Episode Details

We often wander through life thinking we are the masters of our own destiny, only to find ourselves "11 miles out at sea" without a compass. In this message, Pastor Mike Jenkins uses his own military testimony to illustrate the desperate state of being spiritually lost and the overwhelming grace that meets us when we finally surrender. From the fear of a Vietnam-era deployment to a divine appointment in a Spanish chow hall, this teaching explores the transition from being "unregenerate" to becoming a part of the Ecclesia—the body of Christ. -- He shares his 1975 testimony of being an 18-year-old in the Air Force, originally ordered to Thailand during the Vietnam War, and the fear that comes with facing mortality without faith. -- He explains the "U-turn" of his military orders to Spain as a physical manifestation of the spiritual turnaround God was about to perform in his life. -- He describes his first uncomfortable experience in a Pentecostal church, highlighting that God often uses the very things that make us squirm to get our attention. -- He breaks down "5-dollar church words" like justification and regeneration into simple, relatable concepts using the analogy of a boat lost in a sea fog. -- He emphasizes the "Tabletop Experience"—the importance of finding a community of believers, like the eight soldiers who poured into his life for three years, to help a new Christian grow. -- He concludes with a powerful reminder that while sin separates us from God, the "Message of Hope" is that no one is too far gone to be rescued and brought into the family of God. Scriptures for Further Study -- Isaiah 59:2 -- Ephesians 2:12 -- Luke 19:10