WEBVTT - What Are You Dragging Behind? -Part 3 0:00:00.620 --> 0:00:03.530 In day to day living with the biggest challenges in 0:00:03.530 --> 0:00:07.220 your life? Are you relying upon yourself or on God? 0:00:07.250 --> 0:00:10.460 That's the subject today on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. 0:00:10.760 --> 0:00:14.360 What happens if we're trained, qualified, if we feel like 0:00:14.360 --> 0:00:17.390 we're ready for it? Chances are that we tend to 0:00:17.390 --> 0:00:20.390 depend upon ourselves, and we spend less time in prayer. 0:00:20.390 --> 0:00:24.860 And when our ability and confidence starts to be self-focused, 0:00:24.860 --> 0:00:29.510 then oftentimes it takes away from our God dependence. 0:00:42.140 --> 0:00:45.860 Welcome to Bold Steps with pastor Mark Jobe, president of 0:00:45.890 --> 0:00:48.710 Moody Bible Institute and senior pastor of New Life Community 0:00:48.710 --> 0:00:52.340 Church in Chicago. And I'm Wayne Shepherd Mark at Moody 0:00:52.340 --> 0:00:55.160 Bible Institute in Chicago. There is a regular chapel service 0:00:55.160 --> 0:00:57.590 for students. And of course, you as president get to 0:00:57.620 --> 0:00:59.510 give that message. And we're going to hear one of 0:00:59.510 --> 0:01:00.110 those now. 0:01:00.140 --> 0:01:02.760 Yeah, Wayne, it's always a delight for me to be 0:01:02.790 --> 0:01:06.600 able to bring the word to the students because they're eager, 0:01:06.600 --> 0:01:10.320 they're excited, they're learning and they're growing. And this message 0:01:10.319 --> 0:01:14.220 in particular, what's holding you back? Here's what I want 0:01:14.220 --> 0:01:20.040 you to hear. Sometimes God wants to downsize our strength 0:01:20.040 --> 0:01:26.100 to prepare us for our greatest battles. And it seems ironic. 0:01:26.100 --> 0:01:28.710 It seems like it doesn't make sense. But sometimes we're 0:01:28.709 --> 0:01:32.970 too strong to face the greatest battles. Because it's in 0:01:32.970 --> 0:01:35.789 our weakness that God's strength is magnified. 0:01:35.819 --> 0:01:38.160 Well, the message was given to students, but really, it 0:01:38.160 --> 0:01:40.470 is for all of us. So let's ask ourselves this 0:01:40.470 --> 0:01:44.610 question as we listen. What's holding us back? Here's Mark Jobe. 0:01:46.050 --> 0:01:53.220 I rented a car in Spain at the airport. I 0:01:53.220 --> 0:01:57.570 was in a hurry. I was driving this car and 0:01:57.570 --> 0:02:00.540 I was thinking, you know, I should have gotten a 0:02:00.540 --> 0:02:05.030 car with a little bit more. Umph to it. This 0:02:05.030 --> 0:02:08.959 car drags. I'm trying to pass people and it's just 0:02:08.960 --> 0:02:12.470 not giving me the energy that I need. It just 0:02:12.470 --> 0:02:15.830 doesn't have the horsepower that I need. I felt like 0:02:15.830 --> 0:02:17.630 we were going up the hills and it was just 0:02:17.630 --> 0:02:21.200 drag and going slow. I'm thinking next time I'm going 0:02:21.230 --> 0:02:25.220 to rent a car that's bigger, that's more powerful, stop 0:02:25.220 --> 0:02:28.850 at the gas station. Kind of looked around at this 0:02:28.850 --> 0:02:34.489 car and I realized, uh oh, I had the emergency brake. God. 0:02:37.190 --> 0:02:41.870 No wonder this car didn't have the oomph that it 0:02:41.870 --> 0:02:48.230 needed to have. I had something slowing me down. I 0:02:48.230 --> 0:02:53.780 had something that was hindering my progress, slowing down the 0:02:53.780 --> 0:02:58.489 velocity at which I was trying to reach my destination. 0:02:58.490 --> 0:03:02.400 Not allowing me to pass when I needed to, not 0:03:02.400 --> 0:03:06.510 because it didn't have the horsepower, but because I had 0:03:06.510 --> 0:03:12.870 a hindrance. When I look at Judges chapter seven, the 0:03:12.870 --> 0:03:16.650 last couple of chapters, I've talked out of the story 0:03:16.650 --> 0:03:26.490 of Gideon. Gideon is about to face his first major assignment. 0:03:26.940 --> 0:03:32.790 They've been under the oppressive hands thumb of the Midianites. 0:03:33.210 --> 0:03:40.980 And now, after the supernatural call of God, the testing 0:03:41.010 --> 0:03:45.480 of the fleece, the tearing down of his father's altar, 0:03:45.750 --> 0:03:52.770 the renaming of him, the surge of support behind him, 0:03:52.770 --> 0:03:58.740 he is now about to face the mega battle. This 0:03:58.740 --> 0:04:03.950 is the people of the people of Israel fighting against 0:04:03.950 --> 0:04:12.650 the Midianites. Now it's a huge battle. It tells us sin. 0:04:12.860 --> 0:04:17.750 Judges chapter seven. The Lord said to Gideon, he's about 0:04:17.750 --> 0:04:27.590 to go fight the Midianites. It's 32,000 against 135,000. Let 0:04:27.589 --> 0:04:32.630 me say that again. Gideon is leading an army that's 0:04:32.630 --> 0:04:36.860 been oppressing them. He's leading an army that's of people 0:04:36.860 --> 0:04:40.219 that have been oppressed, that are poor. And they are 0:04:40.220 --> 0:04:50.810 to fight an army with 32,000 against an army of 135,000. 0:04:51.470 --> 0:04:56.270 Already the odds are bad. This is an untrained army. 0:04:56.360 --> 0:05:00.320 This is poor. They don't have the resources. And they 0:05:00.350 --> 0:05:02.789 are to fight the people that's been oppressing them. But 0:05:02.790 --> 0:05:05.789 he says, hey, God, if you're for me, I'm going 0:05:05.820 --> 0:05:08.279 to tackle it. I'm going to go for it. The 0:05:08.279 --> 0:05:12.450 men rally together to say, we're with you. Gideon, it's 0:05:12.450 --> 0:05:16.859 about time we fight this battle. And so as they 0:05:16.890 --> 0:05:22.260 are approaching the battle lines, the Lord says to Gideon 0:05:22.500 --> 0:05:28.200 in Judges seven, verse two, you have too many men 0:05:28.200 --> 0:05:35.250 for me to deliver Midian into their hands. Uh, excuse me, Lord. 0:05:38.550 --> 0:05:47.940 You have too many men for this battle. Lord, I 0:05:47.940 --> 0:05:55.799 think we have 32,000 against 135,000. You have too many 0:05:55.800 --> 0:06:03.080 men for this battle. In order that Israel may not 0:06:03.080 --> 0:06:08.779 boast against me that their own strength has saved her. 0:06:09.560 --> 0:06:16.730 Are too many men for what you are too strong, 0:06:16.760 --> 0:06:20.150 even though you feel like you're weak. You're still too strong. 0:06:20.180 --> 0:06:26.180 Because if you win this battle, you'll be tempted to say, wow, 0:06:26.210 --> 0:06:30.740 look at our strength. Look at our power. Hey, one 0:06:30.740 --> 0:06:36.469 of us is worth five of them. So he said, 0:06:36.470 --> 0:06:39.920 announce to the people. Anyone who trembles with fear may 0:06:39.950 --> 0:06:46.820 turn back and leave Mount Gilead. So 72,000 men left 0:06:46.820 --> 0:06:53.120 while 10,000 remained. I just want you to know right now. 0:06:53.150 --> 0:06:57.589 Here's what I want you to understand that sometimes God 0:06:57.589 --> 0:07:03.779 wants to downsize your Or strength to prepare you for 0:07:03.779 --> 0:07:07.680 some of the greatest battles in your life. Let me 0:07:07.710 --> 0:07:11.460 say that again. We live in a generation in an 0:07:11.460 --> 0:07:15.900 age where it's all about feeling strong and competent and 0:07:15.900 --> 0:07:21.300 able and disciplined and prepared, and we should be prepared 0:07:21.300 --> 0:07:27.120 as possible. But sometimes God says, I want to make 0:07:27.150 --> 0:07:31.890 sure that you are. Your dependency is not in your preparation, 0:07:31.890 --> 0:07:35.130 not in your strength, not in your talent, not in 0:07:35.130 --> 0:07:40.980 your ability, not in your know how, not in your determination, 0:07:41.130 --> 0:07:48.150 but that your absolute dependency is in me. So sometimes 0:07:48.150 --> 0:07:52.530 you're too strong for the battle you're about to fight. 0:07:53.220 --> 0:07:56.310 And in order to win the battle effectively, you need 0:07:56.310 --> 0:08:01.640 to downsize your strength. Now that flies in the face 0:08:01.640 --> 0:08:06.800 of everything that we know. But let me say this. 0:08:06.800 --> 0:08:11.660 Some of you right now may think may be a 0:08:11.660 --> 0:08:15.650 little bit too strong for the battles that God has 0:08:15.650 --> 0:08:25.040 for you. God was clear. I want to make sure 0:08:25.040 --> 0:08:27.350 when this battle is won that you can't point to 0:08:27.350 --> 0:08:30.140 your strength, your power, your ability. I want to make 0:08:30.140 --> 0:08:35.209 sure when this battle is done and you have your triumph, 0:08:35.330 --> 0:08:38.540 and people are yelling and screaming in victory, that there's 0:08:38.540 --> 0:08:40.910 only one person to point to, and that's the God 0:08:40.910 --> 0:08:44.930 of heaven. And not patting yourself on the back, not 0:08:44.929 --> 0:08:48.740 celebrating your own ability, but making sure that there's a 0:08:48.740 --> 0:08:52.790 humble disposition that says, God, this is all about you, 0:08:52.820 --> 0:09:00.080 your glory, your name, your fame, and your ability. God 0:09:00.090 --> 0:09:03.120 basically says, I don't like the odds you're too strong 0:09:03.120 --> 0:09:07.260 for your own good. You may be too strong or 0:09:07.260 --> 0:09:13.800 overconfident for God to use you well. So sometimes God 0:09:13.830 --> 0:09:20.640 needs to downsize you. Now God downsizes us in various ways. 0:09:20.700 --> 0:09:25.890 With Gideon he said, if any of you stand up 0:09:25.890 --> 0:09:30.870 in front of your 32,000 men, some of whom have 0:09:30.870 --> 0:09:36.000 very little training in warfare or the military, and say 0:09:36.000 --> 0:09:39.360 to them, if any of you is afraid of this 0:09:39.360 --> 0:09:44.610 battle of 32,000 ill prepared, ill equipped, ill trained people 0:09:44.610 --> 0:09:48.330 against the Midianites who outnumber you and are much more prepared? 0:09:48.330 --> 0:09:52.559 If any of you are afraid, it's okay, go home. 0:09:54.660 --> 0:09:57.030 I'm sure that people kind of looked at each other. 0:09:57.120 --> 0:09:59.820 No one wants to be the first one to go 0:10:00.290 --> 0:10:04.730 Be called a coward. Kind of look around and then 0:10:04.730 --> 0:10:09.860 maybe someone at the back just kind of sneaks out. 0:10:10.550 --> 0:10:14.720 People start whispering, another person goes, you know how it goes. 0:10:14.720 --> 0:10:17.300 The more people. Well, if my cousin's going, I'm going to. 0:10:17.330 --> 0:10:19.910 I don't want him to go alone. I'm going to. 0:10:22.130 --> 0:10:28.729 By the time they're done, there are only well, there's 0:10:28.760 --> 0:10:35.030 22,000 that leave and 10,000 that remain. Think about it. 0:10:35.059 --> 0:10:39.050 Think if you're one of the 10,000 standing there. I'm 0:10:39.050 --> 0:10:41.450 not going to go. I'm not going to leave. I'm 0:10:41.450 --> 0:10:45.679 in here to the end. People start leaving, and two 0:10:45.679 --> 0:10:50.480 thirds of the people leave. You're left now with 10,000 0:10:50.510 --> 0:11:01.020 against 135,000. But this is exactly, exactly what God wanted. 0:11:05.130 --> 0:11:10.230 The reason for the downsize is very clear in verse two. 0:11:10.260 --> 0:11:17.010 So that Israel will not boast. You know what one 0:11:17.010 --> 0:11:19.800 of my fears is? As you train here at the 0:11:19.800 --> 0:11:24.930 Moody Bible Institute, as you prepare, as you take theology classes, 0:11:24.960 --> 0:11:28.469 as you get experience, as you spend hours and hours 0:11:28.470 --> 0:11:32.820 reading books and gaining knowledge, it's important you need to 0:11:32.820 --> 0:11:38.790 be grounded. It is so vital. My fear is. My 0:11:38.790 --> 0:11:44.700 fear is that you would think that you're smarter than 0:11:44.700 --> 0:11:50.040 what you really are. My fear is that a few 0:11:50.070 --> 0:11:55.860 theology books into it. You think I got this? My 0:11:55.860 --> 0:11:57.690 fear is that you would look around at other ministers 0:11:57.690 --> 0:12:00.140 and say they have no idea what they're doing. Wait 0:12:00.170 --> 0:12:04.070 till I'm on. Wait till I'm out there. My fear 0:12:04.070 --> 0:12:10.280 is that, ah, there's a cockiness that can set in. Oh, 0:12:10.520 --> 0:12:15.199 I know it because I was that young 20 year 0:12:15.230 --> 0:12:22.459 old thinking I got it. The Bible says God resists 0:12:22.460 --> 0:12:29.030 the proud. He resists the proud. Resist. It's a repellent 0:12:29.030 --> 0:12:33.500 to God. It's a repellent to the grace of God. 0:12:33.500 --> 0:12:39.410 The power of God, the favor of God. God gets 0:12:39.410 --> 0:12:43.940 around anything that's proud, arrogant, self-sufficient, too confident. And it 0:12:43.940 --> 0:12:50.360 repels the Spirit of God. But he gives more grace 0:12:50.630 --> 0:12:55.460 to the humble. The person that knows I can't, and I'm. 0:12:55.460 --> 0:12:59.870 I'm unable. God, I need you desperately. What happens if 0:12:59.910 --> 0:13:04.079 we're trained, qualified, if we feel like we're ready for it? 0:13:04.290 --> 0:13:06.870 Chances are that we tend to depend upon ourselves and 0:13:06.870 --> 0:13:10.890 we spend less time in prayer, less time seeking God, 0:13:10.890 --> 0:13:14.189 less time on our knees, less time in a position 0:13:14.190 --> 0:13:19.230 of dependency because we think I've been prepared, equipped, trained. 0:13:19.260 --> 0:13:24.420 I know how to do this. And when our ability 0:13:24.420 --> 0:13:28.860 and confidence starts to be self-focused, then oftentimes it takes 0:13:28.860 --> 0:13:31.650 away from our God dependency. 0:13:41.280 --> 0:13:44.010 You're listening to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. A message 0:13:44.010 --> 0:13:47.400 titled What's Holding You Back? Will continue this lesson momentarily. 0:13:47.400 --> 0:13:50.429 But in case you didn't receive this past Monday's edition 0:13:50.429 --> 0:13:53.400 of The Bold Stepper Weekly, I need to ask, where 0:13:53.429 --> 0:13:56.010 are you, Mark? This is free. This is free. You 0:13:56.010 --> 0:13:58.440 can sign up for it right now at Bold Steps. Org. 0:13:58.470 --> 0:14:00.770 Yeah. For those of you wondering what The Bold Step 0:14:00.770 --> 0:14:03.980 or weekly is, it's a weekly email that goes out, 0:14:03.980 --> 0:14:08.480 but it's loaded with resources for you. There's a devotional 0:14:08.480 --> 0:14:11.750 typically in there. We try to update you on the ministry. 0:14:11.750 --> 0:14:13.760 I invite you into some of the things that I'm 0:14:13.760 --> 0:14:15.050 doing personally. 0:14:15.080 --> 0:14:17.360 Which I find very helpful because you're a busy guy, 0:14:17.360 --> 0:14:18.770 it's kind of hard to keep up with you sometimes. 0:14:18.860 --> 0:14:23.810 Traveling, speaking different things that we're engaged in. There's also 0:14:23.810 --> 0:14:26.540 a link where you can download the Bold Steps app, 0:14:26.540 --> 0:14:32.960 which is also full of videos and YouTube sessions and audio, 0:14:32.960 --> 0:14:35.420 and just a lot of resources for you to have. 0:14:35.450 --> 0:14:40.970 And so we encourage you to check that out. Or 0:14:40.970 --> 0:14:43.040 if you're already part of it, forward it to a 0:14:43.040 --> 0:14:44.090 friend as well. 0:14:44.120 --> 0:14:45.860 Great idea. The link is right there in the bold 0:14:45.860 --> 0:14:48.050 step or weekly to forward it to someone else. So 0:14:48.050 --> 0:14:50.720 if you're not receiving it currently but would like to 0:14:50.750 --> 0:14:54.080 sign up, you can do that at bird-stamps.org. One other 0:14:54.080 --> 0:14:57.350 feature you'll want to subscribe to is Mark's YouTube channel. 0:14:57.350 --> 0:15:00.310 Did you know about this? Mark regularly shares new teaching 0:15:00.310 --> 0:15:03.070 videos and exclusive bold steps content there. A lot of 0:15:03.070 --> 0:15:06.040 people use YouTube these days and it's a great added 0:15:06.040 --> 0:15:07.330 ministry for bold steps. 0:15:07.360 --> 0:15:10.090 Absolutely easy to access and if you're more of a 0:15:10.090 --> 0:15:13.000 visual learner, this is right up your alley. 0:15:13.000 --> 0:15:16.660 Just search for Bold Steps Radio on YouTube. Now let's 0:15:16.660 --> 0:15:19.120 continue today's lesson. What's holding you back here again is 0:15:19.120 --> 0:15:21.670 Mark Jobe with today's bold steps. 0:15:27.850 --> 0:15:30.790 I've been training pastors and leaders for a long time 0:15:30.790 --> 0:15:35.950 in a very brutal city, and I've seen people that 0:15:35.950 --> 0:15:42.070 were overconfident. Invariably, God has to bring them to their 0:15:42.070 --> 0:15:48.940 knees of brokenness. Invariably, then he does it a second time. 0:15:49.750 --> 0:15:54.430 He trims again. Notice in the Lord said to Gideon, 0:15:55.030 --> 0:16:00.320 the people are still too many. Take them down to 0:16:00.350 --> 0:16:02.870 the water. I will test them. You know the story. 0:16:02.960 --> 0:16:05.510 Any one of them who say to you. Then this 0:16:05.510 --> 0:16:08.300 you shall go with me. You shall go. Any one 0:16:08.300 --> 0:16:11.210 of them who say whom I say, this is the 0:16:11.210 --> 0:16:13.640 one who shall not go with me, shall not go. 0:16:13.670 --> 0:16:16.100 So he brought the people down to the water. And 0:16:16.100 --> 0:16:18.770 the Lord said to Gideon, everyone who laps the water 0:16:18.770 --> 0:16:21.440 with his tongue as a dog laps, you shall set 0:16:21.470 --> 0:16:25.370 him aside. Likewise everyone who kneels down to drink, and 0:16:25.370 --> 0:16:27.650 the number of those who lapped putting their hands to 0:16:27.680 --> 0:16:30.859 their mouth was 300 men. But all the rest of 0:16:30.860 --> 0:16:34.130 the people knelt down to drink the water. Now some 0:16:34.130 --> 0:16:37.370 people say, well, those were the most alert men because 0:16:37.370 --> 0:16:41.180 they were lapping up the water. They could see the enemy. 0:16:41.210 --> 0:16:46.220 We have no idea if that's why God decided to 0:16:46.250 --> 0:16:50.360 do it in his arbitrary way. However, he chose to 0:16:50.390 --> 0:16:54.410 do it. The bottom line was, when everything was said 0:16:54.410 --> 0:17:00.570 and done, they went from 32,000 men to 300 men 0:17:00.600 --> 0:17:07.290 downsizing their strength to the point that it appeared pathetic. 0:17:08.670 --> 0:17:14.760 And then God said, aha! Now you're ready to fight. 0:17:16.080 --> 0:17:21.119 Ready to fight. God, there's 300 against 135,000. This isn't 0:17:21.119 --> 0:17:24.930 even a battle. This is pathetic. We can. No way 0:17:24.960 --> 0:17:28.350 could we win. It would be a miracle if we won. 0:17:28.350 --> 0:17:33.420 It would have to be all God. Aha! That's right. 0:17:34.740 --> 0:17:37.440 I want you to see this. There's a powerful principle 0:17:37.440 --> 0:17:41.040 in this that oftentimes we're too strong for the battle 0:17:41.040 --> 0:17:43.710 that we're about to fight. And it's in the weakening 0:17:43.740 --> 0:17:48.659 of ourselves. It's in the humility that God brings. It's 0:17:48.660 --> 0:17:53.130 in the recognition of our weakness that oftentimes the strength 0:17:53.130 --> 0:17:58.020 and power of God is actually manifest. In fact, I 0:17:58.020 --> 0:18:01.310 believe that God can use us this most when we 0:18:01.310 --> 0:18:05.570 move forward in a place of complete dependence upon him. 0:18:05.600 --> 0:18:11.000 Hebrews chapter 11, verse 34. Speaking of Gideon and others, 0:18:11.030 --> 0:18:13.969 the writer of the Hebrews says, whose weakness was turned 0:18:13.970 --> 0:18:18.770 to strength, and who became powerful in battle and routed 0:18:18.770 --> 0:18:24.320 foreign armies. Paul echoes the same sentiment in First Corinthians 0:18:24.320 --> 0:18:27.440 chapter 12, verse nine. But he said to me, my 0:18:27.440 --> 0:18:31.820 grace is sufficient for you, for get it? Here it goes. 0:18:31.820 --> 0:18:38.060 This is powerful. For my power, my dunamis. This incredible 0:18:38.060 --> 0:18:43.280 supernatural power that comes from the Most High God is 0:18:43.280 --> 0:18:49.550 made complete or perfect in weakness, where the power of 0:18:49.550 --> 0:18:55.310 God is fertilized. Where the power of God grows. Where 0:18:55.310 --> 0:19:00.040 the power of God increases. Where it is made complete 0:19:00.070 --> 0:19:07.930 is not in an atmosphere of pride, confidence, ability where 0:19:07.930 --> 0:19:13.450 the power of God flourishes, where it grows to completeness 0:19:13.450 --> 0:19:20.890 is in the atmosphere of recognized weakness that leads to 0:19:20.920 --> 0:19:28.930 deep humility, trust, and dependence on God. Look down through 0:19:28.960 --> 0:19:32.800 history and show me men or women that have been 0:19:32.800 --> 0:19:39.400 mightily used of God, supernaturally, extraordinarily used of God. And 0:19:39.400 --> 0:19:43.960 I'll show you people that were utterly, utterly aware of 0:19:43.960 --> 0:19:49.270 how weak they were and how much they needed the Savior, 0:19:51.220 --> 0:19:55.990 the Apostle Paul, is giving his own story of wanting 0:19:56.020 --> 0:20:01.040 to be stronger, of using whatever thorn in the flesh 0:20:01.040 --> 0:20:06.139 was afflicting him. And there's tons of theological theses trying 0:20:06.140 --> 0:20:08.990 to determine what the thorn in the flesh was. Everybody 0:20:08.990 --> 0:20:16.550 has their theory, whether physical, whether exterior. Whether it was 0:20:16.550 --> 0:20:21.380 his eyesight or whatever. Other theories are out there. The 0:20:21.380 --> 0:20:26.750 bottom line is it made Paul feel weak, and he 0:20:26.750 --> 0:20:28.820 called out to God and said, God, take this away 0:20:28.820 --> 0:20:31.070 because I'm weak. Because of this, I could be so 0:20:31.070 --> 0:20:33.950 much stronger if this were not part of my life. 0:20:34.190 --> 0:20:39.409 Yet God's answer after calling upon God yet this man, 0:20:39.410 --> 0:20:42.620 that people would come and he would touch and their 0:20:42.619 --> 0:20:46.670 eyes would be open and miraculous power would flow from him, 0:20:46.670 --> 0:20:52.340 supernatural ability by God. He's saying, I want to be stronger. 0:20:52.340 --> 0:20:56.180 This weakness is a hindrance to me. I can't do 0:20:56.180 --> 0:20:59.000 the ministry like I'd like to do it because it 0:20:59.070 --> 0:21:03.659 debilitates me. Because it takes my strength away, because it 0:21:03.660 --> 0:21:08.310 doesn't let me perform at my highest performance. And God said, no, 0:21:08.340 --> 0:21:10.949 I'm going to keep it in your life. I want 0:21:10.950 --> 0:21:15.570 you to have that weakness, because it's in that weakness 0:21:15.570 --> 0:21:21.060 that my power is made manifest and perfected. Can I 0:21:21.060 --> 0:21:23.159 tell you this, that some of the very things that 0:21:23.160 --> 0:21:26.100 you may look as a hindrance in your life right now, 0:21:26.100 --> 0:21:28.290 those very things that you said, hey, I could really 0:21:28.290 --> 0:21:30.120 be used of God if this were not a part 0:21:30.119 --> 0:21:34.740 of my life. A physical hindrance, a a learning disability, 0:21:34.740 --> 0:21:37.950 a speech impediment, whatever it may be that you look 0:21:37.980 --> 0:21:41.010 and say, I wish I didn't have this because I 0:21:41.010 --> 0:21:44.129 could be so much stronger, so much more used of 0:21:44.130 --> 0:21:46.949 God if this weakness weren't a part of my life. 0:21:46.950 --> 0:21:53.760 And yet, maybe, maybe it's exactly what prepares you for 0:21:53.760 --> 0:22:01.580 the greatest battles a full, complete Illustration of how weak 0:22:01.609 --> 0:22:10.040 you are and how utterly dependent we are upon God. Therefore, 0:22:10.160 --> 0:22:14.510 Paul says, I will boast all the more gladly about 0:22:14.510 --> 0:22:19.940 my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest in me. 0:22:20.300 --> 0:22:31.760 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in my weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, difficulties. Listen, 0:22:31.820 --> 0:22:35.210 look up at me. This is really important. For when 0:22:35.210 --> 0:22:41.600 I am weak, then I am strong. For when I 0:22:41.630 --> 0:22:53.720 am weak, then and then only am I strong. So 0:22:53.720 --> 0:22:57.800 you may be feeling extremely weak today, and you may 0:22:57.800 --> 0:23:03.750 look at it as a hindrance. But maybe your physical weakness, 0:23:03.780 --> 0:23:09.119 your challenges that make you feel not up to par. 0:23:09.119 --> 0:23:12.360 They may be exactly what God wants you to be 0:23:12.359 --> 0:23:17.160 going through, because in your weakness, his power is made strong. 0:23:17.160 --> 0:23:21.000 So embrace your weakness and ask God to fill you 0:23:21.030 --> 0:23:22.260 with his strength. 0:23:22.260 --> 0:23:25.710 That's Mark Jobe, our Bible teacher here on bold Steps. 0:23:25.710 --> 0:23:28.170 And if you miss any part of today's message titled 0:23:28.170 --> 0:23:30.540 What's Holding You Back? We encourage you to go to 0:23:30.570 --> 0:23:33.240 our website and catch up when you can just visit 0:23:33.240 --> 0:23:36.420 Bold Steps org. And when you get there, you'll also 0:23:36.420 --> 0:23:38.580 have the chance to request your copy of this month's 0:23:38.580 --> 0:23:42.419 Bold Step gift. Our world today seems more chaotic and 0:23:42.420 --> 0:23:45.810 unpredictable than ever, but did you know that throughout history, 0:23:45.840 --> 0:23:49.980 times of crisis have often preceded times of spiritual awakening? 0:23:50.010 --> 0:23:53.910 In the book titled A Non-anxious Presence Our Bold Step Gift, 0:23:53.910 --> 0:23:57.359 Mark Sayers reveals how today's challenges might actually be setting 0:23:57.359 --> 0:24:01.610 the stage for tomorrow's renewal. As leaders and believers, we 0:24:01.609 --> 0:24:04.730 often try to control what feels uncontrollable. But what if 0:24:04.730 --> 0:24:07.910 God is using this season of uncertainty to shape something 0:24:07.910 --> 0:24:10.760 new in your church, in your community, and maybe even 0:24:10.760 --> 0:24:15.020 your relationship with him? A Non-anxious presence offers a hopeful 0:24:15.020 --> 0:24:19.280 perspective on leading through turbulent times. Request this bold step 0:24:19.280 --> 0:24:23.720 gift and discover how to navigate change while maintaining spiritual steadiness. 0:24:23.750 --> 0:24:25.939 We'll send you a copy when you make a generous 0:24:25.940 --> 0:24:29.060 donation of any amount to bold steps. Just go online 0:24:29.060 --> 0:24:31.610 to Bold steps. Org or give us a call and 0:24:31.609 --> 0:24:35.720 make that donation over the phone by dialing 800. D.L. Moody. 0:24:35.900 --> 0:24:41.990 That's (800) 356-6639. You can also send your gift and request 0:24:41.990 --> 0:24:44.899 the book through the mail. Our address is bold. Steps 0:24:44.900 --> 0:24:51.620 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 6610. Once again, 820 0:24:51.650 --> 0:24:57.169 North LaSalle, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. And then before we 0:24:57.200 --> 0:24:59.310 close today, we want to remind you that the best 0:24:59.310 --> 0:25:01.560 way to catch up by these messages while you're out 0:25:01.560 --> 0:25:04.680 and about, or simply listen at other times, is by 0:25:04.680 --> 0:25:07.770 subscribing to the Bold Steps podcast. Just open up your 0:25:07.800 --> 0:25:10.740 favorite podcast app on your phone or smart device. Search 0:25:10.740 --> 0:25:14.340 for bold steps with doctor Mark Jobe and click subscribe. 0:25:14.369 --> 0:25:16.950 You can also connect with us and find more content 0:25:16.950 --> 0:25:20.370 on the Bold Steps app here. Marks bold and passionate 0:25:20.400 --> 0:25:23.430 teaching anywhere you go, and gain access to a wide 0:25:23.430 --> 0:25:26.369 array of other Bible teaching videos and resources. When you 0:25:26.400 --> 0:25:30.000 download this free app today. To learn more, visit Bold 0:25:30.000 --> 0:25:33.540 Steps org. And that brings us to the end. Today, 0:25:33.540 --> 0:25:35.910 I'm Wayne Shepherd, inviting you back tomorrow for the start 0:25:35.910 --> 0:25:39.510 of a new series titled overcome. We're discussing what it 0:25:39.510 --> 0:25:43.680 means to be free from condemnation. Thursday on Bold Steps 0:25:43.680 --> 0:25:48.389 with Mark Jobe. Bold steps is a production of Moody Radio, 0:25:48.420 --> 0:25:50.729 a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.