S1: Today on Bold Steps with Mark job, we're learning how
S1: to be clear and confident about God's call for our life.
S2: When the church begins to discover the power of the
S2: Spirit of God, when you start realizing I have a gift,
S2: it's united to the bigger mission that we have together,
S2: and people rise up and start fulfilling their mission. Then
S2: watch out world, because the church has just awakened.
S1: God places a call in everyone's life, so why do
S1: some people understand their purpose right away, while it takes
S1: other people a long time to get the revelation? Well,
S1: that's the topic Mark we'll address today. Welcome to Bold
S1: Steps with Mark job. Mark is senior pastor of New
S1: Life Community Church and the president of Moody Bible Institute
S1: in Chicago. I'm Wayne Shepherd. As we move forward, our
S1: series is when you believe everything changes. Mark will be
S1: taking us to the book of Ephesians, chapter three to
S1: explain the secret to freedom and confidence. We started this
S1: message yesterday, so if you missed the first part, you
S1: can listen online at Bold Steps. All right. Now let's
S1: get into today's message. Here's Mark Jobe with bold steps.
S2: Your revelation of of a topic of something fuels the
S2: fire for your mission. Other people may may know that
S2: marriages need help and there's a lot of marriages in trouble.
S2: But if you have a call to help marriages out,
S2: you will have revelation about marriages and understand the severity
S2: of the problems and marriages. And that sense of understanding
S2: will fuel your mission to do something about marriages that
S2: are in trouble. Whatever, whatever your mission is, you'll have
S2: understanding into the nature of the problem that you're addressing
S2: that will fuel the fire to help you accomplish your
S2: mission better, and other people just won't get it. They'll
S2: look at you and say, huh? What? Oh, this is
S2: real big. You're all excited about it. They're like, okay,
S2: I don't get it. Why? Because they don't have the
S2: same call that you have, so they may not get
S2: it or may not be as impassioned as you are
S2: about it. Paul was in a passion to preach the
S2: gospel to the Gentiles, and the other Jewish believers were
S2: like Gentiles. Why should we worry about them? But but
S2: he had a special call and revelation to them. Number
S2: three write this down. Empowerment. Look at verse seven. I
S2: became a servant of this gospel by the gift of
S2: God's grace given to me through the working of his power.
S2: Although I am less than the least of God's people,
S2: this grace was given to me to preach to the
S2: Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain
S2: to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages
S2: past has been hidden in God. I love this about Paul.
S2: Paul is saying I became a servant of this gospel.
S2: I am the least of the least qualified for this.
S2: I couldn't do this on my own. I have no
S2: power to accomplish this. But it's God's grace that gives
S2: me power to make sure this happens. Listen to me.
S2: Your personal, unique mission that God has called you to.
S2: Chances are that you're absolutely unqualified to fulfill it. Totally
S2: overwhelmed in seeking to make it happen, because it should
S2: be something that's bigger than you that you could not
S2: accomplish without the supernatural empowerment of God's grace in your life.
S2: Because if you could do it on your own power,
S2: it would be glory to you. But you realize I
S2: can't do this. It's way bigger than me I need God.
S2: I need his grace. It's his grace that gives me
S2: power to do that. Then it's glory to God. Because listen,
S2: this is what Paul said. When I am weak, then
S2: I am strong. God's grace is made perfect in my weakness.
S2: Do you understand that? That most of the things that
S2: God calls us to do, we are ill equipped, uneducated, unprepared,
S2: and under-resourced to be able to accomplish most of the
S2: things that God calls us to do. We depend heavily
S2: on God's grace to make it happen. And if you
S2: think that you're prepared and qualified to do what God
S2: has called you to do, then you probably haven't landed
S2: on your mission yet. Because usually your mission is way
S2: bigger than what you have the power to accomplish. Paul says.
S2: I am the least. And even though I am the least.
S2: God has prepared me. You look all through the Bible,
S2: by the way, and you'll find stories of God calling
S2: people to do things that they could not do on
S2: their own power. God called Gideon to liberate the people
S2: of Israel. God called a mighty warrior when he was
S2: afraid and didn't know what to do and never been
S2: trained militarily. God called Moses to speak on his behalf,
S2: and Moses said, I don't know how to speak. God
S2: called Peter to lead the church, and he was just
S2: a fisherman. God called David to lead a nation and
S2: to be a warrior. And he had never really fought,
S2: didn't know how to use a sword, and he was
S2: the least of his brethren. God called Jeremiah the prophet,
S2: and he said, I'm too young. Normally when God calls
S2: us to do something, we feel like we don't have
S2: what it takes to do what God has called us
S2: to do. And what I want to say is that
S2: is okay, because on our own power you can't do it.
S2: But with God's grace, you have the power to accomplish
S2: the things that he's called you to do. It's God's grace.
S2: God's grace. Number four. It tells us in verse ten
S2: his intent was that now, through the church, the manifold
S2: wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers
S2: and authorities in the heavenly realms according to his eternal purpose,
S2: which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. And in him,
S2: and through faith in him, we may approach God with
S2: freedom and confidence. Number four, the fourth word I want
S2: you to understand is the word community. Unity. Listen to
S2: what it says in verse ten. His intent was that now,
S2: through what I didn't hear you through the church, the
S2: manifold wisdom of God should be made known through the church.
S2: You see, the way it works is this you have
S2: been called, you have a mission, you have a gift.
S2: But it's all connected to the body of Christ. It's
S2: all connected to the church. You're a part of a
S2: community of faith. You're not disconnected. You're connected. And whatever
S2: gift God has given you, he empowers through the church.
S2: And your gift is used with other people's gifts that
S2: are used. And when everybody is using their gift, then
S2: the church becomes this mighty, powerful force of transformation that
S2: God is working in. When, when when everybody's using their gift.
S2: Now hear me well. Often the church is unhealthy because
S2: oftentimes what the church is, is like, well, it's like
S2: going to a football game. There's how many people in
S2: a football team out on the field? There's 11. So
S2: there's 22 people out in a football field that desperately
S2: need a rest, and there's 40,000 spectators that desperately need exercise.
S2: The spectators are sitting there with their beer and their
S2: popcorn and their pot bellies saying, come on, go harder, man,
S2: those lazy bums. You're sitting on the chair. These guys
S2: are down there sweating and breathing hard, and we're all
S2: like coaches on the sideline. Tell them what to do
S2: and how to do it, and bemoaning the fact that
S2: they're not into it as much as they should be
S2: into it. But in reality, the church at times looks
S2: like a football field. The church at times has this
S2: incredible potential of people, and normally there's a few people
S2: down in the field going. I'm tired running around trying to,
S2: carrying the ball, doing the work. And and the great
S2: majority of the people in the church tend to be spectators.
S2: You know why? Because the great majority of the people
S2: in the church have not discovered that they have gifts
S2: that they can, that they're empowered. They have not discovered
S2: that they're players in the game to that God has
S2: called them just as much as he's called the pastor,
S2: the worship leaders, the Sunday school teachers as well, that
S2: everybody has a call, that everybody has a gift, that
S2: we're all connected, and that when everybody in the body
S2: begins to discover the gifts that we have and we
S2: begin to use the gifts that we have, then the
S2: church becomes the place where God manifests his glory and power.
S2: And that's why Jesus said of the church that the
S2: gates of hell would not be able to withstand or
S2: prevail against the church of the Living God. In other words,
S2: all of the gates of hell cannot stop the power
S2: of a church that's been unleashed with the power of God,
S2: the power of the spirit, and everybody using their gifts.
S2: Someone better get excited about that.
S1: You're listening to Bold Steps with pastor Mark Jobe, and
S1: I'm so grateful for those of you who listen each day.
S1: And for those of you who become bold partners. Mark,
S1: we cannot neglect the fact that God has called some
S1: listeners to really get behind it and and catch the
S1: vision for what we're doing here.
S2: And when we are able to do.
S3: What we do because of our bold partners. And these
S3: are people that simply say, I love this program, I
S3: believe in this message. I want other people to hear.
S3: So I'm giving a monthly donation. Automatic monthly donation, no
S3: matter what the size it is to support this ministry
S3: and we are so grateful for our bold partners.
S1: Yeah, anyone who runs a budget, a monthly budget knows
S1: how important it is to know what's what's going to happen.
S1: You know, to have some basis and to have these
S1: bold partners give it a monthly basis is so encouraging.
S1: Here's a note from a listener in Illinois. This is
S1: by way of reporting back to our bold partners. My
S1: name is Brian. I just want to thank you from
S1: the bottom of my heart for turning my life to Christ.
S1: Your program has really helped me use logical thinking and
S1: the Word of God to finally get my life back
S1: on track. Even though I may still struggle with some things,
S1: your program is always a way to keep me on
S1: track with what God's loving plan has in store for me.
S1: Thank you so much pastor Mark and the entire Moody
S1: Crew for all your work. May God bless you.
S3: Hey Brian, what a great testimony that's so encouraging.
S2: And we are happy to come alongside of you and
S2: encourage you. Stories like Brian are coming in left and
S2: right from all over the country, and so we're so
S2: grateful for the power of the word and the partnership
S2: of our bold partners.
S1: You can give a gift of any size as a
S1: bold partner each month, or if you want to give
S1: a gift of $30 or more each month, you'll receive
S1: a 50% discount on everything and I mean everything in
S1: the Moody Publishers catalog. Check out our Bold Partner program
S1: at Bold Steps. Radio.com. Now back into the Word of
S1: God as Mark brings it here to us on bold steps.
S2: It was his intent was that now, through the church,
S2: the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to
S2: the rulers and the authorities. This is talking about the
S2: spiritual world, that when the church is united and people
S2: begin to embrace their call and use their call, that
S2: it speaks volumes to the spiritual world. When the church
S2: is united and the church is pursuing its call, then
S2: what it begins to say is we are united. So
S2: therefore we have influence. We are united and filled with
S2: the Spirit of God. So therefore we reign. We are
S2: united and filled with the Spirit of God. So therefore
S2: we have power to change things. When the church is
S2: asleep and people have not discovered that there's unity within
S2: the body, and that all of us have our gift
S2: when the church is asleep, it also sends the message
S2: we are powerless. We are victims. We have little chance
S2: of changing anything. We are spectators. We are captivated within
S2: four walls and do nothing outside of those four walls.
S2: When the church is divided and the church has not
S2: understood the gifting, the people in the church have not
S2: understood the gifting. Then the church becomes anemic, weak, concentrated
S2: within its own walls. When the church begins to discover
S2: the power of the Spirit of God, when you start realizing,
S2: I have a gift, I have a mission. It's united
S2: to the bigger mission that we have together, and people
S2: rise up and start fulfilling their mission. Then watch out, world,
S2: because the church has just awakened. And Paul says in
S2: verse 11, according to his eternal purpose, which he accomplished
S2: in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith,
S2: we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask
S2: you therefore not to be discouraged because of my suffering
S2: for you, which is your glory. Paul was trying to
S2: tell them is, hey, rise up! You are the church
S2: full of the power of God. You have gifts. You
S2: have a mission. You can do things. You are the
S2: manifestation of God's presence here on earth. Let me tell
S2: you why I'm a pastor. I never grew up wanting
S2: to be a pastor. Some people do. Some people from
S2: the age of two, they say, I'm going to be
S2: a pastor. I know that I never did. Never wanted
S2: to be a pastor. Never really saw myself as a pastor.
S2: Thought I'd be a pretty lousy pastor, actually. I remember
S2: the turning point for me where I decided I was
S2: actually studying. I was in college, and I had gone
S2: away to work at a hotel in France, in southern France,
S2: working as a dishwasher, cleaning rooms. I was about 17,
S2: 18 years old, making money, and, um, I wasn't sure
S2: what I wanted to do. I wasn't positive of where,
S2: what I wanted to do, what I wanted to throw
S2: my life into. And, and, um, I remember getting a
S2: hold of a book by A.W. Tozer called The Knowledge
S2: of the Holy. I was trying to figure out what
S2: am I going to do with my life and what
S2: do I want to do? I mean, I knew I
S2: was a Christian and I knew I, I was going
S2: to somehow do something with my life, but I didn't
S2: know what career or whatever I was going to pursue.
S2: And I got Ahold of this book by A.W. Tozer
S2: called The Knowledge of the Holy. The whole book is
S2: about knowing God that you can never quite comprehend the
S2: magnitude of God with your finite mind, that God is
S2: bigger than what you could ever know or fathom or imagine.
S2: And that part of our journey is just to get
S2: to know God. And don't worry so much about what
S2: you're going to do. Worry about knowing God. And as
S2: you know God and live for God, you'll end up
S2: doing what you're supposed to do in God. And I
S2: remember having that revelation and, and, having that sense of, okay,
S2: I'm not going to worry as much about what I'm
S2: going to do, but I'm going to worry about actually
S2: knowing God and living for God in whatever I do.
S2: And it was through that determination. It was through that
S2: purpose that although I didn't plan on being a pastor
S2: and didn't plan on coming to Chicago, didn't plan on that,
S2: it was through that experience that actually, when the door opened,
S2: I found myself saying yes to helping out a little
S2: church that wanted a pastor. Although I said, I'm just
S2: going to help you out here for a little bit
S2: because you need to get yourself like a real pastor.
S2: And I'm only going to help you out for three
S2: years until you can pay someone a salary and kind
S2: of get up and going. Then. Then I'm out of here.
S2: It was a simply, God, I'm going to live for you.
S2: I prayed for a young woman, uh, this morning, uh,
S2: that was trying to figure out what college she's going
S2: to in the university. And I said to her, listen,
S2: I know that the future can be daunting, but I'm
S2: going to challenge you to instead of trying to figure
S2: out all your future, I'm going to challenge you to
S2: figure out your walk with God and say, yes, God,
S2: I will live for you now. Yes, God, I will
S2: do your bidding. Yes, Lord. And as you begin to
S2: live day by day in his will, what you will
S2: discover is that your future will be your future will
S2: end up being the will of God, because you will
S2: begin to make the right decisions at the right time,
S2: the right choices, and you'll end up right in the
S2: center of where God wants you to be, even though
S2: you hadn't planned it that way. Some of you are saying,
S2: What's God's will for my life? I just try to
S2: make a ten year plan and I can't figure it out. Well,
S2: here's what I know today. Live for God. Trust in
S2: the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your
S2: own understanding, on all your ways. Acknowledge him and he
S2: will direct your path. I'm not saying it's bad to
S2: plan plan. But listen, the plans of man aren't always
S2: the plans of God and God's plan supersede or trump
S2: the plans of man. And that's the way God works.
S2: He leads us in his divine path as we say
S2: yes to God. As we discover our calling and purposes
S2: as we as we discover what what God has, and
S2: we embrace what God has and realize that we can
S2: be used. And here's what I totally understand, and I'll
S2: close with this. Listen, here's what I fully, fully understand.
S2: What makes New life community church a church to be
S2: reckoned with in Chicago. A church to be reckoned with
S2: in the spiritual realm is not pastor Mark. What makes
S2: this church a church that has power and might is
S2: when the people of God is when the church awakens
S2: to its calling. And there's literally thousands of people saying,
S2: I too can be used of God because I have
S2: a gift and I have a calling. When thousands of
S2: people are awakened to the reality that they have a
S2: gift and a calling that God can use them, that
S2: they also can pray for people and counsel people and
S2: minister to people, that they have the same Holy Spirit
S2: inside of them, that some of the people that they
S2: see up on the platform, that they can make disciples,
S2: that God gives visions and dreams, that they're a part
S2: of something bigger, that their gifts can be released and
S2: unleashed to do the bidding of God. When a church
S2: begins to discover that when people begin to arise, to that,
S2: be awakened to that reality, then watch out, because the
S2: church has just woken up and become what God has
S2: called it to be a church that is unleashed, full
S2: of people of God doing the work of God. That's
S2: my prayer. That's my desire. I don't want to pray
S2: for everybody and marry everybody and bury everybody and baptize
S2: everybody and lead everybody to Christ. I have no desire
S2: to do all that. I mean, I want to do
S2: my part. I have a desire to unleash you. I
S2: have a desire to unleash you, to begin to do
S2: things that you never thought you could do. But you
S2: have the Spirit of God inside of you. And believe me,
S2: some of you can do parts of ministry much better
S2: than I can do it. There are certain parts of
S2: ministry I just don't. I try not to do because
S2: I'm not really good at it. I try to stick
S2: with what I'm good at. But there are some of
S2: you that do certain things in ministry. Way better than
S2: I could do those things in ministry. But you haven't
S2: discovered that that you have the Spirit of God. The
S2: same Spirit of God that dwells in me is the
S2: same Spirit of God that dwells in you. The same
S2: callings of God that I have, or the pastoral team have,
S2: is the same callings of God, that you have the
S2: same anointings, the same purposes, the same drive. We're all
S2: in this together. And there's something powerful about understanding that
S2: and realizing that and waking up to that, that God,
S2: you have called us together to make a difference. It's
S2: the church unleashed by his power and by his might.
S1: Learning to answer God's call for your life. That's today's
S1: topic from Mark Jobe here on Bold Steps. Mark. I
S1: love what you said to those who know God's call
S1: for their lives, but what do you say to those
S1: who feel like they're not doing enough? Or maybe they
S1: feel like they've missed God's call?
S4: Yeah. You know, I would say, first of all, rest
S4: in God's grace because our calling is never about striving
S4: to achieve or to earn the merit of God. That's
S4: been done for us. We serve in our calling, uh,
S4: because we love God, not because we're trying to earn
S4: the favor of God.
S1: And there's always time in God's plan.
S4: There is. And you know Moses. Think about this. Moses
S4: was 80 years old when he finally discovered his calling.
S4: So some of you have some time in your life.
S1: Maybe we have time. Who knows? Thank you, Mark, for
S1: such a great message today. Well, if you just pray
S1: that God would show you your next bold step, we'd
S1: love to hear from you. You can find us online
S1: at Bold Steps org. You can email us at Bold Steps.
S1: You can also call us and leave a recorded message
S1: over the phone by dialing 312329 2011. That's (312) 329-2011. And
S1: of course, as always our mailing option. Send your letter
S1: to Bold steps 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten.
S1: Before we wrap up today, I've got a question for you.
S1: Who are you, really? When someone asks, tell me about yourself.
S1: What do you say? Well, the world often assigns us labels.
S1: As followers of King Jesus, we've been given a brand
S1: new identity. And that's why we're excited to offer you
S1: a new 15 day devotional from the desk of Mark job.
S1: It's titled More Than a Label Discovering Who You Are
S1: in Christ. In this powerful new resource, Doctor Job takes
S1: you on a journey through God's Word to reveal the
S1: truth about your identity in Christ. Through this devotional, you'll
S1: uncover who God created you to be, why your identity matters,
S1: and how to live out your true purpose in calling.
S1: This exclusive new resource is available to you with your
S1: donation of any size to support this ministry. So whether
S1: it's a single donation or a faithful investment. As one
S1: of our monthly bold partners, request your copy of More
S1: Than a Label when you give today at Bird-stamps.org. In
S1: the meantime, why not subscribe to our new Bold Steps app?
S1: It's your one stop destination for powerful and encouraging sermon
S1: content from Mark Jobe, available in both video and audio formats.
S1: And whether you're at the gym or walking through the
S1: grocery store or commuting to work, you can take bold
S1: biblical teaching with you wherever you go. Download the app
S1: today and stay connected to truth that transforms. Head to
S1: your favorite app store and look for the Bold Steps
S1: app today. I'm Wayne Shepherd. Join us tomorrow when Mark
S1: turns to the book of Ephesians, chapter three to show
S1: us what the greatest power in the world is, and
S1: we'll see you next time on Bold Steps with Mark John.
S1: Bold steps is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry
S1: of Moody Bible Institute.