January 25, 2025 • 26 mins
On this special Moody Presents we wanted to "present" Moody so we'll listen in to the start of the new semester at the Moody Bible Institute and a call to prayer. Then it is on to our Defiance series and what it means to have a faith worth following. All ahead and a reminder to check out the Education link at the very top of our page so that you too can learn more about all the training that Moody has available for you!
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:00):
Welcome to a very special edition of Moody Presents with
doctor Mark Jobe, president of the Moody Bible Institute. Today
we take a peek into the first President's Chapel of
the season. What do you say we join the moody
students and staff and faculty as they lift praises to
our father? And then doctor Mark Jobe would welcome new
students to the spring semester.
UU (00:22):
Who am I that the Lord of all the earth
would care to know my name? Would care to fill
my heart? Who am I that the bright and morning star.
(00:43):
Would choose to light the way. For my ever wandering heart.
Now because of who I am. But because of what
you've done. Not because of what I've done, but because
(01:04):
of who you are. I am a flower quickly fading
here today and gone tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind. Still you hear me when
(01:25):
I'm calling. Lord, you catch me when I'm falling. And
you told me who I am. I am yours. Who
am I that the eyes that see my sin. Would
(01:50):
look on me with love. And watch me rise again.
To find That the voice that calmed the sea would
call out through the rain and calm the storm in me.
(02:13):
Not because of who I am, but because of what
you've done. Not because of what I've done, but because
of who you are. I am proud, quickly fading in
(02:33):
today and gone tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind. Still you hear me when
I'm calling. Would you catch me when I'm falling. And
you told me who I am I am yours. Not
(03:11):
because of who I am, but because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done, but because of who
you are. I am a flower quickly fading in a
(03:31):
day in God's tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind. Still you hear me when
I'm calling. Lord, you catch me when I'm falling. You
told me who I am I'm yours. Yours.
S2 (04:10):
Lord, thank you for who you are. It is because
of you. Everything is as it is. Lord, thank you
that you have sent your son out of love to
save us. A people undeserving of your grace and of
your mercy. Thank you, God that you are holy. You
(04:33):
are so holy, O Lord. But you make us holy
through your spirit, because we are in Christ. Lord, thank
you that we can come together as a body of
Christ to worship you. The only God, the Holy God,
who is immortal, who is invisible, who is above all things. God,
we pray that we would live as though we are
(04:57):
living sacrifices for your glory. Oh Lord, we pray that
we would have ears to hear and hearts that are
open to your word that is everlasting. The grass withers,
the flowers fade, but the Lord, the word of the
Lord endures forever. Thank you, God, for your holy word.
(05:17):
It's in your name we pray. Amen.
S3 (05:27):
Hey, I missed you. Welcome to the first day of classes.
The first President's Chapel in 2025. Welcome. Yeah. Excited about this.
(05:48):
And we actually have some students that are joining us
for the very first time, about 65 students, new students
that are joining us. I'd like for us to welcome them.
Could you stand? Stand if you're new. Yeah.
UU (06:02):
Come on, stand up. Right there. Stand up. Hey!
S3 (06:13):
Stay standing, stay standing. You know, I always like to.
I always like to also recognize how many of you,
how many of you are from warmer climate. Just raise
your hand here. Yeah, quite a few of you. And
we have some international students as well. They go through
a lot to get here. And, um, if you're an
international student, could you just let me know what country
(06:36):
you're from? Some internationals. India. Welcome. Where else? Brazil. Brazil. Welcome.
Anybody over here? Bangladesh. Great to have you here. God
bless you. Yes. The Netherlands, she's used to the cold.
(07:01):
Good to have you. Anybody else? Ukraine. Great to have
you here. From the Ukraine. Excellent. Back there. Columbia. South America.
Great to have you here as well. Also South Africa
as well. Hey, we want to welcome you. We are
(07:25):
excited to have you amongst us. And I just want
you to know, today it's a high of two degrees.
You know, I am also thrilled that there's seniors, that
this is their last semester. If you're a senior here.
(07:46):
It's your last semester. Give me a shout out. Come on. Seniors. Yeah.
Final semester. What makes Moody Bible Institute. Moody Bible institute. What? Really?
When alumni come back and visit, invariably, invariably they will
(08:13):
mention a faculty that spoke into their life, mentored them,
prayed for them, imparted in them, gave them some truth
that they just did not know, challenged their lives. And
we have an extraordinary world class faculty. I'm going to
ask if your faculty, could you please stand here? Yeah.
(08:35):
Can we give it up for our faculty? Yes. Thank you.
Thank you. God bless you. God bless you. Thank you.
S1 (08:48):
It's an opportunity to present Moody to you here on
Moody Presents. And if you would, would you please remember
to pray for our new students, a returning student, seniors,
and all the professors that make up this place we
call Moody Bible Institute. If you'd like to learn more
about Moody, its education and opportunities to prepare you or
a loved one for ministry at the end of our broadcast,
(09:10):
we'll tell you more. But for now, let's head back
to our Defiance Series with the president of Moody Bible
Institute and senior pastor of New Life Community Church in Chicago,
doctor Mark Jobe. Those of us who believe that Jesus
is the rightful ruler and king of this earth kind
of seem to be in the minority these days, right?
And in this series of messages, pastor Mark is encouraging
(09:31):
us to go against the grain in pretty much everything,
but especially when it comes to our families, our education
and our jobs. Here's pastor Mark reading from First Thessalonians
chapter one, verse four.
S3 (09:44):
For we know brothers loved by God, that he has
chosen you because our gospel came to you not simply
with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit,
and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among
you for your sake. You became imitators of us and
(10:06):
of the Lord in spite of severe suffering. You welcomed
the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
And so you became a model to all the believers
in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from
you not only in Macedonia and Achaia. Your faith in
(10:27):
God has become known everywhere. Therefore, we do not need
to say anything about it, for they themselves report what
kind of reception you gave us. They tell us how
you turned to God from idols to serve the living
and true God, and to wait for His son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead. Jesus, who rescues us
(10:50):
from the coming wrath. Word of God. Amen. Amen. You
may be seated. These few verses in first Thessalonians talk
to us about faith, the gospel, and what happens when
we embrace this gospel and this faith and what it
does to us. And I want to talk to you
(11:10):
about three things that happen when you embrace this faith
that is worth following. I want to if you're taking notes,
jot this down. It's about believing, mentoring, and changing. Number one,
this faith, if you embrace it. This gospel, if you
(11:31):
choose to embrace this gospel that we're talking about, the
first thing that happens is a faith worth following. Believes
in the dynamic power of the gospel. Notice what Paul
says in verse four. He says, for we know brothers
loved by God. I love that he says, hey, we
(11:54):
know first of all that you are loved. Loved by God. Hey,
did you know that? Look up at me at me
a second. Did you know this morning as you drove
into this place, you're sitting in the seat that you're sitting.
Did you know that today you are loved by God? No, no, no,
I don't think you understood what I'm saying. That God
(12:14):
knows your name, that God knows your story, that God
knows all your gook and issues and he still loves you.
That means that he desires the best for your life.
He knows everything about you, the thoughts of your mind,
(12:35):
the attitudes of your heart. Yet he has chosen to
love you. What an incredible thing it is to be
loved by God. You are loved by God, he says,
for we know brothers loved by God, that he has
chosen you, chosen you. You see, I run into some
(12:59):
people that once in a while say this, and I
understand the expression I found God two years ago when
I was going through a tough time. And I understand
what you mean when you say you found God. But
here's the thing God was never lost. Hello. So it's
not like, oh, there he is. He was lost, I
found him. No, no, no, God was never lost. And secondly,
(13:21):
it's not you that found God. It's God that found you.
He reached out to you. In fact, here's the way
it goes. Theologians call it the depravity of man. You
and I, in our own sin. We are so broken,
so depraved, so fallen in our nature that we in
(13:43):
and of ourselves can't even call or search or want God.
We're like a dead person. It's the equivalent of a
dead body getting up and going and playing in the
bears game today. It's just not going to happen. Spiritually speaking,
you and I were dead in our sin. Even if
you wanted to, you wouldn't seek after God. The only
(14:05):
way that you even wanted God is that God has
reached out to you via His Holy Spirit, awakened you
to himself, awakened you to even give you the desire
to want him and seek him and to pray after him.
You see, your discovering God is a work of God.
God reached out to you before you ever reached out
(14:27):
to him. That's the way it always works. So you
are chosen of God. You say, well, pastor, now, now
we don't have time today to get into election and
predestination and all that that entails, because I'd have to
have a whole message on that. But I just want
(14:50):
you to understand that God chose you, reached out to you,
elected you, called you forth, and you have you have
responded to his love towards him. You're responding to his
calling you out from wherever you are at. And you
didn't even know that he was calling. But he was calling.
(15:10):
You didn't even know that he sent that person that
first talked to you. You didn't even know that it
was God's design, but it was God who did it.
You didn't even know that God allowed that tragedy in
your life so you would wake up to him. You
didn't even know that God let you get low, low, low.
So finally you would reach up and look to the
heavens and say, God, I need you. But God in
his foreknowledge. God in his love. God in his sovereignty
(15:35):
has chosen you. Knew you before you knew him. Loved
you before you loved him. He has reached out and
called you unto himself. What an incredible thing it is
to be chosen and called by God. It's an incredible thing.
And he tells these believers, hey, you are loved by
God and he has chosen you. In other part of
(15:58):
Scripture says he has He has chosen you before the
foundation of the world. God knew that you would be.
And God chose you unto himself. Now, I don't know
about you, but there's something about being chosen that just
(16:18):
makes you feel good, doesn't it? Were you ever in
a junior high team? And they're selecting teams and they
pick two captains and everybody stands in a line and
this guy says, I choose you, and I choose you
and choose you. Were you ever one of those that
were last to be chosen? There's something about being chosen
(16:39):
that I want you. And the Bible says that God
is choosing you, saying, I want you calling you out
unto himself. And the way he calls us out unto
himself is through the gospel. And this is what he says. Listen,
because verse four, verse five, because our gospel, The gospel
(17:00):
means good news came to you not simply with words,
but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with
deep conviction. You see this thing that we call the gospel.
The gospel is the message of Jesus Christ. But it's
more than just words. It has to start with words.
(17:22):
They tell us that most people do not respond to
the gospel until they've heard it at least seven times.
Most people don't respond the first time they hear the gospel.
They have to hear it through a friend, and then
maybe hear it on the radio, and then maybe be
in a Bible study and they hear it, and then
someone else talks to them about it again. And finally,
(17:44):
it takes an average of seven times of hearing the
gospel before people actually respond to it. But but what
Paul is saying is that the gospel that came to
you is not just about words. It's not about a
talking head. It's not just about spiritual data. You've all
heard spiritual lectures, right? Or classroom lectures. And sometimes the
(18:09):
lecture is just information that you write notes on, but
it doesn't affect you. You leave the lecture and all
you have is notes in a binder. But it hasn't changed. You,
impacted you, moved you. It does nothing to your life.
You've heard spiritual lectures as well. You could say, well,
that was boring. Well, that was long. Well, that was good. Well,
(18:31):
I got some notes on that. The gospel is much
more than a spiritual lecture. He says for the gospel,
when it came to you, it came to you not
only in words. I believe that the gospel has to
go forth in words. Some of us are fond of
quoting what Francis of Assisi supposedly said preach the gospel
(18:56):
and if necessary, use words. How many of you have
heard that? That means, hey, let your good work speak
for yourself. I don't really believe that someone can clearly
understand the gospel just when you live a good life.
I believe that you have to speak the gospel in
order for people to understand the gospel. If you're just
(19:16):
a good person that once in a while shovels your
neighbor's snow and picks up his paper and and and
says hi to him and make sure that you when
his garage is left open, you call him up and say, hey,
your garage door was left open, but you never say
anything about Jesus. You never talk about your faith. Then
(19:39):
all that person is going to think is my. Are
they a good neighbor? They must have been raised by really,
really good parents. They are a good, upstanding, moral individual.
Praise be to them because they're they're going to think
you're just good because you're good. They don't know that
(20:00):
deep inside you're a rotten, old dirty sinner. But it's
only the grace of Jesus and his love and his
power that has made you good. And so when you
start talking about your faith, when you start sharing who
you are, then they start making the connection. Oh, they
(20:20):
are good because of Jesus, not because they are good naturally.
But the apostle Paul says, the gospel came to you
not in words only. Words are not enough, though, he says,
because our gospel came to you not simply in words,
but also with power. Listen, if the gospel is going
to go out to change life, it has to come
(20:42):
with power. You know what power is? Power is influence.
Power is a force that changes us. If you're here
and you hear this teaching today, and you walk out
of this place and you're the same, and you come
back next week and you and you hear the teaching
and you're the same. And you hear the teaching over
(21:03):
and over and over. And it's just the same. I'm
going to tell you something. You have not yet been
touched by the power of God because the power of
God changes us. You cannot experience the full gospel without
being changed by that gospel. What is that power? Hey,
if I were just a lecturer here and get up
(21:26):
giving you nice lectures, I would have given this up
a long time ago. Because I don't believe lectures change anyone.
I believe the power of God changes people. When I come,
when I come to teach on Sundays, this is not just, oh,
I do my preparation, I study, I get ready, but
(21:47):
I'm going to tell you it's not just preparing notes,
it's preparing my heart as well. Because I know what
happens here is something spiritual. I know that what happens
here is that sometimes people's life and destiny are in
the balance here. I know that that that what happens
here is the power of God is present. And when
(22:09):
you and I allow the power of God to get
Ahold of us, we cannot be the same. I believe
the power that rose Jesus Christ from the dead is
here every morning. Every Sunday morning when the gospel of
Jesus Christ is preached, the same power that raised Jesus
from the dead is here and can change you, resurrect you,
transform your heart, change your marriage, restore your heart to
(22:35):
where it needs to be. There is nothing beyond God's
power to change because his resurrection power can raise anybody
from the dead. Truly, as it came with the word,
it came with power. And he says, but also with
(22:55):
the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person
of the Triune God. You have God the Father, God
the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Now some people
confuse what the Holy Spirit is. They think he's just
a force or a power. But the Holy Spirit is
a person. The Holy Spirit is the spirit that brings
(23:16):
all of Jesus to your body. When we call people
forward to this altar and people give their life to
Jesus Christ, people rise up. And some people say, well,
I received Christ Jesus Christ today. And technically you did.
But who lives inside of you is the Holy Spirit
of God. It's the Holy Spirit that comes and dwells
(23:39):
in your body and your soul. It's the Holy Spirit
that starts convicting you about sin. It's the Holy Spirit
that starts making you long for the things of God.
It's the Holy Spirit that causes you to want to
cry out daddy! As you look at God, it's the
Holy Spirit that starts to tell you what you're doing
is wrong, Even though no one's ever told you that
(24:01):
it's wrong. You know it's wrong. Why? Because it's the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It's God inside of you
24 hours a day, giving you the power to be
changed into the person that he's called you to be.
That's the Holy Spirit. So the gospel comes to you
not just words only, but with power. And it comes
(24:22):
to you with the Holy Spirit. Some people say, well,
I got saved, but I didn't receive the Holy Spirit.
Let me tell you, you cannot be saved without the
Holy Spirit. Well, let me say that again. Well, pastor,
I got saved. I just don't have the Holy Spirit.
No no no no no. The Holy Spirit is necessary
in order for you to change. You may not have
(24:45):
your brothers and sisters around you. You may not have
the church around you, but you carry inside of you
a power.
S1 (24:53):
Thank you, pastor Mark. And we'll continue with part two
of a faith worth following next week. Weak right now.
Could I tell you about an exciting way to help
you pull the plug on the annoying habit of worry?
It's a small but compelling book from Winifred Neeley titled
How to Overcome Worry. I have loved it. I think
you will too. It's yours for a gift of any
amount when you call us at 800, 400, 722, that's 800, 400, 722.
(25:21):
You can also give online at Moody Presents where you'll
learn about the many ministries of Moody Bible Institute. Check
it out. Moody presents.org and be sure to look for
that book How to Overcome Worry. I'm John Gager, inviting
you back next week when we'll learn more about finding
a faith worth following even when life gets tough. It's
all part of our defiance. Turn Your World Upside Down
(25:43):
series and you can hear it next week on Moody Presents.
Moody presents is a production of Moody Radio and the
ministry of Moody Bible Institute.
Welcome to a very special edition of Moody Presents with
doctor Mark Jobe, president of the Moody Bible Institute. Today
we take a peek into the first President's Chapel of
the season. What do you say we join the moody
students and staff and faculty as they lift praises to
our father? And then doctor Mark Jobe would welcome new
students to the spring semester.
UU (00:22):
Who am I that the Lord of all the earth
would care to know my name? Would care to fill
my heart? Who am I that the bright and morning star.
(00:43):
Would choose to light the way. For my ever wandering heart.
Now because of who I am. But because of what
you've done. Not because of what I've done, but because
(01:04):
of who you are. I am a flower quickly fading
here today and gone tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind. Still you hear me when
(01:25):
I'm calling. Lord, you catch me when I'm falling. And
you told me who I am. I am yours. Who
am I that the eyes that see my sin. Would
(01:50):
look on me with love. And watch me rise again.
To find That the voice that calmed the sea would
call out through the rain and calm the storm in me.
(02:13):
Not because of who I am, but because of what
you've done. Not because of what I've done, but because
of who you are. I am proud, quickly fading in
(02:33):
today and gone tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind. Still you hear me when
I'm calling. Would you catch me when I'm falling. And
you told me who I am I am yours. Not
(03:11):
because of who I am, but because of what you've done.
Not because of what I've done, but because of who
you are. I am a flower quickly fading in a
(03:31):
day in God's tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean.
A vapor in the wind. Still you hear me when
I'm calling. Lord, you catch me when I'm falling. You
told me who I am I'm yours. Yours.
S2 (04:10):
Lord, thank you for who you are. It is because
of you. Everything is as it is. Lord, thank you
that you have sent your son out of love to
save us. A people undeserving of your grace and of
your mercy. Thank you, God that you are holy. You
(04:33):
are so holy, O Lord. But you make us holy
through your spirit, because we are in Christ. Lord, thank
you that we can come together as a body of
Christ to worship you. The only God, the Holy God,
who is immortal, who is invisible, who is above all things. God,
we pray that we would live as though we are
(04:57):
living sacrifices for your glory. Oh Lord, we pray that
we would have ears to hear and hearts that are
open to your word that is everlasting. The grass withers,
the flowers fade, but the Lord, the word of the
Lord endures forever. Thank you, God, for your holy word.
(05:17):
It's in your name we pray. Amen.
S3 (05:27):
Hey, I missed you. Welcome to the first day of classes.
The first President's Chapel in 2025. Welcome. Yeah. Excited about this.
(05:48):
And we actually have some students that are joining us
for the very first time, about 65 students, new students
that are joining us. I'd like for us to welcome them.
Could you stand? Stand if you're new. Yeah.
UU (06:02):
Come on, stand up. Right there. Stand up. Hey!
S3 (06:13):
Stay standing, stay standing. You know, I always like to.
I always like to also recognize how many of you,
how many of you are from warmer climate. Just raise
your hand here. Yeah, quite a few of you. And
we have some international students as well. They go through
a lot to get here. And, um, if you're an
international student, could you just let me know what country
(06:36):
you're from? Some internationals. India. Welcome. Where else? Brazil. Brazil. Welcome.
Anybody over here? Bangladesh. Great to have you here. God
bless you. Yes. The Netherlands, she's used to the cold.
(07:01):
Good to have you. Anybody else? Ukraine. Great to have
you here. From the Ukraine. Excellent. Back there. Columbia. South America.
Great to have you here as well. Also South Africa
as well. Hey, we want to welcome you. We are
(07:25):
excited to have you amongst us. And I just want
you to know, today it's a high of two degrees.
You know, I am also thrilled that there's seniors, that
this is their last semester. If you're a senior here.
(07:46):
It's your last semester. Give me a shout out. Come on. Seniors. Yeah.
Final semester. What makes Moody Bible Institute. Moody Bible institute. What? Really?
When alumni come back and visit, invariably, invariably they will
(08:13):
mention a faculty that spoke into their life, mentored them,
prayed for them, imparted in them, gave them some truth
that they just did not know, challenged their lives. And
we have an extraordinary world class faculty. I'm going to
ask if your faculty, could you please stand here? Yeah.
(08:35):
Can we give it up for our faculty? Yes. Thank you.
Thank you. God bless you. God bless you. Thank you.
S1 (08:48):
It's an opportunity to present Moody to you here on
Moody Presents. And if you would, would you please remember
to pray for our new students, a returning student, seniors,
and all the professors that make up this place we
call Moody Bible Institute. If you'd like to learn more
about Moody, its education and opportunities to prepare you or
a loved one for ministry at the end of our broadcast,
(09:10):
we'll tell you more. But for now, let's head back
to our Defiance Series with the president of Moody Bible
Institute and senior pastor of New Life Community Church in Chicago,
doctor Mark Jobe. Those of us who believe that Jesus
is the rightful ruler and king of this earth kind
of seem to be in the minority these days, right?
And in this series of messages, pastor Mark is encouraging
(09:31):
us to go against the grain in pretty much everything,
but especially when it comes to our families, our education
and our jobs. Here's pastor Mark reading from First Thessalonians
chapter one, verse four.
S3 (09:44):
For we know brothers loved by God, that he has
chosen you because our gospel came to you not simply
with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit,
and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among
you for your sake. You became imitators of us and
(10:06):
of the Lord in spite of severe suffering. You welcomed
the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
And so you became a model to all the believers
in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from
you not only in Macedonia and Achaia. Your faith in
(10:27):
God has become known everywhere. Therefore, we do not need
to say anything about it, for they themselves report what
kind of reception you gave us. They tell us how
you turned to God from idols to serve the living
and true God, and to wait for His son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead. Jesus, who rescues us
(10:50):
from the coming wrath. Word of God. Amen. Amen. You
may be seated. These few verses in first Thessalonians talk
to us about faith, the gospel, and what happens when
we embrace this gospel and this faith and what it
does to us. And I want to talk to you
(11:10):
about three things that happen when you embrace this faith
that is worth following. I want to if you're taking notes,
jot this down. It's about believing, mentoring, and changing. Number one,
this faith, if you embrace it. This gospel, if you
(11:31):
choose to embrace this gospel that we're talking about, the
first thing that happens is a faith worth following. Believes
in the dynamic power of the gospel. Notice what Paul
says in verse four. He says, for we know brothers
loved by God. I love that he says, hey, we
(11:54):
know first of all that you are loved. Loved by God. Hey,
did you know that? Look up at me at me
a second. Did you know this morning as you drove
into this place, you're sitting in the seat that you're sitting.
Did you know that today you are loved by God? No, no, no,
I don't think you understood what I'm saying. That God
(12:14):
knows your name, that God knows your story, that God
knows all your gook and issues and he still loves you.
That means that he desires the best for your life.
He knows everything about you, the thoughts of your mind,
(12:35):
the attitudes of your heart. Yet he has chosen to
love you. What an incredible thing it is to be
loved by God. You are loved by God, he says,
for we know brothers loved by God, that he has
chosen you, chosen you. You see, I run into some
(12:59):
people that once in a while say this, and I
understand the expression I found God two years ago when
I was going through a tough time. And I understand
what you mean when you say you found God. But
here's the thing God was never lost. Hello. So it's
not like, oh, there he is. He was lost, I
found him. No, no, no, God was never lost. And secondly,
(13:21):
it's not you that found God. It's God that found you.
He reached out to you. In fact, here's the way
it goes. Theologians call it the depravity of man. You
and I, in our own sin. We are so broken,
so depraved, so fallen in our nature that we in
(13:43):
and of ourselves can't even call or search or want God.
We're like a dead person. It's the equivalent of a
dead body getting up and going and playing in the
bears game today. It's just not going to happen. Spiritually speaking,
you and I were dead in our sin. Even if
you wanted to, you wouldn't seek after God. The only
(14:05):
way that you even wanted God is that God has
reached out to you via His Holy Spirit, awakened you
to himself, awakened you to even give you the desire
to want him and seek him and to pray after him.
You see, your discovering God is a work of God.
God reached out to you before you ever reached out
(14:27):
to him. That's the way it always works. So you
are chosen of God. You say, well, pastor, now, now
we don't have time today to get into election and
predestination and all that that entails, because I'd have to
have a whole message on that. But I just want
(14:50):
you to understand that God chose you, reached out to you,
elected you, called you forth, and you have you have
responded to his love towards him. You're responding to his
calling you out from wherever you are at. And you
didn't even know that he was calling. But he was calling.
(15:10):
You didn't even know that he sent that person that
first talked to you. You didn't even know that it
was God's design, but it was God who did it.
You didn't even know that God allowed that tragedy in
your life so you would wake up to him. You
didn't even know that God let you get low, low, low.
So finally you would reach up and look to the
heavens and say, God, I need you. But God in
his foreknowledge. God in his love. God in his sovereignty
(15:35):
has chosen you. Knew you before you knew him. Loved
you before you loved him. He has reached out and
called you unto himself. What an incredible thing it is
to be chosen and called by God. It's an incredible thing.
And he tells these believers, hey, you are loved by
God and he has chosen you. In other part of
(15:58):
Scripture says he has He has chosen you before the
foundation of the world. God knew that you would be.
And God chose you unto himself. Now, I don't know
about you, but there's something about being chosen that just
(16:18):
makes you feel good, doesn't it? Were you ever in
a junior high team? And they're selecting teams and they
pick two captains and everybody stands in a line and
this guy says, I choose you, and I choose you
and choose you. Were you ever one of those that
were last to be chosen? There's something about being chosen
(16:39):
that I want you. And the Bible says that God
is choosing you, saying, I want you calling you out
unto himself. And the way he calls us out unto
himself is through the gospel. And this is what he says. Listen,
because verse four, verse five, because our gospel, The gospel
(17:00):
means good news came to you not simply with words,
but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with
deep conviction. You see this thing that we call the gospel.
The gospel is the message of Jesus Christ. But it's
more than just words. It has to start with words.
(17:22):
They tell us that most people do not respond to
the gospel until they've heard it at least seven times.
Most people don't respond the first time they hear the gospel.
They have to hear it through a friend, and then
maybe hear it on the radio, and then maybe be
in a Bible study and they hear it, and then
someone else talks to them about it again. And finally,
(17:44):
it takes an average of seven times of hearing the
gospel before people actually respond to it. But but what
Paul is saying is that the gospel that came to
you is not just about words. It's not about a
talking head. It's not just about spiritual data. You've all
heard spiritual lectures, right? Or classroom lectures. And sometimes the
(18:09):
lecture is just information that you write notes on, but
it doesn't affect you. You leave the lecture and all
you have is notes in a binder. But it hasn't changed. You,
impacted you, moved you. It does nothing to your life.
You've heard spiritual lectures as well. You could say, well,
that was boring. Well, that was long. Well, that was good. Well,
(18:31):
I got some notes on that. The gospel is much
more than a spiritual lecture. He says for the gospel,
when it came to you, it came to you not
only in words. I believe that the gospel has to
go forth in words. Some of us are fond of
quoting what Francis of Assisi supposedly said preach the gospel
(18:56):
and if necessary, use words. How many of you have
heard that? That means, hey, let your good work speak
for yourself. I don't really believe that someone can clearly
understand the gospel just when you live a good life.
I believe that you have to speak the gospel in
order for people to understand the gospel. If you're just
(19:16):
a good person that once in a while shovels your
neighbor's snow and picks up his paper and and and
says hi to him and make sure that you when
his garage is left open, you call him up and say, hey,
your garage door was left open, but you never say
anything about Jesus. You never talk about your faith. Then
(19:39):
all that person is going to think is my. Are
they a good neighbor? They must have been raised by really,
really good parents. They are a good, upstanding, moral individual.
Praise be to them because they're they're going to think
you're just good because you're good. They don't know that
(20:00):
deep inside you're a rotten, old dirty sinner. But it's
only the grace of Jesus and his love and his
power that has made you good. And so when you
start talking about your faith, when you start sharing who
you are, then they start making the connection. Oh, they
(20:20):
are good because of Jesus, not because they are good naturally.
But the apostle Paul says, the gospel came to you
not in words only. Words are not enough, though, he says,
because our gospel came to you not simply in words,
but also with power. Listen, if the gospel is going
to go out to change life, it has to come
(20:42):
with power. You know what power is? Power is influence.
Power is a force that changes us. If you're here
and you hear this teaching today, and you walk out
of this place and you're the same, and you come
back next week and you and you hear the teaching
and you're the same. And you hear the teaching over
(21:03):
and over and over. And it's just the same. I'm
going to tell you something. You have not yet been
touched by the power of God because the power of
God changes us. You cannot experience the full gospel without
being changed by that gospel. What is that power? Hey,
if I were just a lecturer here and get up
(21:26):
giving you nice lectures, I would have given this up
a long time ago. Because I don't believe lectures change anyone.
I believe the power of God changes people. When I come,
when I come to teach on Sundays, this is not just, oh,
I do my preparation, I study, I get ready, but
(21:47):
I'm going to tell you it's not just preparing notes,
it's preparing my heart as well. Because I know what
happens here is something spiritual. I know that what happens
here is that sometimes people's life and destiny are in
the balance here. I know that that that what happens
here is the power of God is present. And when
(22:09):
you and I allow the power of God to get
Ahold of us, we cannot be the same. I believe
the power that rose Jesus Christ from the dead is
here every morning. Every Sunday morning when the gospel of
Jesus Christ is preached, the same power that raised Jesus
from the dead is here and can change you, resurrect you,
transform your heart, change your marriage, restore your heart to
(22:35):
where it needs to be. There is nothing beyond God's
power to change because his resurrection power can raise anybody
from the dead. Truly, as it came with the word,
it came with power. And he says, but also with
(22:55):
the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person
of the Triune God. You have God the Father, God
the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Now some people
confuse what the Holy Spirit is. They think he's just
a force or a power. But the Holy Spirit is
a person. The Holy Spirit is the spirit that brings
(23:16):
all of Jesus to your body. When we call people
forward to this altar and people give their life to
Jesus Christ, people rise up. And some people say, well,
I received Christ Jesus Christ today. And technically you did.
But who lives inside of you is the Holy Spirit
of God. It's the Holy Spirit that comes and dwells
(23:39):
in your body and your soul. It's the Holy Spirit
that starts convicting you about sin. It's the Holy Spirit
that starts making you long for the things of God.
It's the Holy Spirit that causes you to want to
cry out daddy! As you look at God, it's the
Holy Spirit that starts to tell you what you're doing
is wrong, Even though no one's ever told you that
(24:01):
it's wrong. You know it's wrong. Why? Because it's the
indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It's God inside of you
24 hours a day, giving you the power to be
changed into the person that he's called you to be.
That's the Holy Spirit. So the gospel comes to you
not just words only, but with power. And it comes
(24:22):
to you with the Holy Spirit. Some people say, well,
I got saved, but I didn't receive the Holy Spirit.
Let me tell you, you cannot be saved without the
Holy Spirit. Well, let me say that again. Well, pastor,
I got saved. I just don't have the Holy Spirit.
No no no no no. The Holy Spirit is necessary
in order for you to change. You may not have
(24:45):
your brothers and sisters around you. You may not have
the church around you, but you carry inside of you
a power.
S1 (24:53):
Thank you, pastor Mark. And we'll continue with part two
of a faith worth following next week. Weak right now.
Could I tell you about an exciting way to help
you pull the plug on the annoying habit of worry?
It's a small but compelling book from Winifred Neeley titled
How to Overcome Worry. I have loved it. I think
you will too. It's yours for a gift of any
amount when you call us at 800, 400, 722, that's 800, 400, 722.
(25:21):
You can also give online at Moody Presents where you'll
learn about the many ministries of Moody Bible Institute. Check
it out. Moody presents.org and be sure to look for
that book How to Overcome Worry. I'm John Gager, inviting
you back next week when we'll learn more about finding
a faith worth following even when life gets tough. It's
all part of our defiance. Turn Your World Upside Down
(25:43):
series and you can hear it next week on Moody Presents.
Moody presents is a production of Moody Radio and the
ministry of Moody Bible Institute.
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