WEBVTT - Take Your Place – Part 3 0:00:00.760 --> 0:00:03.920 Today on Bold steps with Mark job, we're learning what 0:00:03.920 --> 0:00:05.519 it means to be chosen. 0:00:06.080 --> 0:00:09.559 God's been working all your life to set you up 0:00:09.560 --> 0:00:13.320 for his purposes. All. You fought him at times, but 0:00:13.320 --> 0:00:17.040 God has been involved in bringing you to the place 0:00:17.040 --> 0:00:20.400 that you would respond to him all of your life. 0:00:20.440 --> 0:00:23.440 God has been involved way in advance. 0:00:36.120 --> 0:00:39.560 Welcome to today's edition of Bold Steps with Mark job. 0:00:39.560 --> 0:00:42.000 Mark is the senior pastor of New Life Community Church 0:00:42.000 --> 0:00:46.160 in Chicago and president of Moody Bible Institute. I'm Wayne Shepherd. 0:00:46.640 --> 0:00:48.640 Earlier in the week, we began a new series called 0:00:48.640 --> 0:00:51.640 When You Believe Everything Changes, and we've been learning about 0:00:51.640 --> 0:00:53.760 what it means to take your place in the Kingdom 0:00:53.760 --> 0:00:57.040 of God. Yesterday we learned what it means to be blessed, 0:00:57.040 --> 0:00:59.400 and today marks going to show us how and why 0:00:59.400 --> 0:01:02.200 we've been chosen. So if you have your Bible handy, 0:01:02.240 --> 0:01:05.560 turn to Ephesians one to hear Mark job with today's 0:01:05.560 --> 0:01:06.640 bold steps. 0:01:08.520 --> 0:01:14.959 So he has given us every blessing in the spiritual world. 0:01:15.400 --> 0:01:21.640 Number two, write this down. For he chose us in 0:01:21.640 --> 0:01:25.280 him before the creation of the world, to be holy 0:01:25.280 --> 0:01:29.959 and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us. 0:01:30.400 --> 0:01:32.480 So not only has he blessed us, and it talks 0:01:32.480 --> 0:01:36.120 about our position. He's chosen us and it talks about 0:01:36.120 --> 0:01:40.759 our destiny. For he chose us in him before the 0:01:40.760 --> 0:01:43.280 creation of the world, to be holy and blameless. Hold 0:01:43.280 --> 0:01:48.360 on a second. Did you just read what I. What 0:01:48.360 --> 0:01:53.800 I read? That God chose you before the world was 0:01:53.800 --> 0:02:03.930 even created. Hold on, hold on, hold on. What does 0:02:03.930 --> 0:02:09.450 that even mean? That before you were even a glimmer 0:02:09.450 --> 0:02:17.329 in your father's eye, God had chosen you. That God 0:02:17.330 --> 0:02:24.250 chose you before your family name even existed. Before your 0:02:24.250 --> 0:02:28.090 grandfather or great grandfather, or great great grandfather, or great 0:02:28.090 --> 0:02:36.209 great great grandfather before your Aztec ancestor, or your Viking 0:02:36.250 --> 0:02:41.690 ancestor from Europe was even around. God had already chosen you. 0:02:47.610 --> 0:02:52.930 Before there was a world before Adam and Eve, before 0:02:53.889 --> 0:03:00.329 light was separated from darkness. God, in his foreknowledge, already 0:03:00.330 --> 0:03:04.730 knew that you would exist. God, in his foreknowledge, already 0:03:04.730 --> 0:03:09.250 knew your name. God, in his foreknowledge, already knew what 0:03:09.250 --> 0:03:12.810 you would look like. God knew how you would be. 0:03:12.930 --> 0:03:19.090 And God chose you before. Way before there was even 0:03:19.090 --> 0:03:23.090 a you to be chosen. Because God had a destiny 0:03:23.090 --> 0:03:35.250 and a purpose when he chose you, even before you existed. Wow. Now, 0:03:35.250 --> 0:03:40.170 I know some people say in their testimony, they'll say, 0:03:40.650 --> 0:03:45.250 I found God, and I know what you mean by that, 0:03:45.250 --> 0:03:50.210 but can I tell you? Bad expression. First of all, 0:03:50.250 --> 0:03:57.370 God was never lost. And you didn't find God before 0:03:57.370 --> 0:04:02.020 you ever thought of finding God, he had already chosen you. 0:04:04.660 --> 0:04:10.300 Way before. Before you ever decided to follow him. He 0:04:10.300 --> 0:04:15.900 had chosen you and knew you would follow him way before. Oh, 0:04:15.900 --> 0:04:19.260 I know that'll mess with your mind a little bit. Oh, 0:04:19.260 --> 0:04:22.420 I know that's hard to think about. But it speaks 0:04:22.420 --> 0:04:25.060 to our destiny. And it says. And he chose us 0:04:25.060 --> 0:04:28.060 before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless. 0:04:28.060 --> 0:04:31.300 He chose us to be separated unto himself and to 0:04:31.300 --> 0:04:34.700 live a certain kind of life before we were ever born. 0:04:34.700 --> 0:04:38.020 He had a purpose and a plan for our life. 0:04:38.020 --> 0:04:42.620 And if that doesn't really stir you up, think about this, 0:04:42.620 --> 0:04:48.300 he says. And in love he predestined us to be 0:04:48.300 --> 0:04:52.740 adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with 0:04:52.740 --> 0:05:00.900 his pleasure and his will. In love he predestined. To 0:05:00.940 --> 0:05:05.820 Predestine means that not only did he choose you, but 0:05:05.820 --> 0:05:10.380 he predestined you in advance to live and walk for 0:05:10.380 --> 0:05:17.859 him even when you didn't know him. You say, well, pastor, 0:05:17.860 --> 0:05:22.580 I don't understand how God could do that. Well, let 0:05:22.580 --> 0:05:24.779 me explain it this way. And the church is divided 0:05:24.779 --> 0:05:28.779 at times by two thoughts. One is in those of 0:05:28.779 --> 0:05:31.380 you that have been around the church, church at large, 0:05:31.380 --> 0:05:34.380 what I'm talking about understand one is what's called Calvinism. 0:05:34.380 --> 0:05:37.500 Have you heard of Calvinism? And one and the other 0:05:37.500 --> 0:05:45.980 is what's called Arminianism. Calvinism emphasizes the sovereignty. And the 0:05:45.980 --> 0:05:51.700 grace of God. Arminianism emphasizes the choice of man. And 0:05:51.700 --> 0:05:55.380 there's been a debate down the last 500 years. Is 0:05:55.380 --> 0:05:59.180 it more that we are choice to follow God, or 0:05:59.180 --> 0:06:02.909 is it more God's choice to choose us and cause 0:06:02.910 --> 0:06:07.070 us to follow him. And there's been entire denominations that 0:06:07.070 --> 0:06:10.510 have risen out of those that believe. It's more the 0:06:10.510 --> 0:06:13.470 choice of man and other denominations that believe that. More, 0:06:13.470 --> 0:06:16.870 it's the choice of God. I believe that it's both. 0:06:17.029 --> 0:06:20.430 God is all sovereign, and he chooses his in advance 0:06:20.470 --> 0:06:23.550 before we choose him. He chooses us. But I believe 0:06:23.550 --> 0:06:29.310 that doesn't relieve us from the responsibility of choosing him 0:06:29.310 --> 0:06:33.710 as well. Let me give you a crude illustration of this. 0:06:34.390 --> 0:06:40.230 Let's just suppose that I knew the future. That I 0:06:40.230 --> 0:06:45.710 had a clear insight into the future. I would know 0:06:46.150 --> 0:06:50.390 who is going to win the Super Bowl this year. 0:06:51.990 --> 0:06:55.790 I would know if I had that. And here's the thing. 0:06:55.990 --> 0:06:58.470 If I knew who was winning the Super Bowl, then 0:06:58.470 --> 0:07:02.950 I would choose the winning team always, right? Because I 0:07:02.950 --> 0:07:07.270 know if I was into horse racing, I would know 0:07:07.870 --> 0:07:10.910 what horse, the name of the horse that would win 0:07:10.950 --> 0:07:14.670 the race, and I would choose the horse in advance. 0:07:14.670 --> 0:07:17.950 That would win the race, because I know already who's 0:07:17.950 --> 0:07:22.910 going to win that race, right? Because I'd have foreknowledge. Now, 0:07:22.950 --> 0:07:25.230 even if I did know who was going to win 0:07:25.230 --> 0:07:29.030 the Super Bowl, when that team wins the Super Bowl, 0:07:29.270 --> 0:07:33.990 it doesn't relieve them from the responsibility of hard work 0:07:33.990 --> 0:07:36.790 and the training that they have to have to win. 0:07:36.830 --> 0:07:39.590 They still have to work hard. They still have to 0:07:39.590 --> 0:07:42.310 do it. Just because I know and choose them in 0:07:42.310 --> 0:07:46.190 advance doesn't relieve them from the responsibility of working hard 0:07:46.190 --> 0:07:50.030 to win. Are we clear on that? God has chosen 0:07:50.030 --> 0:07:52.990 you in advance, and God knows that you'll be a 0:07:52.990 --> 0:07:55.989 son and daughter of his in advance, but it doesn't 0:07:56.030 --> 0:08:00.310 relieve you from the responsibility of responding to the voice 0:08:00.440 --> 0:08:02.960 of God and the call of God when he calls 0:08:02.960 --> 0:08:07.640 you unto salvation. The Bible says that he desires that 0:08:07.640 --> 0:08:09.560 all men would be saved, and to come to the 0:08:09.600 --> 0:08:12.120 knowledge of the truth. But not all men will be 0:08:12.120 --> 0:08:15.320 saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. But 0:08:15.320 --> 0:08:19.640 God already knows the fact that you're here, and following 0:08:19.640 --> 0:08:26.840 Jesus does not surprise God. He knew already when he 0:08:26.840 --> 0:08:31.120 connected you to a believer that would invite you to 0:08:31.160 --> 0:08:35.640 hear the gospel already. Oh, God's been working on you 0:08:35.760 --> 0:08:39.880 way before you were aware that he was working on you. Oh, 0:08:39.920 --> 0:08:43.160 you thought someone invited you and you heard the gospel 0:08:43.160 --> 0:08:45.640 and a friend, and you thought it just happened in 0:08:45.640 --> 0:08:47.560 the last few months. No, no no, no. God's been 0:08:47.559 --> 0:08:52.559 working all your life to set you up for his purposes. 0:08:53.080 --> 0:08:57.120 All your life, he's been involved in working. Oh, you've 0:08:57.120 --> 0:09:01.319 resisted him at times. Oh, you've fought him at times. Oh, 0:09:01.360 --> 0:09:04.960 you've pushed away from his plans. But God has been 0:09:04.960 --> 0:09:08.240 involved in bringing you to the place that you would 0:09:08.240 --> 0:09:11.680 respond to him all of your life. God has been 0:09:11.679 --> 0:09:18.240 involved way in advance. And then it says, listen, he's 0:09:18.240 --> 0:09:24.520 predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ 0:09:24.520 --> 0:09:28.480 in accordance with the pleasure of his goodwill. Not just 0:09:28.480 --> 0:09:33.160 chosen us, but adopted us. Listen, when you're adopted, you're 0:09:33.160 --> 0:09:37.439 given all the full rights of sonship. All the inheritance 0:09:37.440 --> 0:09:40.160 of a son or a daughter has been given to you. 0:09:40.200 --> 0:09:43.600 He sealed you with his name. He said, you are mine. 0:09:43.640 --> 0:09:46.800 I'm not ashamed of you. All that is mine is yours. 0:09:46.960 --> 0:09:50.000 All my inheritance is yours. That's what God has done 0:09:50.000 --> 0:09:53.200 for us. He's chosen us before the foundation of the 0:09:53.200 --> 0:09:58.760 world to be adopted into his sonship. And then it 0:09:58.760 --> 0:10:00.530 goes on to say, look at what it tells us 0:10:00.530 --> 0:10:04.610 in the next verse. Listen, it says in him you 0:10:04.610 --> 0:10:07.770 have redemption through his blood. The fourth point is you 0:10:07.770 --> 0:10:11.929 are redeemed. That speaks to your transformation. Listen to me well. 0:10:13.970 --> 0:10:16.569 To be redeemed means that he's bought you with a price. 0:10:16.570 --> 0:10:19.209 He's removed a debt from you, and he's released you 0:10:19.210 --> 0:10:25.569 to walk in freedom. When God redeemed you, it means 0:10:25.570 --> 0:10:29.370 that when God redeemed you, that God paid a price 0:10:29.370 --> 0:10:34.410 for you. God bought you. Bought, bought us from whom? 0:10:35.490 --> 0:10:41.210 He bought you from the slavery of sin. He bought 0:10:41.210 --> 0:10:43.610 you with the blood of Jesus Christ. It was the 0:10:43.610 --> 0:10:46.770 blood of His Son that he paid for your ransom, 0:10:47.210 --> 0:10:50.490 and he bought you. And with that same blood he 0:10:50.490 --> 0:10:53.970 washed you and cleansed you. And now he sets you 0:10:53.970 --> 0:10:58.730 free to live fully for him. That's what redemption means. 0:10:59.250 --> 0:11:03.650 It says. And he redeemed us through his blood, the 0:11:03.650 --> 0:11:08.090 forgiveness of sins, according to the richness of God's grace 0:11:08.090 --> 0:11:13.170 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 0:11:21.210 --> 0:11:23.890 You're listening to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. A message 0:11:23.890 --> 0:11:27.370 he's titled Take Your Place. While we're pausing today's program 0:11:27.370 --> 0:11:29.290 right now to remind you that it's not too late 0:11:29.290 --> 0:11:32.170 to download the Bold Steps app. You can hear Mark's 0:11:32.170 --> 0:11:35.330 bold and engaging teaching anywhere you go, and utilize a 0:11:35.330 --> 0:11:38.490 wide array of Bible study resources and new content from Mark. 0:11:38.490 --> 0:11:41.170 When you download this app to your favorite smart device. 0:11:41.450 --> 0:11:43.490 All the instructions for setting up the app can be 0:11:43.490 --> 0:11:47.730 found on bold steps. Well, Mark, we have listeners all 0:11:47.730 --> 0:11:50.329 over the country listening in a variety of ways, and 0:11:50.330 --> 0:11:52.250 I see you have a comment from Arizona. 0:11:52.610 --> 0:11:55.890 Yes. This is Brenda who says, thank you truly for 0:11:55.890 --> 0:11:58.850 being bold in your preaching and walk with the Lord. 0:11:58.890 --> 0:12:04.380 I listen every evening in surprise, Arizona. Brenda, thank you 0:12:04.380 --> 0:12:07.540 for that word of encouragement. Surprise! Arizona sounds like a 0:12:07.540 --> 0:12:09.460 great place to visit. I've never been there. 0:12:09.460 --> 0:12:13.020 Surprise. All right, here's one from California. Thank you for 0:12:13.020 --> 0:12:15.980 your messages. I listen on my way to work at 0:12:15.980 --> 0:12:19.220 4 a.m.. I get so much out of them. Thank 0:12:19.220 --> 0:12:23.060 you for making the Bible so understandable and relatable. God 0:12:23.059 --> 0:12:25.780 bless you and your ministry. That comes from a K 0:12:25.820 --> 0:12:27.660 wave listener in Santa Ana, California. 0:12:27.700 --> 0:12:31.420 Yeah, big shout out to K Wave in California. We 0:12:31.420 --> 0:12:34.780 love getting messages and emails and words from people that 0:12:34.780 --> 0:12:38.939 are listening in California. And yes, we do air twice, 0:12:39.179 --> 0:12:41.340 one at 4 a.m. in the morning and I always 0:12:41.340 --> 0:12:42.300 wonder who's listening. 0:12:42.300 --> 0:12:43.140 But there are. 0:12:43.220 --> 0:12:44.939 A lot of people that get up for work at that. 0:12:44.940 --> 0:12:47.420 Time, and then again in the evening on K wave. Well, 0:12:47.420 --> 0:12:49.939 it's so encouraging to hear from our listeners, but have 0:12:49.940 --> 0:12:52.579 we heard from you? You can reach us through our website, 0:12:52.580 --> 0:12:55.460 Bold Steps. Org or check us out on Facebook or 0:12:55.460 --> 0:12:59.780 Instagram as well. Bold steps radio. All right, end the pause. 0:12:59.900 --> 0:13:02.340 Let's get back into today's message with Mark. 0:13:08.260 --> 0:13:11.340 Listen, God did not only choose you, but he cleans 0:13:11.340 --> 0:13:15.740 you up and loved you enough when he chose you. Listen, 0:13:15.740 --> 0:13:18.540 you weren't a sinner that chose God. God looked at 0:13:18.540 --> 0:13:21.900 you in your sin and chose to love you and 0:13:21.900 --> 0:13:25.540 clean you. When you hated God, he still loved you. 0:13:25.540 --> 0:13:28.340 When you sinned against God, he still reached out to 0:13:28.340 --> 0:13:31.580 you when you were full of hatred and bitterness in 0:13:31.580 --> 0:13:35.300 our sin. God still loved and reached out to us 0:13:35.300 --> 0:13:46.100 the grace of God. And then lastly it says, And 0:13:46.100 --> 0:13:50.179 he made you, and he made known to us the 0:13:50.179 --> 0:13:54.260 mystery of his will according to the good pleasure which 0:13:54.260 --> 0:13:57.660 he purposed in Christ to be put into effect, when 0:13:57.660 --> 0:14:00.150 the times will have reached their fulfillment to bring all 0:14:00.150 --> 0:14:04.429 things in heaven and earth together under one head, even Christ. Listen, 0:14:05.110 --> 0:14:08.150 he has made known to us the mystery of his will. 0:14:08.830 --> 0:14:12.870 For thousands of years before Jesus Christ came, people knew 0:14:13.030 --> 0:14:15.750 that God had a plan, but they did not know 0:14:15.750 --> 0:14:19.310 what we know today about the plan of God to 0:14:19.310 --> 0:14:22.950 change us and save us. In the Old Testament, they 0:14:22.990 --> 0:14:26.230 slaughtered lambs and took their blood and sprinkled it at 0:14:26.230 --> 0:14:29.830 the altar. They did not know that this was symbolic 0:14:29.830 --> 0:14:32.190 of the Lamb of God. That would be that would 0:14:32.190 --> 0:14:34.750 shed his blood on a cross. They didn't know it. 0:14:36.750 --> 0:14:40.190 When the people of Israel were slaves in Egypt for 0:14:40.190 --> 0:14:44.950 400 years, 400 And God chose to set them free 0:14:44.950 --> 0:14:49.350 out of slavery, he brought Moses, and he sent plagues 0:14:49.350 --> 0:14:53.150 against the Egyptians. And the final plague was that the 0:14:53.150 --> 0:14:56.710 angel of death would go throughout the camp of Israel, 0:14:56.710 --> 0:15:01.080 and the Egyptians, and the firstborn of every family would 0:15:01.080 --> 0:15:06.440 be slaughtered, except if they took a lamb the night before. 0:15:06.800 --> 0:15:10.200 A lamb with no spot or wrinkle. And if they 0:15:10.240 --> 0:15:13.080 killed the lamb and took the blood of the lamb, 0:15:13.080 --> 0:15:16.200 and they put it on the doorpost of their house, 0:15:16.200 --> 0:15:19.080 then when the angel of death came, the angel of 0:15:19.080 --> 0:15:23.440 death would pass over their house, and the firstborn would 0:15:23.440 --> 0:15:29.680 not die. What was that all about? That was just 0:15:29.680 --> 0:15:37.080 symbolic of Jesus hundreds of years before Jesus came. It 0:15:37.080 --> 0:15:40.080 was saying, there's a day that will come when a 0:15:40.080 --> 0:15:43.560 lamb would be slaughtered. The wrath of God still falls 0:15:43.560 --> 0:15:47.440 upon those that don't know him. But if you're able 0:15:47.440 --> 0:15:50.240 to take the blood of Jesus Christ and sprinkle it 0:15:50.240 --> 0:15:52.880 upon your life, then the wrath of God when it 0:15:52.880 --> 0:15:56.120 comes to your house, the wrath of God will see 0:15:56.160 --> 0:15:58.920 not your sin, but will see the blood of Jesus 0:15:58.920 --> 0:16:02.440 Christ and will pass over your life, so judgment will 0:16:02.440 --> 0:16:11.400 not come upon you. When Jesus sat with his disciples 0:16:11.400 --> 0:16:13.720 to partake of communion, he took the bread and he 0:16:13.720 --> 0:16:16.960 took the cup. He was celebrating the Passover. And he 0:16:16.960 --> 0:16:19.760 said to them, this is my blood, and this is 0:16:19.760 --> 0:16:23.600 my body that's given for you. Hundreds of years before, 0:16:23.840 --> 0:16:27.600 people did not even understand and know what they were doing, 0:16:27.600 --> 0:16:29.960 but it was all pointing. It was a mystery. It 0:16:29.960 --> 0:16:33.880 was pointing to Jesus and the sacrifice of Jesus. It 0:16:33.880 --> 0:16:39.280 was the mystery that's been revealed to us. You know 0:16:39.400 --> 0:16:45.000 what Abraham did not know. You know what Moses did 0:16:45.000 --> 0:16:51.360 not comprehend. You know what Jacob did not even fully understand. 0:16:51.880 --> 0:16:56.200 You know what Adam and Eve could even just dream about? 0:16:58.920 --> 0:17:05.200 You know what, Noah only understood vaguely. We know now 0:17:05.760 --> 0:17:10.360 what they only had a shadow of before because it's 0:17:10.359 --> 0:17:15.200 been revealed to us. We've seen it. We have more 0:17:15.480 --> 0:17:20.439 understanding than what they had. Listen to me well. I 0:17:20.440 --> 0:17:25.119 want you to hear me really well. That means that today, 0:17:26.960 --> 0:17:32.840 a prostitute from the streets of Chicago that's lived 35 0:17:32.880 --> 0:17:37.640 years in prostitution could walk into this place, having been 0:17:37.640 --> 0:17:43.160 a junkie and prostitute, having sold her body full of resentment, 0:17:43.200 --> 0:17:47.879 having all her kids taken away by by by DCFS, 0:17:48.640 --> 0:17:51.520 having the lines in her in her arm to indicate 0:17:51.520 --> 0:17:56.280 where she has been. She could walk into a meeting 0:17:56.280 --> 0:18:03.490 like this today. Like this today. And she could hear 0:18:03.490 --> 0:18:07.850 the message of Jesus Christ. The message of hope that changes, 0:18:07.850 --> 0:18:14.050 delivers and cleanses. And she could respond to that message 0:18:14.369 --> 0:18:18.889 in brokenness of heart. Raise her arms up to God 0:18:18.890 --> 0:18:22.450 and say, God, I have sinned against you. I've sinned 0:18:22.450 --> 0:18:26.970 against your holiness. Today I need forgiveness. I need the 0:18:26.970 --> 0:18:30.409 blood of Jesus to come and wash me. I receive 0:18:30.410 --> 0:18:33.530 him as my Lord and Savior. Listen to me well. 0:18:34.850 --> 0:18:37.650 She could come in after years and years and years, 0:18:37.650 --> 0:18:41.810 after years and years and years, and she could experience 0:18:41.810 --> 0:18:45.129 the forgiveness and the washing of the blood of Jesus. 0:18:45.369 --> 0:18:49.330 And if the wrath of God came upon her, God 0:18:49.330 --> 0:18:53.090 would no longer see her sins or her background. He 0:18:53.090 --> 0:18:56.369 would see only the blood of Jesus Christ that makes 0:18:56.369 --> 0:19:00.619 her a woman of dignity, value, and beauty and purity 0:19:00.619 --> 0:19:10.020 before God Almighty. And if that former prostitute were to 0:19:10.060 --> 0:19:14.859 walk out of these doors, having lived 35 years that 0:19:14.859 --> 0:19:19.859 way and only lived an hour in her new saved position, 0:19:20.180 --> 0:19:22.220 and she were to go to Archer Avenue and be 0:19:22.220 --> 0:19:26.180 struck by a bus and die that day, after 35 0:19:26.180 --> 0:19:30.420 years of a prostitute and only one hour of knowing Christ, 0:19:30.420 --> 0:19:32.940 I would not have a doubt in my mind where 0:19:32.940 --> 0:19:35.619 she would go. She would go directly to the presence 0:19:35.619 --> 0:19:38.540 of Jesus Christ. She would go directly to the presence 0:19:38.540 --> 0:19:45.340 of God. Why? Because her salvation is not based on 0:19:45.340 --> 0:19:49.180 what she has done or not done. Her salvation is 0:19:49.180 --> 0:19:53.020 based on what Christ has done for her, washed her, 0:19:53.020 --> 0:20:00.980 and cleansed her. That's why I love the gospel of Jesus. 0:20:02.220 --> 0:20:06.659 That's why I love the message that he brought, the 0:20:06.660 --> 0:20:12.060 good news that there is hope for all. That's why 0:20:12.060 --> 0:20:15.500 it's about him and not about you. That's why it's 0:20:15.500 --> 0:20:19.780 about grace and not about works. That's why it's about 0:20:19.780 --> 0:20:24.860 hope and not about condemnation. That's what it's about. Relationship 0:20:24.859 --> 0:20:29.980 and not religion. That's why it's about Jesus and not 0:20:29.980 --> 0:20:44.340 about you. That's the gospel. The gospel of hope. Some 0:20:44.340 --> 0:20:48.300 of you are hearing the gospel presented maybe for the 0:20:48.300 --> 0:20:51.899 first time, or maybe you've heard it, but you've never 0:20:51.900 --> 0:20:57.540 taken a step yourself. Practically every Sunday I have the 0:20:57.540 --> 0:21:03.020 opportunity of sharing the gospel with people. And this past Sunday, 0:21:03.020 --> 0:21:06.180 I prayed with a young man who came forward with 0:21:06.180 --> 0:21:11.180 tears in his eyes, living with his girlfriend for several years, 0:21:11.180 --> 0:21:15.100 three children. But he finally understood the gospel and he said, 0:21:15.100 --> 0:21:17.780 I want to give my life to Christ and soon 0:21:17.780 --> 0:21:18.860 get baptized. 0:21:18.900 --> 0:21:19.859 And so yeah. 0:21:19.900 --> 0:21:24.340 Yeah, beautiful thing to see other people coming to Christ 0:21:24.340 --> 0:21:27.379 for the first time. And so if you're listening to 0:21:27.420 --> 0:21:30.780 this message and you say, pastor Mark, I have never 0:21:30.780 --> 0:21:34.020 made a commitment to follow Christ. I've been around the church, 0:21:34.020 --> 0:21:37.900 or I feel like God has been drawing me and 0:21:38.260 --> 0:21:42.820 pulling at me. I've seen signs. I've I've maybe had 0:21:42.820 --> 0:21:45.340 dreams or had people speak to me, but I know 0:21:45.340 --> 0:21:48.980 I need to make that decision. Then if you're ready 0:21:48.980 --> 0:21:52.020 for that, I would like to pray with you right now, 0:21:52.060 --> 0:21:54.580 wherever you're at. And so if you're ready to give 0:21:54.580 --> 0:21:57.619 your life to Christ, then I'd like for you to pause. 0:21:57.940 --> 0:22:01.030 And I'd like you to pray with me. It's not 0:22:01.030 --> 0:22:05.189 about the magic of a prayer. It's about the decision to, 0:22:05.230 --> 0:22:09.149 in faith, surrender your life to Jesus. It's about a decision. 0:22:10.710 --> 0:22:15.590 Pray with me. Dear God, I know that I'm a sinner. 0:22:16.790 --> 0:22:21.310 I know that you've been drawing me, calling me, reaching 0:22:21.310 --> 0:22:27.190 out to me. I'm tired of running. So today I stop. 0:22:27.750 --> 0:22:33.270 And I finally surrender my life to you. I turn away, 0:22:33.270 --> 0:22:37.670 repent from how I've been living. And today I say 0:22:37.670 --> 0:22:42.390 that Jesus. Only you can save me. Come wash me, 0:22:42.630 --> 0:22:49.390 cleanse me. Today I choose to follow you in Jesus name. Hey, 0:22:49.390 --> 0:22:53.870 if you've made that decision and are serious about moving 0:22:53.869 --> 0:22:56.429 forward in your walk with God, I'm going to encourage 0:22:56.430 --> 0:22:59.830 you to do two things one. Jump on our website 0:22:59.830 --> 0:23:04.150 at Bold Steps radio.org and click on my next steps 0:23:04.150 --> 0:23:06.830 because I explain it a little bit more and give 0:23:06.830 --> 0:23:09.350 you some material to get started. And I want to 0:23:09.390 --> 0:23:11.990 challenge you. If you're not a part of a Bible 0:23:12.030 --> 0:23:17.430 believing local church, find a church. Start attending. Get involved. 0:23:17.430 --> 0:23:20.469 Get in a Bible study. Tell the pastor someone in 0:23:20.470 --> 0:23:22.910 the church, hey, I just gave my life to Jesus. 0:23:22.910 --> 0:23:23.870 I need to grow. 0:23:23.910 --> 0:23:25.870 It's vitally important to act on the step you just 0:23:25.869 --> 0:23:27.550 took and that decision you just made. 0:23:27.590 --> 0:23:30.190 Yeah, you're just a baby, Christian, but you need to 0:23:30.230 --> 0:23:33.150 plug in with other believers so that you can grow 0:23:33.150 --> 0:23:34.429 in God. God bless you. 0:23:34.470 --> 0:23:36.550 Alright. Thank you Mark. And if you'd like to share 0:23:36.550 --> 0:23:39.150 Mark's message of salvation with a friend who might need 0:23:39.150 --> 0:23:42.550 to hear it, head over to our website at npr.org. 0:23:42.790 --> 0:23:45.629 Click the connect tab and go to the My Next 0:23:45.630 --> 0:23:48.990 Step in Faith button. There you'll find a specially prepared 0:23:48.990 --> 0:23:51.270 video from Mark, and we'd love for you to share 0:23:51.270 --> 0:23:54.910 this message of salvation with someone today. This daily program 0:23:54.910 --> 0:23:57.510 and the resources we offer are made available in part 0:23:57.510 --> 0:24:01.000 because of the generous partnership with listeners. We're grateful for 0:24:01.000 --> 0:24:04.240 our bold partners, those who give a financial gift each month. 0:24:04.400 --> 0:24:06.480 And if you'd like to join with us in this endeavor, 0:24:06.480 --> 0:24:09.119 we'd love to partner with you. You can become a 0:24:09.119 --> 0:24:12.520 bold partner today by signing up online at Bold Steps. 0:24:14.680 --> 0:24:21.320 Or by calling us at 800 835 six A6600 39. 0:24:21.720 --> 0:24:23.520 You can also send a one time gift in the 0:24:23.520 --> 0:24:27.240 mail by addressing your envelope to bold steps. 820 North 0:24:27.240 --> 0:24:32.399 LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. When you write to us, 0:24:32.440 --> 0:24:34.720 be sure to ask for our current bold step gift. 0:24:34.960 --> 0:24:38.320 Last month, we offered the book titled Lies Girls Believe 0:24:38.320 --> 0:24:40.919 to help young women in your Life. Now we're excited 0:24:40.920 --> 0:24:44.840 to present the companion resource Lies Boys Believe. Designed to 0:24:44.840 --> 0:24:49.280 address the unique challenges boys face, together, these powerful resources 0:24:49.280 --> 0:24:52.960 equip an entire generation to stand firm on God's truth. 0:24:53.280 --> 0:24:56.159 Unlike traditional books that may not hold a boy's attention, 0:24:56.160 --> 0:24:59.240 Lies Boys Believe is specifically designed with young men in 0:24:59.240 --> 0:25:03.160 Mind is filled with engaging illustrations and some fun puzzles, 0:25:03.160 --> 0:25:07.040 interactive challenges and graphic elements that appeal to boys visual 0:25:07.040 --> 0:25:10.439 learning style. And it makes discovering truth and adventure rather 0:25:10.440 --> 0:25:13.680 than a chore. This thoughtfully crafted, bold step gift will 0:25:13.680 --> 0:25:17.920 keep boys engaged while imparting life changing biblical wisdom. Today, 0:25:17.920 --> 0:25:19.920 we'd love to send you a copy when you give 0:25:19.920 --> 0:25:22.800 a gift to support this ministry. Just go to Bold 0:25:22.800 --> 0:25:29.640 Steps org or call 800. And that's all the time 0:25:29.640 --> 0:25:32.600 we have today. I'm Wayne Shepherd, inviting you to join 0:25:32.600 --> 0:25:34.840 us again tomorrow. When Mark explains what it means to 0:25:34.840 --> 0:25:37.919 be a true and authentic follower of Christ. It's a 0:25:37.920 --> 0:25:41.280 message titled, what you know will Change You. And you 0:25:41.280 --> 0:25:44.760 can hear Thursday here on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. 0:25:45.880 --> 0:25:48.920 Bold steps is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry 0:25:48.920 --> 0:25:50.560 of Moody Bible Institute.