Today on Real Life Radio, God knows you and has engineered your life. for a very, very specific purpose and cause. and a specific duty. among God's people and among the world for that matter. This is real life.
Welcome to Real Life Radio with Pastor Jack Hibbs. I'm David Jay, thanking you for joining us today as we listen, learn, and are challenged by God's Word, the Bible. The men and women who founded this nation weren't just bold, they were anchored, anchored in the conviction that our rights come from God, not from government. And that foundation is worth knowing. In The American Story, The Beginnings, Tim and David Barton take you back to the documents, the decisions, and the faith that shaped this country from its very first days.
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Make your request today. Visit jackkids.com or call 877-7777-2346. On today's edition of Real Life Radio. Pastor Jack continues now in his series called Disciplines of Life and a message titled The Discipline of Duty.
Now the Christian walk is full of disciplines, trials, and setbacks, but God uses the hard seasons of life to shape our faith from the inside out. And now, after 31 weeks in this series, we come to the final discipline that ties everything together, and that is our calling to serve. You see, duty isn't a burden for the believer who truly knows God's heart. When we understand that we've been saved for a purpose, that God has equipped us with gifts and placed us here for such a time as this, duty becomes our joy. It's not something we have to do, it's what we get to do.
So today, Pastor Jack teaches that knowing God's will naturally leads to desiring God's will. When the Holy Spirit is at work in our lives, we find ourselves wanting what God wants and embracing a more excellent way.
Now with his message called The Discipline of Duty. Here's Pastor and Bible teacher Jack Hibbs. Uh We recognize as a Christian tonight, every one of us, the oldest Christian in the house to the newest believer, Lord, cause me to recognize your specific plan for my life. Please, are you listening? If someone tonight is saying, well, I'm a Christian, but that applies to somebody else, that doesn't apply to me.
You've got a major, major problem going on in your life. God didn't save you. Um For What I don't know. He saved you for many reasons. And one of them is to have your life matter.
And listen, when God gets a hold of your life and He makes it to matter, young people, listen. You will be joyful, excited. You'll be dynamic because you're God's dynamic. You will not be bored. He's amazing.
Recognize that. Secondly, listen. Duty is knowing the will of God. That causes us to surrender to God's leadership. I can't think of a greater thing than to surrender to the leadership of God.
Let God lead us. Let God guide us. Why do you We read in the Old Testament, it's amazing to me how God led the children of Israel out of Egypt with this profound. You guys, the presence of God was massive. In the Old Testament leadings of Israel out.
And from Mount Sinai to entering the promised land. Deuteronomy chapters 1 and 2 says, declares that it's an 11-day walk. 11 days. Did you know that? 11 days.
Gee, how long does it take you to get from Egypt to the promised land? 11 days if you're obedient, if you do what God says. God says, okay, go up here, go about a half a mile, turn right. And you go turn right. And then you go up, okay, go now seven miles and turn left.
And you do that. Guess what? And by the way, the Bible says that his cloud, his glory, everybody could see it. There he goes. There he goes.
There you go. Oh, all right, there he goes. And then when he stopped, listen, when the glory stopped. The Bible says in the book of Numbers, that's where you pitch your tent for the night. Pitcher tense.
And sometimes, you know what he would do? He was so amazing. He's so cool that sometimes the cloud of glory in the morning would not move. Every man, man, listen. Men, listen up.
They were to look out of their tent and see where the glory was. It's not moving. He's not moving today. He usually moves by 7 a.m. He's not moving.
Yeah. And then the announcements made. Just leave, stay in your tent, take the day off. The Bible says sometimes God would have them move daily, sometimes he would wait, sometimes weeks. They would just.
Have time. He let them. He was training them all along the way how to follow him. Isn't that cool? That's how sweet he is.
But listen, 11-day journey. When you disobey God like they did, How long did it take them to get there? No, you're wrong. Who said that? And who said never?
Right on. They never made it. Did you know that? Who made it? Their kids made it.
Why? Because the ones that left Egypt They saw the cloud. Yeah, what? That's awesome. Oh, look at that.
Oh, man. Pharaoh and his troops got swallowed up in the Red Sea, man. And then the Bible says in the morning. At the Red Sea on the other side. On the uh Arabia side, today Saudi Arabia side.
The Bible says in the morning when they saw all these bodies of horses and Egyptians were laying on the shore. Drowned, dead. And the Hebrews saw that. Wow! And uh What do they wind up doing shortly after?
Building calves. Little little They have them. You can go to the London Museum of History. They got the calves. Stupid.
Metal Bull. What's that? That's the bull that led us out of Egypt. Think of that. And they forgot God.
And God says, that's it. You're just going to do donuts in the desert. Because of unbelief, look at you. You're just walking in circles because of unbelief, and you're not going to go in. You're a stiff-necked, rebellious people, but your children will go in.
They believe. And the only exception to the rule was Caleb and what's his face? Joshua. That's the guy I was just testing to see. Three times at the end of Moses' life, he said, Can I go in?
I mean, I know you said I couldn't. But can I go in three times? In fact, the last time God says, enough, Moses. Don't talk to me about this any longer. You misrepresented me to the people.
You're not going in. Joshua and Caleb take the whole Flock of children. That believed in surrendering to the leadership of God. What is my duty as a Christian? Church, listen, this is a big deal.
Wake your neighbor up. Slap them if you have to. This is a big deal. Your marriage is messed up because you're not listening to the leadership of God. You're a horrible employee because you're not listening to the leadership of God.
You can't keep a job. Because you can't submit to your bosses.
Well, my bosses are a bunch of nincum poops. God ordained a nincum poop to be your boss. We've all had NIKON poop buses. I asked, maybe I am a Nim Kampo boss to the staff. That's how we grow up.
Think about it, right? In our minds, come on, let's be honest. We want everything smooth. No bumps. No bumps.
I've seen people in life, so have you, who've had no bumps in their life. And you know what? You can't even have a conversation with them. Because you know what? This is how they talk.
Hey, hi, how are you? Have you seen that sale at Nordstrom's? I'm not knocking Nordstrom's, and I'm not knocking you if you shop there. I'm just saying that's as far, that's about as deep as they can go. Oh, you know what?
Uh, there's a Lexus sale tomorrow. At the Lexus store. There's a diamond there's a diamond sale. Isn't the weather nice and Um You know what I'm talking about? I don't know.
Listen, I just can't hang around with people like that. Because my life's too bumpy. Yeah. I want to hang out with somebody who's gone through some Red Sea experiences.
Okay, I want to hang out with somebody who they've seen the fire come down. Because I need that kind of person in my life. Because that's encouraging. I'm not going to mention this man's name. He's very, very well known.
We were talking on the phone yesterday, and I go, How are you doing? He goes, Honestly, Um I feel like quitting. He said, I'm just I'm tired of the fight. Every direction I turn, I'm attacked, I'm misunderstood. He said, I'm just tired of the fight.
And I said, well, okay, you know what? It's a good thing. That you didn't call me then last week. Because I was tired from that trip to Israel and Easter was just coming up and I was tired. And I said, if you and I would have talked last week, if you would have been in this mood that you're in now, because I was in your mood last week, we both would have been probably maniacs.
Okay. And we pray together and we pick one another up. You want people around you like that. Why? Because listen.
Knowing the will of God causes you to surrender to God's leadership, and marriages need this. Your kids need this. Too many couples. Listen, this is a big deal. My wife, Lisa, and I were just trying to figure out.
With all the stuff that we're hearing. Because of the economy, because it's the end of the world. People are saying, I'm giving up. You can't give up now. We're almost there.
Don't quit. Why do you think it's hard right now? We're almost there. My life's so messed up. I can't believe this.
Oh, so what are you gonna do? You're gonna take gasoline and throw it on the fire. I'm gonna leave my kids and my husband or my wife, because why? Because my life's so messed up. That's really weird thinking.
God wants to move. You say, my husband's a jerk. My wife's a jerk. God can work and jerks lives. He in fact he makes them trophies He makes them trophies if we will just surrender to God's leadership.
Why do we have to dig our heels in?
Well, I'm protecting myself. And you're going to die like that protecting yourself. Surrender to his leadership. In Psalm 32, 8, the Bible says, God says, I will instruct you, Psalm 32, 8, I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go. Wow, we could go home right now.
Right. God says, I will instruct you, I will lead you or teach you in the way that you should go. I would take that verse, my friends, if God's speaking to you right now with that verse. I would write it down. And I would make that the cry, the prayer, the weeping of your soul.
I would say, God, you told me that you would instruct me and teach me in the way that I should go. I will guide you with my eye, says God. Do not be like the horse or like the mule. which have no understanding. The Old King James Version is really great.
I can't quote it and defend somebody. misunderstood. You'd be like the mule or some other thing. Which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with. Uh bit and bridle.
else they will not come near you. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked. But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. That is the word of God. If your life is bumpy, messed up, if things aren't going right, take that verse and pray it into your life.
I'm dead serious. I need counsel. You need that verse. We need somebody to sit down. You need someone to sit down and hold your head and.
Okay. And tear out that page out of your Bible and just shove it down your mouth right there and chew it. And make it. Make it yours. You're listening to Real Life with Pastor Jack Hibbs.
To learn more about this ministry or to catch up on some previous episodes, go to jackhibbs.com. That's jackhibbs.com. And now, let's get back to today's message. Once again, here's Pastor Jack. Thirdly, under this point.
Duty, knowing the will of God, causes us to acknowledge a more excellent way. Knowing the will of God for your life. causes you and I to acknowledge a more excellent way. Ephesians 2, verse 8 through 10 says, watch this, there's no contradiction here. For by grace you have been saved through faith.
Listen, everyone. And that. It's not of yourselves. It is the gift. of God.
Okay, how hard do you have to work to earn a gift or to get the gift? You can't work to get the gift or else it's not a gift.
Okay, look at the screens. Verse 9. Not of works. Lest anyone should boast. Heaven's going to be awesome.
Bunch of people up there saying, thank you, thank you. Thank you, God. Yeah. Think of that. No one's going to be up there saying.
Hey. You guys all want to know how I did it? None of that up there. Look at the verse. Yeah.
For we are his workmanship, his workmanship. Created in Christ Jesus for what? Good works, duty. Which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Are you ready for an eye-opener?
The word. prepared beforehand is from eternity.
Okay, in the count of three, I want to hear your name. I want to hear it loud. The count of three, I want to hear your name. Shout it out loud. One, two, three.
Every one of you, God has your name. He understood all of you right then and there. And you were very loud. I'm very impressed. God knows you and has engineered your life.
for a very, very specific purpose and cause. and a specific duty. Among God's people and among the world for that matter. Your life. Listen, church, there's just enough of us here on a Wednesday night to change the world.
Do you realize if you tonight just said, you know what? I'm going to step up into... The man or the woman that God's called me to be. I'm going to do it. Lord.
I'm frail, I'm terrified, I'm scared, I've got a thousand reasons why I can't, and I agree with all of those. But I'm coming to you, Lord, because with you all things are possible. And I'm stepping in the air. World right now, Lord, and so use me to your glory. And I'm not going to get into my lazy boy.
I'm not going to kick back any longer. I'm not going to. Shut the drapes and sequester myself and hide. Nope. Your Bible says the righteous can be as bold as lions.
And that's what I'm going to choose to do. God, I'm going to walk in the duty that you've ordained for my life. And listen, here's the thing: where every Christian. Stumbles at this moment. Yes, oh my goodness, yes.
That's why there's churches that are pep talk churches. You know, churches that are, you can, you're champions. Every one of you is a champ. You're a champ! Look at you.
Go! And everyone goes, Yeah, turn to your partner over there and tell them that champions. What champions?
Okay, and then the service is over. And what do you do with that? I mean, think about it. You go to the market, somebody, you know, cusses you out or gets upset or runs your. Shopping cart over, and you go, Don't you understand?
Get out of my way, I'm a champion. They're gonna go someone Get the cops. This guy's crazy. Think about that for a moment. That only lasts for a moment.
It's like sugar rush. But when you say, God, live your life through me, Lord, your Bible says that I am now in Christ. That's either true or false regarding you. I know it's true. But you have got to understand That the power of the Holy Spirit, the Bible says, that raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in us also.
That's either true or false. That's what the Bible says. And Every Christian. will stumble But not every Christian has to stay down at this point. Oh man, that's great.
That's a real cheer. That's a pep talk, but I can never do that. I could never follow God. I can't see God working like that in my life. Or maybe, you know, what if I, here it is, what if I sign up and do something and I fail at it?
Hello? Guaranteed. What is? Failure. Annie.
Any bozo can win every time. It doesn't take any character at all to win. Did you know that? I want you to think about that for a minute. The greatest champions that have ever been have been the biggest losers.
That's how you grow up. In this Sports world, in this business world.
Well, what about Christianity? Oh, Christianity, listen, it's pretty amazing, pretty dynamic. When you come to the end of yourself, and realize I can't do this. Lord, you have to help me. I can't even get out of bed today, God.
You have to help me. And the Lord says, all right then. Doesn't Even Paul the Apostle say that regarding his weakness, that's when he's the strongest? That's the secret. acknowledging that more excellent way.
Point number two tonight is this: the discipline of duty is desiring the will of God. This is fun. Knowing the will of God, maybe you're brand new to. knowing the Lord and you're getting to know the will of God by reading his word. Guess what's the natural, supernatural effect?
It's number two, you want to, you now desire. You find yourself desiring the will of God. Are you guys you guys are so quiet? Does this message stink or are you sleeping? What is it?
Okay, you all right? I've never heard you quite this. No, no, no, that's okay. I just wanna make sure you're okay. It's hard for me to see you.
It's bright up here, and I'm wondering, is anyone out there? When God moves in your life, Your desires change. Hey, what does the Bible say? Not my will, but thy will be done. Jesus says it, and the disciples wind up living it.
And here we are 2,000 years later. And that's the big struggle with all of us, isn't it? Lord, I don't want my will to be done. Lord, save me from myself. Lord, don't let me get involved.
You get involved through me. Yeah. Any of you in leadership? Areas of life, pray this prayer. Lord, establish your authority.
Ruin my life. Don't say Lord establish my authority Yeah. You don't have any, dude. You're dreaming, man. You know, one of the greatest living examples that you'll ever see, and you've seen it.
And I've read it in other places, the same effect he has on people around the world. Is what you don't even have to know who General Boykin is. When he walks into the room, people realize. I think we should stand up straighter. Why?
Whoever that guy is, He just makes me want to stand up straighter. You know what I'm talking about? That is God establishing His authority through a human being. That's awesome. I think David was like that.
I know Joshua was like that. Joshua showed up and people sat up straighter. Why? You know what? You do that.
Listen. That's a God thing. And when a leader is like that, they say, listen. We're going to follow the Lord tomorrow. We're going to go into battle, Joshua might say.
And listen, we're completely outnumbered. They have chariots. We don't. We have. little spears, they've got steel and armor.
There's 100 million of them and there's 60,000 of us. We're in the valley and they're on the mountaintops. But our God is going to go with this. And you know what? When people heard that, they went.
You rock, Joshua. Let's do this. Jesus says to each of us individually, I tell you what. Let me tell you a little bit of something. The grave, I whipped it.
Sin It's grip broken. I sent my Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. He's been here ever since. And all you have to do is be dependent and yield it to the Holy Spirit's leading and watch what He does in your life. And so I'm with you.
All the way to the ends. of the earth and to the end of your life. I'll never leave you or forsake you. Yes, Lord.
So then he says, are you ready? And what is your response? I don't know. What if Rice? Desiring the will of God says, you know what?
And I love new believers for this reason, they're so fun. No one's told them they can't do anything yet. They read in the Bible, and then Jesus raised the dead, and the new believer reads that and goes, Find me, where's a hospital? I got to get out of here. I'm serious.
You want to grow up? Go find yourself a new believer. Start hanging out with new believers. Yeah. Pastor and Bible teacher Jack Hibbs here on Real Life Radio with his message called The Discipline of Duty.
We're so glad you took the time to spend with us today. You know, this message is part of Pastor Jack's series called Disciplines of Life, a series on the disciplines that God builds into the Christian life. The trials, the setbacks, the hard seasons, he uses those to shape a believer's character. and to deepen our faith. And we'll continue on the next edition of Real Life Radio.
Hey my friends, come with me on our Bold Faith Hawaii cruise, June 12th to the 19th, 2027. This time, we're going to set sail for seven unforgettable days with myself, Dr. Frank Turek, and special worship with Gia Lucid. It's going to be a breathtaking trip. This is more than a vacation.
It's a time of rest, renewal, fellowship, and spiritual strength in the Word of God, all centered around the Bible. You can reserve your spot by going to jackkibbs.com. Hey, thank you again so much for listening. And if you'd like to hear or see more of what we do here, you can always go to jackhibbs.com for all the latest on what's going on with this ministry. And please, if you're ever in the Southern California area, come see us at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills.
We'd love to see you there in person. It has been so good to be with you today, and I pray you find yourself in the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. See you on the next episode. This program is made possible by the generous contributions of you, our listeners. Visit us at jackhibbs.com.
That's jackhibbs.com. Until next time, Pastor Jack Hibbs and all of us here at Real Life Radio wish for you solid and steady growth in Christ and in His Word. We'll see you next time here on Real Life Radio.
