.679 and a special video message from Mark. We've made signing 0:24:34.680 --> 0:24:39.400 up simple and easy online at Bold Steps org. And 0:24:39.400 --> 0:24:42.000 don't forget to sign up for Mark's weekly email devotional 0:24:42.040 --> 0:24:45.400 before Monday. It's the Bold Stepper weekly. You can join 0:24:45.400 --> 0:24:48.159 hundreds of listeners all across the country who are starting 0:24:48.160 --> 0:24:50.600 their week off right and getting the behind the scenes 0:24:50.600 --> 0:24:52.879 look at the things that are on Mark's heart and mind. 0:24:53.080 --> 0:24:55.480 Signing up is quick and easy online when you go 0:24:55.480 --> 0:24:59.719 to bold steps. Well, that's all the time we have today. 0:24:59.760 --> 0:25:02.400 I'm Wayne Shepherd, inviting you to join us again next week. 0:25:02.400 --> 0:25:06.160 When Mark talks about secrets. Don't miss our sister program, 0:25:06.160 --> 0:25:08.879 Bold Steps Weekend, where pastor Mark is currently in an 0:25:08.880 --> 0:25:12.040 exciting series of messages designed to show what really happens 0:25:12.040 --> 0:25:14.840 in the life of someone who truly and authentically believes 0:25:14.840 --> 0:25:18.240 in Jesus. Many Christians have no idea of the incredible 0:25:18.240 --> 0:25:21.280 riches they already have in Christ, but when we come 0:25:21.280 --> 0:25:24.280 to truly know him, accept him, and believe in him, 0:25:24.440 --> 0:25:27.480 the transformation begins. So you won't want to miss these 0:25:27.480 --> 0:25:30.760 powerful messages in our Bold Steps Weekend series. You'll find 0:25:30.760 --> 0:25:35.320 it at Bold steps.org under the program tab. The Apostle 0:25:35.320 --> 0:25:37.960 Paul used the term mystery when it came to the gospel, 0:25:37.960 --> 0:25:40.359 and Mark is going to help us discover what he meant. 0:25:40.640 --> 0:25:43.119 That's coming up Monday on the next edition of Bold 0:25:43.119 --> 0:25:47.359 Steps with Mark John. Bold steps is a production of 0:25:47.400 --> 0:25:50.480 Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.