Today on Bold Steps, with Mark Jobe taking the first step to faith filled obedience.

Today on Bold Steps, with Mark Jobe taking the first step to faith filled obedience.

I believe that God's pattern is to ask us to do something, and when we do the little that we can do, he does the impossible that we can't do. But we have to do our part. We have to be willing to say, okay, I will take a step.

I believe that God's pattern is to ask us to do something, and when we do the little that we can do, he does the impossible that we can't do. But we have to do our part. We have to be willing to say, okay, I will take a step.

Welcome to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe, president of Moody Bible Institute and the senior pastor of New Life Community Church in Chicago. I'm Wayne Shepherd. In our new series, rewrite, we're turning to the book of John to see how Jesus takes broken stories and rewrites them. We've all experienced a time when we've been down and out, and we've run out of money or love, or skipped out on relationships that were important and struggled with her faith. Well, today we turn to John chapter two, and we're going to see the perfect example of God moving us past empty because we're willing to take the first step of obedience. If you missed yesterday's message, you can catch up online at Bold Steps. Org but right now, let's get ready to look at Jesus first miracle in our study called Moving Past Empty.

Welcome to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe, president of Moody Bible Institute and the senior pastor of New Life Community Church in Chicago. I'm Wayne Shepherd. In our new series, rewrite, we're turning to the book of John to see how Jesus takes broken stories and rewrites them. We've all experienced a time when we've been down and out, and we've run out of money or love, or skipped out on relationships that were important and struggled with her faith. Well, today we turn to John chapter two, and we're going to see the perfect example of God moving us past empty because we're willing to take the first step of obedience. If you missed yesterday's message, you can catch up online at Bold Steps. Org but right now, let's get ready to look at Jesus first miracle in our study called Moving Past Empty.

And so Mary understood Jesus. She knew the story behind Jesus. And so she invites Jesus into this problem. She's kind of a typical mother, right? They run out of wine. Don't worry. My son will handle it. Jesus. Come on. Can you do something about it? Anybody have mothers like that? The neighbor's car breaks down. You say mom, mama, I no, no, no, you know how to fix it. My son knows how to fix it, son. Go fix it, mom. So Jesus goes. He's invited into the problem of emptiness that exists there. And I want you to notice the phrase that makes a difference in this passage. Jesus mother says, do whatever he tells you to do. You see, the turnaround comes when you stop telling God what you think he should do. And when you start asking him what he wants you to do. Oh no, I'm talking to someone here, I know that. You see, there's a big difference between telling God what to do and inviting God to tell you what to do. Many of us have that relationship with God. You're in a jam, you're in a difficult circumstance, and you pray telling God what to do, and you feel like your prayers aren't really answered, that God's not doing what you've told him to do. But let me tell you, it doesn't work that way. There's a sovereign God of the universe that reigns on high, whose foolishness is higher than our highest wisdom, the sovereign God of the universe, who expects you to say, hey, I put my life on pause. What do you want me to do, God? When's the last time you've asked God that not God? Do this for me. But when's the last time you said, God? I'm listening. I'm here. What do you want me to do in the middle of this emptiness crisis? I've done some marital counseling a lot in the past. I don't do as much now, but I've been invited into some marriage difficulties where I will sit down at the table with a couple that's having difficulty. And I remember one occasion specifically that I had been invited into a marriage problem. They were, you know, they're not happy with each other when there's a space between them and they kind of face a little bit like this. And so I said, I'm okay. I'm willing to sit down. Let's talk a little bit about. And the man immediately jumped in, pastor, you need to tell my wife that she needs to stop nagging me so much and she needs to get behind me. And, pastor, you need to tell her that I need someone to support me and someone to back me. You need to tell her that she can't be tearing me down all the time. That I need someone in my corner and pastor, you need to tell her. After a while I said, hold on, who's the counselor here? Because I thought I was the counselor. And you've just been the. You spent the last 15 minutes telling me what? Me what I need to tell your wife. When you invite God into the situation, a counselor is of no good. If you're telling the counselor what to tell the other person. And some of us treat God that way. You're telling God what to do with your circumstance, but you're not listening to what God has to tell you about what you need to do about your circumstance. There needs to be an invitation of the presence of God into your circle of emptiness. And can I tell you this about God? He has a propensity, a proclivity, an inclination for people to walk in fullness and not emptiness. In fact, I look at the nature of God and His nature is not for you to live empty. His nature over and over, he tells us in Scripture, is that you would experience fullness in your life. John 1010. If you're taking notes, jot this down. You need to know this first. Understand it because the essence of this verse is so encouraging. John 1010 the thief comes in order to steal, kill and destroy, steal your destiny. He comes to kill the God given dreams who God has called you to be, and he comes to destroy everything that God has engineered you to be. That's what the thief comes to do, the enemy. But what does Jesus come to do? This is Jesus speaking. I came that you may have and enjoy life. Say it together, life, and have it in abundance. And the amplified version says to the full till it overflows I love that. Jesus said, I have come that you would have life. Not just survival life, but life abundantly to the full and overflowing. That is my purpose and destiny and desire for everybody that calls upon my name. For those that are called according to my purposes, who I have engineered. I want you to be full and overflowing with my presence, my joy. That's his destiny for you. Look at what it tells us in John chapter one, verse 16 for of his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. Grace is something that we don't deserve, but he gives us. Psalm 1611. You will make known to me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. Here's what I want you to know. God has created, engineered you, designed you, made you not to operate in survival empty mode, but to operate in fullness mode. If you are not living in fullness, it's not because God doesn't want you to be full, it's because you haven't tapped into understanding how God intends to fill you fullness. Mary invited Jesus to deal with the problem of emptiness and she said, do whatever he tells you. Number three, we move past empty when we're willing to take steps of faith filled obedience. Verse six. Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washings, each holding 20 to 30 gallons. Jesus said to the servants, fill the jars with water. So they filled them to the brim. And then he told them, now draw out and take it to the master of the banquet. I want you to see what Jesus does here. This is really, really important. It's an insight into how God works. Many of us want God to fix our problem. We want magical dust from on high. We want a wave of a wand. We want a lightning bolt from heaven. But we don't want to do anything. We want God to do everything. God could do miracles however he wants to do miracles. But I've noticed in Scripture that his pattern is to have us do something, and then he adds to what we can't do. He could have fed the 5000 without anything, but he decides to take the lunch of a little boy and multiply it, because God wants us to do the impossible so that he can do the impossible. God could. God could heal the man with a withered arm without even touching him or that man doing anything. But instead he asked the man to come forward and he says, stretch out your arm. He wants us to do something so that he can do what we can't do. God could heal the blind man without making mud in the ground, but he spit and make mud, and he put mud on the eyes and then he healed them. You see, I believe that God's pattern is to ask us to do something. And when we do, the little that we can do. He does the impossible that we can't do, but we have to do our part. We have to take a step. We have to be willing to say, okay, I will take a step. God could have filled up these jars miraculously on his own, but he asked the servants, hey, fill em up with water. Now they couldn't turn them into wine, but they could fill them up with water. So they filled up these ceremonial jars that were used for cleansing these big gallons. They filled them up with water when they did what they could do. God did what they could not do. Man, I'm talking to someone here.

And so Mary understood Jesus. She knew the story behind Jesus. And so she invites Jesus into this problem. She's kind of a typical mother, right? They run out of wine. Don't worry. My son will handle it. Jesus. Come on. Can you do something about it? Anybody have mothers like that? The neighbor's car breaks down. You say mom, mama, I no, no, no, you know how to fix it. My son knows how to fix it, son. Go fix it, mom. So Jesus goes. He's invited into the problem of emptiness that exists there. And I want you to notice the phrase that makes a difference in this passage. Jesus mother says, do whatever he tells you to do. You see, the turnaround comes when you stop telling God what you think he should do. And when you start asking him what he wants you to do. Oh no, I'm talking to someone here, I know that. You see, there's a big difference between telling God what to do and inviting God to tell you what to do. Many of us have that relationship with God. You're in a jam, you're in a difficult circumstance, and you pray telling God what to do, and you feel like your prayers aren't really answered, that God's not doing what you've told him to do. But let me tell you, it doesn't work that way. There's a sovereign God of the universe that reigns on high, whose foolishness is higher than our highest wisdom, the sovereign God of the universe, who expects you to say, hey, I put my life on pause. What do you want me to do, God? When's the last time you've asked God that not God? Do this for me. But when's the last time you said, God? I'm listening. I'm here. What do you want me to do in the middle of this emptiness crisis? I've done some marital counseling a lot in the past. I don't do as much now, but I've been invited into some marriage difficulties where I will sit down at the table with a couple that's having difficulty. And I remember one occasion specifically that I had been invited into a marriage problem. They were, you know, they're not happy with each other when there's a space between them and they kind of face a little bit like this. And so I said, I'm okay. I'm willing to sit down. Let's talk a little bit about. And the man immediately jumped in, pastor, you need to tell my wife that she needs to stop nagging me so much and she needs to get behind me. And, pastor, you need to tell her that I need someone to support me and someone to back me. You need to tell her that she can't be tearing me down all the time. That I need someone in my corner and pastor, you need to tell her. After a while I said, hold on, who's the counselor here? Because I thought I was the counselor. And you've just been the. You spent the last 15 minutes telling me what? Me what I need to tell your wife. When you invite God into the situation, a counselor is of no good. If you're telling the counselor what to tell the other person. And some of us treat God that way. You're telling God what to do with your circumstance, but you're not listening to what God has to tell you about what you need to do about your circumstance. There needs to be an invitation of the presence of God into your circle of emptiness. And can I tell you this about God? He has a propensity, a proclivity, an inclination for people to walk in fullness and not emptiness. In fact, I look at the nature of God and His nature is not for you to live empty. His nature over and over, he tells us in Scripture, is that you would experience fullness in your life. John 1010. If you're taking notes, jot this down. You need to know this first. Understand it because the essence of this verse is so encouraging. John 1010 the thief comes in order to steal, kill and destroy, steal your destiny. He comes to kill the God given dreams who God has called you to be, and he comes to destroy everything that God has engineered you to be. That's what the thief comes to do, the enemy. But what does Jesus come to do? This is Jesus speaking. I came that you may have and enjoy life. Say it together, life, and have it in abundance. And the amplified version says to the full till it overflows I love that. Jesus said, I have come that you would have life. Not just survival life, but life abundantly to the full and overflowing. That is my purpose and destiny and desire for everybody that calls upon my name. For those that are called according to my purposes, who I have engineered. I want you to be full and overflowing with my presence, my joy. That's his destiny for you. Look at what it tells us in John chapter one, verse 16 for of his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. Grace is something that we don't deserve, but he gives us. Psalm 1611. You will make known to me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. Here's what I want you to know. God has created, engineered you, designed you, made you not to operate in survival empty mode, but to operate in fullness mode. If you are not living in fullness, it's not because God doesn't want you to be full, it's because you haven't tapped into understanding how God intends to fill you fullness. Mary invited Jesus to deal with the problem of emptiness and she said, do whatever he tells you. Number three, we move past empty when we're willing to take steps of faith filled obedience. Verse six. Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washings, each holding 20 to 30 gallons. Jesus said to the servants, fill the jars with water. So they filled them to the brim. And then he told them, now draw out and take it to the master of the banquet. I want you to see what Jesus does here. This is really, really important. It's an insight into how God works. Many of us want God to fix our problem. We want magical dust from on high. We want a wave of a wand. We want a lightning bolt from heaven. But we don't want to do anything. We want God to do everything. God could do miracles however he wants to do miracles. But I've noticed in Scripture that his pattern is to have us do something, and then he adds to what we can't do. He could have fed the 5000 without anything, but he decides to take the lunch of a little boy and multiply it, because God wants us to do the impossible so that he can do the impossible. God could. God could heal the man with a withered arm without even touching him or that man doing anything. But instead he asked the man to come forward and he says, stretch out your arm. He wants us to do something so that he can do what we can't do. God could heal the blind man without making mud in the ground, but he spit and make mud, and he put mud on the eyes and then he healed them. You see, I believe that God's pattern is to ask us to do something. And when we do, the little that we can do. He does the impossible that we can't do, but we have to do our part. We have to take a step. We have to be willing to say, okay, I will take a step. God could have filled up these jars miraculously on his own, but he asked the servants, hey, fill em up with water. Now they couldn't turn them into wine, but they could fill them up with water. So they filled up these ceremonial jars that were used for cleansing these big gallons. They filled them up with water when they did what they could do. God did what they could not do. Man, I'm talking to someone here.

Who is taking the first step? That's the takeaway from our message so far today from Mark Jobe. You're listening to Bold Steps, and Mark will be right back in just a moment with more of today's message. But here at Bold Steps, we know this time of year can be lonely for some of you. So we'd love to know that you're listening. You can connect with us online at Bold Steps. Org or check out our various social media platforms. You can find us on Instagram or Facebook just by logging into your account. On both platforms, we're listed as bold steps. Now let's jump back into our message. Mark's continuing with his fourth point, moving past empty.

Who is taking the first step? That's the takeaway from our message so far today from Mark Jobe. You're listening to Bold Steps, and Mark will be right back in just a moment with more of today's message. But here at Bold Steps, we know this time of year can be lonely for some of you. So we'd love to know that you're listening. You can connect with us online at Bold Steps. Org or check out our various social media platforms. You can find us on Instagram or Facebook just by logging into your account. On both platforms, we're listed as bold steps. Now let's jump back into our message. Mark's continuing with his fourth point, moving past empty.

You say, God, I have this bitterness and anger and hatred inside of me. Wave a magic wand and take it away. You say, God, take this away. And you say, God's not doing what I ask him to do. Well, remember, God doesn't like you to boss him around. God wants you to listen to what he wants you to do. But I also want you to remember that I believe that God wants us to take a step. You say, take this anger away and you say, God's not taking this unforgiveness and hatred and bitterness out of my heart. What's wrong? It may be that God says, alright, I'm going to do what you can't do, but you have to do what you can do first. You need to pick up the phone and have that conversation and say I forgive you. You may need to write a letter saying, hey, this is very difficult. It's really hard, but I'm releasing you. You may need to have that personal conversation. You say, pastor, I don't feel it. Hey, you don't have to feel it for God to work. You have to take a step of obedience. You can fill up the jars with water, but only Jesus can turn it into wine. You can say, I forgive you, but only Jesus can take the hatred out of your heart and release that valve of forgiveness. I'm saying that you need to do your part and let God do what you can't do. Are you tracking with me? So many of us are stuck because we're not willing to fill up the jars with water. We just want God to fill up the jars and turn it into wine. You say, well, pastor, I really want to deal with this addiction. Lord, just take it from me. It's not working. Pastor. Well, maybe God wants you to go to a 12 step program and start attending a class, and then God will do what you can't do by filling you with his power. Take a step in faith. God, I really need to get out of debt. I could use a check of 25,000 just, you know, however you want to do it. Lottery ticket. I'm okay, Lord. Floating down from heaven I'm okay relative that I don't know that dies and leaves me inheritance. God, I'm really good with that however you want to do it. But if you could just provide about $25,000. Yeah, or maybe God says apply for a job. And I will bless it. But you take a step. Fill up the jars. What is the step that God is asking you to take? Listen. What is the step that today God is asking you to take? If you're listening to him and say, take this step of obedience, chances are it's not a new step. It's a step he's been nudging you towards, a step that he's been reminding you about. A step that he's been saying, take this step. What is the step that God is asking you to take that you can do? And if you do it, you release or set yourself in a place to allow God to do what you can't do. The miraculous, the impossible. What is the step number four? And lastly, So they poured the water. God turned it into wine. Jesus. We're talking about 180 gallons of not Walmart cheap brand. This is vintage wine. That means a thousand bottles of wine. So not only do we end up at empty at any time, we start breaking the cycle when we invite him in, and we're willing to take faith filled steps of obedience. Number four. And lastly, we move past empty when our filling is overflowing to the people around us. The Bible said so they did it. And then the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine, and he did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, hey, everyone brings the choice wine first, and then the cheaper wine after the guests has had too much to drink. But you have saved the best until now. Man, this is so powerful. Some of you have lived your life in a certain way, and now you're on empty, feeling like this is the worst days of my life, the best days of my life. When I was naive and full of fun and I was 21. But now everything goes down from there. But yet God is saying, no, no, you have it all wrong. You may be empty now, but I'm about to fill your jars with the wine that's better than the wine that you had before. I want to fill you up into place. You see, normally at a wedding, you serve the good wine first. And then when everybody's a little tipsy, you bring out the cheaper wine because they don't care. By that time. And Jesus said, this is all reversed. You serve the cheap wine first, and now the best wine has filled the jars. I believe that this is a prophetic picture of what God wants to do in our life. I believe that God wants to fill some of you with the best years you've ever known, with the best season you've ever experienced, because you've known empty. And now God says the better is coming now. And here's what I want you to know. It tells us in John chapter seven verse 38, you say, well, what does that look like, pastor? John 738 says, whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. By this he meant the spirit whom those who believe in him were later to receive. Look at me. It is God's will that as a follower of Jesus, You don't have stagnant puddles in your heart, but you have this refreshing river of living water filling you up and overflowing to everybody that's around you. What does that look like? It means that you have a love that doesn't come from yourself, but supernatural. It means that there's a joy that flows out of you because God is at work in you. It means that there's a hope that fills your heart. It means that when you get around people, people are splashed with the presence and the glory and the goodness of God. It means that you're not running dry, but you're overflowing because he's filling you up over and over and over again. Oh, it doesn't mean that you never go through hard times, but it means that there is a steady river of life, the river of God, the Holy Spirit, flowing inside of you and everybody around you becomes benefited by the river that flows from you. If you are a believer here today. And you're not walking in the fullness of the spirit. It's not because God doesn't want that for your life. It's because there's something blocking the funnel that fills you. The Bible says that we can grieve the spirit. That we can quench the spirit. You say, well, pastor, I just don't feel it. I just I'm not I don't have that joy. Then then I'm going to say, that's not God's will for you. I would ask you this question. What is the one step that God wants you to take to unplug the funnel so that the flow of His Spirit can fill you up again? What is the one step that God's asking you to take? And some of you need to say, Lord, this is hard. This is difficult. If it was easy, you would have done it a long time ago. And if you're a believer, you need to ask, what's the step I need to take? Secondly, if you are here and you say pastor Mark, I'm just kind of new to all this. I don't consider myself a follower of Jesus or a believer. I don't think I've even ever had the spirit inside of me. But what you talk about today, I've lived with emptiness and I know I need God. God brought you here, some of you. God brought you here so that you would bow your knee today and say, Lord, I don't want to live like I've lived on my own today. I acknowledge that there's one that can fill me. It's not myself. He's the Son of God. He died for me. He can cleanse me. He can wash me. He can make me new. And today I'm willing to come to him and surrender my life to him and say, yes, Lord, I surrender my.

You say, God, I have this bitterness and anger and hatred inside of me. Wave a magic wand and take it away. You say, God, take this away. And you say, God's not doing what I ask him to do. Well, remember, God doesn't like you to boss him around. God wants you to listen to what he wants you to do. But I also want you to remember that I believe that God wants us to take a step. You say, take this anger away and you say, God's not taking this unforgiveness and hatred and bitterness out of my heart. What's wrong? It may be that God says, alright, I'm going to do what you can't do, but you have to do what you can do first. You need to pick up the phone and have that conversation and say I forgive you. You may need to write a letter saying, hey, this is very difficult. It's really hard, but I'm releasing you. You may need to have that personal conversation. You say, pastor, I don't feel it. Hey, you don't have to feel it for God to work. You have to take a step of obedience. You can fill up the jars with water, but only Jesus can turn it into wine. You can say, I forgive you, but only Jesus can take the hatred out of your heart and release that valve of forgiveness. I'm saying that you need to do your part and let God do what you can't do. Are you tracking with me? So many of us are stuck because we're not willing to fill up the jars with water. We just want God to fill up the jars and turn it into wine. You say, well, pastor, I really want to deal with this addiction. Lord, just take it from me. It's not working. Pastor. Well, maybe God wants you to go to a 12 step program and start attending a class, and then God will do what you can't do by filling you with his power. Take a step in faith. God, I really need to get out of debt. I could use a check of 25,000 just, you know, however you want to do it. Lottery ticket. I'm okay, Lord. Floating down from heaven I'm okay relative that I don't know that dies and leaves me inheritance. God, I'm really good with that however you want to do it. But if you could just provide about $25,000. Yeah, or maybe God says apply for a job. And I will bless it. But you take a step. Fill up the jars. What is the step that God is asking you to take? Listen. What is the step that today God is asking you to take? If you're listening to him and say, take this step of obedience, chances are it's not a new step. It's a step he's been nudging you towards, a step that he's been reminding you about. A step that he's been saying, take this step. What is the step that God is asking you to take that you can do? And if you do it, you release or set yourself in a place to allow God to do what you can't do. The miraculous, the impossible. What is the step number four? And lastly, So they poured the water. God turned it into wine. Jesus. We're talking about 180 gallons of not Walmart cheap brand. This is vintage wine. That means a thousand bottles of wine. So not only do we end up at empty at any time, we start breaking the cycle when we invite him in, and we're willing to take faith filled steps of obedience. Number four. And lastly, we move past empty when our filling is overflowing to the people around us. The Bible said so they did it. And then the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine, and he did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, hey, everyone brings the choice wine first, and then the cheaper wine after the guests has had too much to drink. But you have saved the best until now. Man, this is so powerful. Some of you have lived your life in a certain way, and now you're on empty, feeling like this is the worst days of my life, the best days of my life. When I was naive and full of fun and I was 21. But now everything goes down from there. But yet God is saying, no, no, you have it all wrong. You may be empty now, but I'm about to fill your jars with the wine that's better than the wine that you had before. I want to fill you up into place. You see, normally at a wedding, you serve the good wine first. And then when everybody's a little tipsy, you bring out the cheaper wine because they don't care. By that time. And Jesus said, this is all reversed. You serve the cheap wine first, and now the best wine has filled the jars. I believe that this is a prophetic picture of what God wants to do in our life. I believe that God wants to fill some of you with the best years you've ever known, with the best season you've ever experienced, because you've known empty. And now God says the better is coming now. And here's what I want you to know. It tells us in John chapter seven verse 38, you say, well, what does that look like, pastor? John 738 says, whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. By this he meant the spirit whom those who believe in him were later to receive. Look at me. It is God's will that as a follower of Jesus, You don't have stagnant puddles in your heart, but you have this refreshing river of living water filling you up and overflowing to everybody that's around you. What does that look like? It means that you have a love that doesn't come from yourself, but supernatural. It means that there's a joy that flows out of you because God is at work in you. It means that there's a hope that fills your heart. It means that when you get around people, people are splashed with the presence and the glory and the goodness of God. It means that you're not running dry, but you're overflowing because he's filling you up over and over and over again. Oh, it doesn't mean that you never go through hard times, but it means that there is a steady river of life, the river of God, the Holy Spirit, flowing inside of you and everybody around you becomes benefited by the river that flows from you. If you are a believer here today. And you're not walking in the fullness of the spirit. It's not because God doesn't want that for your life. It's because there's something blocking the funnel that fills you. The Bible says that we can grieve the spirit. That we can quench the spirit. You say, well, pastor, I just don't feel it. I just I'm not I don't have that joy. Then then I'm going to say, that's not God's will for you. I would ask you this question. What is the one step that God wants you to take to unplug the funnel so that the flow of His Spirit can fill you up again? What is the one step that God's asking you to take? And some of you need to say, Lord, this is hard. This is difficult. If it was easy, you would have done it a long time ago. And if you're a believer, you need to ask, what's the step I need to take? Secondly, if you are here and you say pastor Mark, I'm just kind of new to all this. I don't consider myself a follower of Jesus or a believer. I don't think I've even ever had the spirit inside of me. But what you talk about today, I've lived with emptiness and I know I need God. God brought you here, some of you. God brought you here so that you would bow your knee today and say, Lord, I don't want to live like I've lived on my own today. I acknowledge that there's one that can fill me. It's not myself. He's the Son of God. He died for me. He can cleanse me. He can wash me. He can make me new. And today I'm willing to come to him and surrender my life to him and say, yes, Lord, I surrender my.

Life to you.

Life to you.

Well, that's pastor Mark Jobe. A very tender moment to end today's message in Mark. We may have someone listening right now who's in that position. They've yet to yield to Christ, and this message is important for them.

Well, that's pastor Mark Jobe. A very tender moment to end today's message in Mark. We may have someone listening right now who's in that position. They've yet to yield to Christ, and this message is important for them.

You know, we're almost at the end of the year. And some of you, this has been a year that God has shaken you to the core. You may be listening to this message and never have surrendered your life to Christ. Maybe you're a Jonah you've been running, and maybe you've never quite understood that. There's a step that you need to take, and that step involves surrendering your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If you've never done that, and you say, pastor Mark, before this year is over, I know I need to do that, then I want you to pause right now. I want to pray with you and for you if you allow me to do that. Father, I thank you for this person that today is acknowledging their emptiness before you. And today they are saying, Lord, I don't want to go into 2021 with the same emptiness of my soul. And so today I pray with them that there would be a repentance, turning away from the old and embracing you as ultimate Savior and Lord. I pray that you would enter their heart right now via your Holy Spirit, that they would confess that you, Jesus, our Lord and Savior and Father, that today they would become followers of Jesus Christ the King. Transformed and renewed, washed by the blood of the lamb and starting a new walk in you today I pray. I ask this in Jesus name. Amen. Hey, if you've prayed that prayer, you don't have to understand all the implications of surrender, but you have to be clear about your willingness to surrender to Jesus the Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. If you've made a decision, we want to hear from you. Wayne, how can our listeners contact us? Just go to.

You know, we're almost at the end of the year. And some of you, this has been a year that God has shaken you to the core. You may be listening to this message and never have surrendered your life to Christ. Maybe you're a Jonah you've been running, and maybe you've never quite understood that. There's a step that you need to take, and that step involves surrendering your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If you've never done that, and you say, pastor Mark, before this year is over, I know I need to do that, then I want you to pause right now. I want to pray with you and for you if you allow me to do that. Father, I thank you for this person that today is acknowledging their emptiness before you. And today they are saying, Lord, I don't want to go into 2021 with the same emptiness of my soul. And so today I pray with them that there would be a repentance, turning away from the old and embracing you as ultimate Savior and Lord. I pray that you would enter their heart right now via your Holy Spirit, that they would confess that you, Jesus, our Lord and Savior and Father, that today they would become followers of Jesus Christ the King. Transformed and renewed, washed by the blood of the lamb and starting a new walk in you today I pray. I ask this in Jesus name. Amen. Hey, if you've prayed that prayer, you don't have to understand all the implications of surrender, but you have to be clear about your willingness to surrender to Jesus the Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. If you've made a decision, we want to hear from you. Wayne, how can our listeners contact us? Just go to.

Our website, boldsystems.org and to the connect tab and click on my next step in faith. There is a video there that will help you further understand how to accept Jesus and where to go from there. And as we look ahead to the New Year, we want to help you step into 2025 with a deeper understanding of Christianity and a stronger defense for what you believe. With our featured bold step gift, unwrap the power of knowledge with your very own copy of the acclaimed bestseller, The Case for Christ. Perfect for believers and doubters alike, this meticulously researched book provides a compelling, evidence based exploration of Jesus life and claims. Author Lee Strobel, a former atheist and a seasoned investigative reporter, embarks on a fascinating journey to uncover the truth about Christianity's central figure. His rigorous examination of historical evidence and expert testimonies offers readers a chance to approach faith with both heart and mind engaged. So whether you're looking to fortify your own beliefs or want to help someone you know in their own search for truth, the case for Christ is an invaluable resource. Get your copy today by making a donation to support this ministry, call 800. D.L. Moody. That's (800) 356-6639 or donate online and request the book at bold steps. Org. You can also send a gift in the mail. Address your envelope to bold steps. 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. That's 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. Now, when you commit to giving a gift of $30 or more each month, we'll also send you a signed copy of Mark's book, Unstuck Out of Your Cave and Into your Call, plus several other bonuses, including an exclusive biweekly bold partner post, video, email, and discounted access to titles in the Moody Publishers online store. Partnering with us has never been easier, and it's so beneficial right now as we prepare for another year of gospel impact. Sign up today is a bold partner at Bold steps.org. Now, before we close for the weekend, remember you can always catch Bold steps and our sister program Bold Steps Weekend on your favorite smart device. So no matter where you are and what you're doing, you'll never have to miss a minute of Mark's bold and insightful teaching. Download the Bold Steps app today. Subscribe to the Bold Steps podcast or simply learn more when you visit Bold steps.org. Well, that's all the time we have. I'm Wayne Shepherd inviting you to join us again next week, when we'll talk about making all things new by listening Monday right here on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. Bold steps is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.

Our website, boldsystems.org and to the connect tab and click on my next step in faith. There is a video there that will help you further understand how to accept Jesus and where to go from there. And as we look ahead to the New Year, we want to help you step into 2025 with a deeper understanding of Christianity and a stronger defense for what you believe. With our featured bold step gift, unwrap the power of knowledge with your very own copy of the acclaimed bestseller, The Case for Christ. Perfect for believers and doubters alike, this meticulously researched book provides a compelling, evidence based exploration of Jesus life and claims. Author Lee Strobel, a former atheist and a seasoned investigative reporter, embarks on a fascinating journey to uncover the truth about Christianity's central figure. His rigorous examination of historical evidence and expert testimonies offers readers a chance to approach faith with both heart and mind engaged. So whether you're looking to fortify your own beliefs or want to help someone you know in their own search for truth, the case for Christ is an invaluable resource. Get your copy today by making a donation to support this ministry, call 800. D.L. Moody. That's (800) 356-6639 or donate online and request the book at bold steps. Org. You can also send a gift in the mail. Address your envelope to bold steps. 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. That's 820 North LaSalle Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 606 ten. Now, when you commit to giving a gift of $30 or more each month, we'll also send you a signed copy of Mark's book, Unstuck Out of Your Cave and Into your Call, plus several other bonuses, including an exclusive biweekly bold partner post, video, email, and discounted access to titles in the Moody Publishers online store. Partnering with us has never been easier, and it's so beneficial right now as we prepare for another year of gospel impact. Sign up today is a bold partner at Bold steps.org. Now, before we close for the weekend, remember you can always catch Bold steps and our sister program Bold Steps Weekend on your favorite smart device. So no matter where you are and what you're doing, you'll never have to miss a minute of Mark's bold and insightful teaching. Download the Bold Steps app today. Subscribe to the Bold Steps podcast or simply learn more when you visit Bold steps.org. Well, that's all the time we have. I'm Wayne Shepherd inviting you to join us again next week, when we'll talk about making all things new by listening Monday right here on Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. Bold steps is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.