Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. When we come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, God gives us a beautiful, a marvelous, and unbelievable gift. The gift. of the Holy Spirit. who not only indwells us, Who not only teaches us, but gives us the power, the supernatural power, to live for God.
Welcome to the Verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. The Christian life is not a difficult life, it's an impossible life. That is, if you're trying to do it all on your own. Our human strength is simply not enough. But today we're discussing the life-changing impact of the supernatural power we're given through the Holy Spirit.
We're continuing our study on next steps in following Jesus. Here's Pastor John Monroe to introduce today's message. Being an authentic follower of Jesus is not easy. In fact, Not only is it difficult, it is impossible. That is impossible in our own strength.
Following Jesus is a supernatural life, the life of Christ in us. The promise of the gospel Is that Christ lives within us? That's mind-blowing. and it's true for all authentic followers of Jesus. Today, We continue the series and next steps in following Jesus.
and are thinking of supernatural power. There's nuclear power, atomic power, economic power, political power. But here is a far greater power. The power of God revealed in the gospel. and the power of God in your life.
You're finding it hard going as you follow Jesus? Here now is supernatural power. For a number of years Many years ago, my life revolved around a soccer ball. Like many boys in Scotland, my greatest ambition was to play for Scotland's national team.
So, every free moment, I played soccer. I kicked any ball that there was. I was told as a boy I was a very good player, I certainly thought I was, and what I lacked in skill I made up in sheer determination. My mother used to say that she knew whether I had won or lost a game by how I threw down my soccer boots when I came in the door. Several years ago, I was asked to speak at a Christian youth camp.
In Scotland, and I went back to it. A camp, in fact, many years previously, where I'd come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. And one of the traditions of that camp, which continued, and I was the speaker at it, was that the men at the camp, the counselors, the speaker, whoever was there, that we played the boys, the high schoolers, 15, 16, 17-year-olds. I remember being a teen at camp and playing. What I thought were these old men, and we loved it.
They thought they were so good, but inevitably at 15, 16, 17, you seem to have boundless energy, and we usually had no difficulty in beating these men. And so there I was, no longer a boy, obviously, now a man. And I was asked to play against the boys. I knew the captain of the team, who was a friend of mine, and he very kindly asked me where I wanted to play. He probably suspected, as indeed was the case, that I had long passed my peak.
I think I peaked about eight or nine years old. From then it was downhill. And So I had played midfield But I knew that my running ability wasn't as good as it used to be. And so I said, could I play striker? I thought I can stay up front, not too much running around, maybe head the ball, get a lucky shot into the goal.
During the game, which seemed to be a very long game, During the game, the captain of the team, this man who was playing defence, and was an excellent. Uh player. Um put through a beautiful ball right to me which split open the defence. All I had to do was to run on to the ball. Put it past the defender and into the goal.
I knew exactly. what I wanted to do. But as I began to run towards the ball, I had that strange sensation you have when you're dreaming. You're putting a lot of effort, but you don't seem to be moving forward. And I felt like that.
My brain was alert. I knew where the defenders were. I knew where the goalkeeper was. I knew where the ball was. I knew exactly what was going on.
I was also aware of the crowd watching. My big problem wasn't knowing what to do. My big problem was the execution. And by the time I had arrived at the ball I I was puffing and panting. And when I finally kicked the ball, It was a very pathetic shot at goal.
and the goalie had no difficulty in stopping it. I knew what the Scottish crowd were saying. His grandmother could have done better than that. And they were right. They were right.
I was glad when the game was over and I realized my soccer days were also over. Why do I tell that story? Because in many ways, It's a bit like the Christian life. We Are told from Scripture we are to follow Jesus Christ. We're told to do certain things and told not to do certain things.
And the problem often isn't knowing what we should do or what we shouldn't do. The problem is that we so often seem to lack the power to do it. And I want to say this morning. That following Jesus Christ is not a difficult life, it is an impossible life. That is an impossible life in and of ourselves.
But this morning, I have tremendous news for you. Good news. We who follow Jesus Christ, if we are authentic followers of Jesus Christ, if we truly know Christ as our Savior and Lord, God gives us. Supernatural power. The sad thing is many of us don't avail ourselves of that power.
But I want you to grasp this this morning: that God in His grace not only forgives our sins. but indwells us So that the very power of God is available to us. Let me ask you to stand. And to read this verse that will be the basis of this message. It is from Galatians 2, verse 20.
Read it. with me. Paul is writing, he says, Let me get it in my Bible. Here it is. I have been crucified with Christ.
It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. and the life I now live in the flesh. I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Please be seated. Here is the point.
Paul is making an extraordinary statement, a radical statement. He's saying, Christ lives in me. Jesus said to his disciples in John 15, Apart from me, you can do. Nothing. Paul says in Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
So we have to acknowledge that by ourselves Left to ourselves, we cannot please God. Following Jesus, the Christian life is not a do-it-yourself life, it is a supernatural life. And that when we come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, God gives us a beautiful, a marvelous, an unbelievable gift. The gift. of the Holy Spirit.
who not only indwells us, Who not only teaches us, but gives us the power, the supernatural power to live for God. This is the next step in following Jesus, supernatural power. If you're visiting with us, I should explain that we. Are you going through a short series called Next Steps in Following Jesus? What does it mean to follow Jesus?
Today we're saying following Jesus involves supernatural power.
Now, before we think of that, we have to understand that salvation itself is a supernatural. event. If you have your Bible there, turn with me to the fourth Gospel, John chapter 16, where we will see, first of all, that the Holy Spirit, who is God, convicts us of our sin. One of the wonderful ministries of God the Holy Spirit is that He convicts us of sin. Here is Jesus speaking in John chapter 16.
And we'll break into the passage at verse 7. This is part of what we call the upper room ministry of our Lord. John 16, verse 7. Jesus is speaking to his disciples, is speaking to us today and saying this. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth.
It is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the helper, a reference to the spirit, will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
Now don't let's verse it. And when he comes, that's God the Holy Spirit. He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. Concerning sin, because they do not believe in me. Concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you will see me no longer.
Concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. This is one of the wonderful ministries of the Holy Spirit. Here is something supernatural that God, the Holy Spirit, convicts us of our sin. Because from a spiritual perspective, We are blind. Spiritually speaking, we are lost.
Left to ourselves, we cannot understand spiritual truth. Left to ourselves, we will never find God. In fact, we don't even seek God. But God And his Holy Spirit. God the Holy Spirit works supernaturally in us.
And Jesus is saying here in verse 8: when he comes, and the Spirit has come, he will convict the world concerning sin. I trust you've experienced that. Do you say, what does that mean, John? It means that God the Holy Spirit works in our hearts, works in our minds. And opens our eyes supernaturally so we look at things differently.
And one of the things that the Holy Spirit does, He reveals to us the ugliness of our sin. Oh, outwardly, we look pretty good, we're respectable. Most of us are not serving time in a penitentiary. We're not necessarily guilty of some heinous sin, people would say, but we all know that we have sinned. And one of the things the Holy Spirit does, He convicts us of our sin.
It's not just enough to say all have sinned.
Now we begin to understand that I have sinned. that my heart is deceitful and d desperately wicked. And at the same time, the Holy Spirit also opens our eyes to see the beauty and the loveliness of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only sinless one, and the one who came to bear our sins in His own body on the tree. John Bunyan, writer of Pilgrim's Progress, writes: No sin against God can be little. Because it is against the great God of heaven and earth.
But if the sinner can find out a little God, it may be easy to find out little sins. But the work of the Holy Spirit is to say, no, God is great, God is holy, God is light, in Him, there is no darkness at all. And the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts. Penetrates the hardness of our hearts and reveals to us sin. Yes, specific sins, not just sin in general.
but sins that we have committed. and then points us You are great. Saviour. Have you experienced your sin? To realize that you have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
This is what the Holy Spirit does. But the Holy Spirit not only convicts us of our sin, that is supernatural. The Holy Spirit also gives us new life. Regeneration. If you're in John chapter 16, go back to John chapter 3.
Where we will see this, an amazing conversation between Jesus and a man, a man called Nicodemus, according to the first verse of John 3, a man who is a Pharisee, in fact, a ruler of the Jews. Man who came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you're a teacher, come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. Pretty impressive, isn't it? Man seems sincere. Seeker after truth.
Recognizes in Jesus that he comes from God, who's right. Recognizes that no one can do the things that Jesus is doing unless God is with him. Very, very true. But notice Jesus' response, verse 3. John 3:3, Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he's old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, He cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, you must be born again.
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it goes.
So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. Use that expression, born of the Spirit. convicted by the Spirit.
So that we realize that we've sinned. But here is a wonderful supernatural Ministry of the Spirit. In fact, only God can do this. To take someone who is spiritually dead and make that person spiritually alive. Alive.
And this is what the Holy Spirit does, because we are spiritually speaking, we're dead. Dead in our trespasses and in sins. But says Jesus to Nicodemus, a respectable man, a sincere man, a man who knew his Bible. A ruler, a teacher, a respectable individual. He says, Nicodemus, you must be born again.
You need God's supernatural life in your soul.
So it is that becoming a follower of Jesus is a supernatural event. A supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. It is only the Holy Spirit who can give you spiritual life. Oh, you can join the church, you can even serve in the church, you can do many things. But unless you're born of the Spirit, Nicodemus, and I say to you this morning, You cannot see.
Far less enter the kingdom of God. The message to Nicodemus. The message to you, the message to me is you must be born again. Nicodemus was in for a shock. He didn't understand it.
Was Jesus saying that I've got to go into my mother's womb again? No, he's talking about spiritual life. A spiritual recreation. All of The religious deeds and rituals and the sincere efforts of Nicodemus could never ever get them into the kingdom of God. Can I say to you?
You will not enter the kingdom of God. I will not enter the kingdom of God unless. were born again. You must. Be born.
Again. It was told of the great preacher George Whitfield that rarely, if ever, when he was preaching, he did not say, you must be born again. And a woman came to him and said, Mr. Whitfield, why do you keep saying, you must be born again? He said, Madam, because you must be born again.
And you must. Notice the necessity of it, the divine necessity. This is not just joining a church, this is not just embracing some religion. This is not just going through a ritual. This is not you yourself trying to clean up your life.
This is supernatural. This is something that only God can do. And Jesus makes that clear in verse 6. He says, that which is born of the flesh is flesh. Physical life produces physical life.
But that which is born of the Spirit God Himself is spirit. That is, the physical and the spiritual are two entirely different dimensions of life.
So all of our efforts All of our sincerity. All of our morality and goodness and kindness can never produce spiritual life. By ourselves, we cannot produce eternal life.
However, hard we try, we cannot make it on our own. This is very difficult for us, isn't it? Because we think we can bring something to the table. No, but when the Holy Spirit comes and convicts us and realizes how sinful we are, we realize that the remedy lies not within our own heart. But The remedy is supplied in Jesus Christ, who comes from God to us and in his spirit.
We are born again. Billy Graham says, God created us, only God can recreate us. God gave you physical life, only God can give you spiritual life. Jesus Christ not only died for our sins on the cross and was buried. Remember, he rose again, he's alive.
And his life. comes Into us, giving us this unique spiritual life, born again, born from above. God radically changes us. From the inside out. Attending church, religion can deal with the external.
May relieve you of some guilt for some time. But only God Can do this work in you. A radical work of cleansing, a radical work of giving you new life. This is the gift of God. The spirit Convicts us.
He regenerates us, born again. Third, the Holy Spirit indwells us. Let's see this in Romans chapter 8. These are shoot subjects. I'm just skimming over the surface.
But third, the Holy Spirit indwells us. Romans 8, verse 9. This magnificent chapter, one of the great chapters in the Bible, Romans 8, verse 9. Paul writes, you however are not in the flesh. But in the spirit, he's writing to those who've been born again.
You're not in the flesh, you're in the spirit. If, in fact, the spirit, capital S, the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ. does not belong to him. Isn't this magnificent?
Think of what God supernaturally does. And so there I was. a 12-year-old boy at a camp to play soccer. And something miraculous happened. I was saved by the grace of God.
Not only are all of my sins forgiven, I receive the gift of eternal life. The Holy Spirit comes. and indwells and a little twelve-year-old. Bye. Isn't that marvelous?
This is the grace of God. Being convicted by the Spirit. Being born again of the Spirit. And now indwelled by the Spirit. Isn't this what Paul means in Galatians 2:20, the verse we read?
He says, Christ lives. Present tense, Christ lives in me. This Christ. Who rose from the dead, who's alive. It's not just he remotely, as it were, forgives my sin.
No, he actually comes and in his spirit, in dwells me, takes his permanent residence in all who are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. And the Christian life must never ever be reduced to just going through some religious rituals, joining a church, or doing good things. It is a supernatural life. It is a supernatural event. This is radical, indwelled by the Spirit of God's Son.
Do you believe that? Anyone believe that? A few half-hearted yeses. The Holy Spirit. who it dwells us.
will never leave us. That This salvation is a supernatural event.
Now if you grasp this, Here is the application. You are now to live. in the power of that Holy Spirit. This is the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. There's still more to hear when John returns in just a moment, so stay with us.
From matters of truth and identity, to the subjects of love and grace, our world seems more confused than ever. but to find truth and certainty about who we are and find peace, we must turn our attention away from the world and look to the Word of God. To help you do that, John wrote a booklet titled Eternal Security, Finding Certainty in a Chaotic World. Through this special resource, John shares his personal testimony, along with a careful examination of Scripture, to offer us clarity on matters of eternity. Get your copy today by visiting our website at theverdict.org.
While you're there, consider making an investment in this Bible teaching ministry. Whether it's $5, $50, or more, your gift today helps cover the cost of sharing these gospel messages to listeners around the world. And if you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to the Verdict Podcast, featuring John's weekly podcast exclusive called Avizandam. It's available wherever you get your podcasts, or simply go to our website. Again, that's theverdict.org.
The verdict is a ministry of Calvary Church in South Charlotte. We're located on the corner of Highway 51 and Ray Road. If you've been looking for a church home or a community to help you grow in your walk with Christ, We invite you to join us for our Sunday services. For more details about Calvary and our service times, visit theverdict.org.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? Have you experienced the power of God in your life? The Apostle Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. Because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. This is the greatest power in the universe, the power of Almighty God.
and it is available to you. If you humble yourself, turn from your sin, and ask the Lord Jesus to save you. to come into your life. Are you availing yourself of this power? Join me next time as we continue to follow Jesus and to experience supernatural power.
Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
