Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. Whatever we're doing, This is what Paul is saying. Whatever you do, you do to the glory of God.
So, God's will for me today is that I do everything to the glory of God. Tomorrow morning, as you go to work, whatever that is, whatever you find you're doing. You're to do it to the glory of God our Savior. This is where God's will for us begins. Welcome to the verdict with Pastor John Monroe.
This daily program is a media ministry of Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. It's a popular thing to say follow your heart. but following our own sinful desires can lead to all kinds of trouble. When we live for the glory of God, He guides us day by day and step by step. Today we're concluding our study on next steps in following Jesus.
Here's Pastor John Monroe. Today, we conclude our study on next steps in following Jesus as we consider. doing the will of God. One of the supernatural desires God gives us when we believe in His Son. Is the spiritual desire to live for God?
The wonderful thing then is that God leads us throughout our lives. God doesn't play hide and seek with us. as we humbly submit to His will. As we daily pray and study His Word, the Lord will lead us. He often does not reveal a blueprint for our lives, but wants us humbly to live by faith each day.
Step by step. moment by moment. And as we'll see today, A good standard is to ask ourselves if what we are doing is for God's glory. or for our own.
So let's consider. Where God's will for you begins. Turn with me to First Timothy. Chapter 2. Verse 3, Paul writes: This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.
Who desires This is the will of God. Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth? How's that going to come about? Verse 5. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
God's will for you. God's will for me is that you are saved, that you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, that your sins are forgiven, that you receive the free gift of eternal life. This is God's will for you. Don't miss this. If you miss this, you've missed everything in life.
And you'll be eternally Lust. But God's will It's not only that you know Jesus Christ as your Savior. His will Is that you surrender to His Lordship? Who is he? He is the Lord Jesus Christ.
He comes As the Savior, it is true, but this one who comes to save is not just a man, he is the Lord, He's God incarnate. And so the gospel is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ. Isn't this wonderful? That Jesus Christ not only saves me, But He has a plan for my life.
Otherwise On the moment we were saved, he would take us to heaven. But he leaves us on earth. How long we're here, we don't know. But as long as we are here, I am to do his will. Is what God's will for me is, that my life is not lived in self-indulgence.
that I don't plan my own life. That is not based on my own desires or prejudices or agenda, but rather my life is surrendered to Jesus Christ. Here is a young woman, Pat Collins, forty years ago. Who hears that call? Are you willing to do God's will?
And she, as a young woman, says, Yes, Lord, I'm willing. And God presents her With this beautiful plan for her life, which is going to overflow in blessing to thousands and thousands. of children. No, secondly, I wanted to see this. That God's will is that you do what you're doing at present.
To the glory of God. I think we've made the subject of knowing God's will In a sense, too mysterious. But God's will Do you listen to me? is that you do what you're doing at present to the glory of God. Look at first Corinthians 10, verse 31.
A very short verse, but a key verse for us all. 1 Corinthians 10. Verse thirty one. Where Paul is saying we're to do everything. Everything.
to the glory of God.
So whether you eat Or drink. or whatever you do. Do all to the glory of God. Everything we do, including The routine things of life, the basic things of life, the trivial things of life, are to be none to the glory of God. This is the great principle in following Jesus.
Jesus Himself said in John 8, verse 50. Yet I do not seek my own glory. Here is the Lord of glory, God incarnate. When He is on earth, He is not seeking His own glory, He is seeking the glory of His Father. And when the comforter, when the healer of our heart comes, the Holy Spirit, what does he do?
He doesn't speak of himself, he always shines the light. on the Lord Jesus Christ. And so as we live our life, I'm to do everything. to the glory I've told the story before when I was practicing law at my The senior partner gave me a will to do, and it was a difficult will. And I struggled with the wretched thing.
Trying to get it. right, legally right, and to get it in a nice form of English. And I realized I wasn't doing it very well, and I was so frustrated. And so I finally went to him and I presented it to him knowing this was not my best work. And he looked at it.
And uh he asked me why I was frustrated. I said, well, I I I just just can't do this properly. And he sat me down. And he taught me a lesson I never forgot. He said, John, remember this.
When you're drafting a will, You're doing it to the glory of God. I said to her, I thought we were doing it to get paid. by our clients. Yes, that's helpful as well. We do want to make a profit.
But he said no. You're doing it to the glory of God. You mean making a will? A routine will, I'm doing this to the glory of God, yes. That transforms all of life, doesn't it?
That you're at home doing the dishes. You're a teller at the bank. You're a nurse in the hospital. You're a student, whatever we're doing. This is what Paul is saying.
Whatever you do, you do to the glory of God.
So, God's will for me today is that I do everything to the glory of God. Tomorrow morning, as you go to work, whatever that is, whatever you find you're doing, you're to do it to the glory of God. You say, well, I I'd I'd like to know more. I'd like God to reveal more of his will to me, and God sometimes graciously does that. But more usually What does he do as a guide?
He guides you. Step by step. Day by day, Moment by moment, You are to be faithful where you are. This is God's will for you, where God has placed you. You're to be faithful to Him today, doing His will.
Psalm 37:23, the steps of a man are established by the Lord. Step Step by step. Paul says in Colossians 3:23, Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men. They say, my boss is unreasonable. That may be true, but you're to work heartily.
This is God's will for you. You're to work heartily as for the Lord, not just for men. Our daily work is not something just to be endured. It's not something to do just so you can get some money or so you can Have a good time on the weekend or plan your retirement? Absolutely not.
This is an act of worship. To the Lord. This is God's will for you. This is God's will for me that we're to work heartily, enthusiastically, and faithfully. Paul says, Philippians 2:14, we are to do all things without grumbling or questioning.
When that revolutionized our society, Wouldn't that revolutionize our church? Wouldn't that revolutionize our homes? To do things without grumbling or questioning. You say, why? Philippians 2, 13, For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
That is that whatever we're doing has to have God in mind.
So I ask you, are you do you display Jesus in your work situation? This is God's will for you. Are you a complainer? You're really put out that you didn't get that promotion? You you're known.
As someone who doesn't work very hard, God's will for you. is that you work heartily. and faithfully And even in difficult circumstances, particularly in difficult circumstances, do it for the glory of God. Over the years, I don't know how many young men and young women that have come to me for advice, and they're often concerned about their future. I understand that.
What college should I attend? What career should I follow? And of course, who should I marry? By the way, I don't match make. I'm not going to take that responsibility.
But They are concerned about who they marry. Let me say this. If you're a student, And you desire to do the will of God, I'm thrilled. Because the vast amount of people Don't even ask God.
So I want to commend you. that you as a student as a young adult. Perhaps an older person, you truly, sincerely want to do God's will. I'm thrilled to hear it. And I'm going to tell you, students, What's God's will?
For you is. Are you ready for it? Study hard. You say, Oh. God's will for students Is that you study for the glory of God?
Don't be a lazy student. Don't waste your time. Don't be a party animal, but work hard and faithfully For the glory of God. Don't cheat. Don't plagiarize.
Don't copy someone's paper. Don't complain about the teacher or the professor. But do your studies honestly. Enthusiastically and faithfully to the glory of God. This is God's will for you.
You're a student. This is what you're to do.
Furthermore, In our Sleazy, sleazy. world. Do you know what God's will for you is? Yeah it is. 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 3, and this is the will of God.
Your sanctification, your holiness, that you abstain from sexual immorality. You see, I find sometimes people are thinking, oh, maybe God's going to lead me to be a missionary or into this career and that career, and who should I marry? And your life is a mess. You've compromised. And so Paul says Very, very directly.
Uh to the church at Thessalonica. This is God's will for you. That you live a holy life. that you abstain from sexual immorality. Living a life to the glory of God, living a holy life, living a pure life is much, much more important than what college you go to.
Or what career? You follow. And this I guarantee. As you work faithfully. As you work enthusiastically To the glory of God.
As you in God's grace seek to lead a holy life, I assure you. That your great guide, our Lord Jesus Christ, is well, well able to guide you. He's well, well able to open the doors of opportunity for you. And to make His will clear for you, we often make the will of God a tremendous. Mystery.
But Paul says those who have the Spirit of God are led by the Spirit. And as you portray the fruit of the Spirit, as you live a clean life to the glory of God. As you make a difference, as you keep your eyes every day on Jesus Christ. As you surrender your will to Christ, as you seek to be guided by the Holy Spirit, God is well able. to guide you.
You say, Well, I'd like to know the blueprint for my life, I know, but it's better that you don't. When I was younger, I thought that would be wonderful as well. I'm glad. God didn't reveal everything to me. But step by step Month by month, God will guide you.
Certainly plan ahead, but make sure your plans are subject to the will. Of God. This is very, very important. You see, God leads us and guides us. When we're living For his glory.
in the routine tasks of life. Here is Gideon. What's he doing? He's threshing wheat. When God calls them.
Here is a young boy, Samuel. Who's assisting Eli with the routine tasks of the tabernacle? And God speaks to him when he is serving in the tabernacle. Here is David. A teenager Taking care of sheep.
the youngest of his family, looked down by his brothers, taking care of sheep. when God calls them. to be the king of Israel Here is Matthew collecting taxes. doing a routine job when Jesus says, Matthew, follow me. Here are Peter and James and John and Andrew.
Mending nets and Casting nets. when Jesus comes. In the routine of their life, And says, Follow me. And I will make you fishers. of men.
Here is John Monroe practicing law in Scotland when God calls him, John. I'm calling you into full-time pastoral ministry.
So God guides and leads. calling ordinary people doing ordinary things to accomplish his extraordinary eternal purposes. Here's the point. Live a faithful life today. Live a holy life today to the glory of God, and God will lead you.
Francis Ridley Havergill said, to do God's work is a great thing, but to do his will, Is greater. This is the next step in following Jesus, knowing. and doing God's will. What a high privilege. You remember when Moses Finally, completed the construction of the tabernacle.
You read it in the last chapters of the book of Exodus. He'd given by God the detailed instructions. And now the tabernacle is complete. And when it was completed, something wonderful, miraculous happened. The glory of God, the Shekinah.
came down and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And how was God going to guide these Israelites? Miraculous. That glory of God which filled the tabernacle. was going to be revealed to them a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night.
And so as they went through the wilderness, They followed these pillars. A cloud by day. By fire, by night. What happened when the pillars stopped? They stopped.
When the pillar of fire stopped, they stopped. And they would look up and see that manifestation of the presence of God and the faithfulness of God and the glory of God. When the cloud moved, they moved. When the cloud stopped, they stopped. In the same way.
When you live for the glory of God, The glory of God will be your guide. Perhaps you're in a job situation. and you don't particularly like it. You say, what am I going to do? Stay where you are.
until the Lord clearly Guidia. Don't move just to get out of a difficult circumstance. The Lord may be teaching you. Maybe the Lord's going to do something miraculous. He's put you in a situation, stay there until the Lord, provided it's not sinful, obviously, stay there until the Lord.
guide you. Be guided by the principle of the glory of God. Reflecting. Gods. Glory.
I'm going to close. I have to ask you, do you know God? Are you saved by the grace of God? This is where the will of God for you begins. Turning from your sin and asking Christ to cleanse you.
God's desire is that each person here is saved by the grace of God. Wouldn't it be sad? That some of you here Miss. The will of God. And know about Christ, know about hymns, know about Thanksgiving, but don't know Christ.
In your heart. Will you trust him? And many of you are followers of Christ. Can I ask you afresh? to surrender your life to him.
Will you will you do that, Lord? What will you have me here? to do. Come, follow. That was all.
My gold grew dim, my soul went after him. Who would not follow if they heard him? Call. Christ calling you. You hear his voice?
Come. Follow me. You're trusting the Lord with all of your heart. Proverbs 3, 5 and 6 have guided me in life. What are we to do?
We're to trust the Lord with all of our heart. We're not to lean on our own understanding. We're to acknowledge God in all of our ways. And what will he do then? He will direct her paths.
What a promise. Don't lean on your own understanding. Don't set your own agenda in life. Surrender it to the Lord. Trust in the Lord.
With all of your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all of your ways acknowledge him. And he will direct. your path, this plan that God has for you. It's a beautiful plant. Yes, it's a perfect plant.
There's no need for you to panic. No need to be fearful. God is well able to guide you. Our Saviour goes ahead of us. Our Saviour is beside us.
Our Saviour is above us and underneath us. As David says, as for God, as well His way is perfect. This is the next step. in following Jesus. Knowing And doing as well.
Our Father and our God. We pause.
Some here. I have not trusted Christ. Open our hearts. Open their eyes. to see the beauty of Jesus.
Who loved us? And gave himself for us. May they flee to Christ. Many of us here, Father, are following Jesus, but we've got off track. Self-will, sin.
self-centeredness have crowded into our lives and We've put perhaps our life on automatic pilot. Thank you for this reminder that each day We're to live to your glory. Help us. Strengthen us.
Some here in the darkness need a reassurance that you are with them. Thank you that you hold us. with your righteous right hand, and you'll never let us Go. Guide us. as the perfect shepherd.
Lead us in the paths of righteousness for your name's sake. As we Once again say all for Jesus. All for Jesus. Not my will. But has been done.
And we ask it in His name. Amen. 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 the verdict.org. While you're there, consider making an investment in this Bible teaching ministry.
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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? Do you agree with Francis Ridley Havergill that to do God's work is a great thing? But to do his will is greater. It's a high privilege to do the will of God. Just as God led the children of Israel through the wilderness, so God through His Holy Spirit leads us day and night.
I trust you found our study on next steps in following Jesus to be helpful. Don't miss next time as we start an exciting new study in the Book of Esther. 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.
