Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. Don't write anyone off. We have a great God who loves the world.
So great that His love came. To very undeserving people like you and me, and the grace of God. God brought the gospel to you. entity, have compassion for people. Share Christ.
Go into the harvest field. reach the lost for Jesus. Welcome to The Verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. Most people want to make a difference. But what does that mean to you?
Today on the verdict, we're being challenged to see people through the eyes of Jesus. At work, at school, or in your neighborhood, followers of Jesus Christ have the privilege and responsibility to be used by God in the lives of others. Here's Pastor John Monroe with his message, reaching the lost. Have you noticed that opposition to the gospel and to the word of God is becoming sharper? Many churches are focusing less on biblical truth and substituting political commentary or social justice or prosperity platitudes.
But how are we to interact with our world? Certainly not ignore it, certainly not become like it, as Christ calls us to be countercultural. Last time we saw the Lord Jesus having a fascinating conversation with a Gentile woman, a pagan. We learned that we are to have a compassionate heart for all nations, for all cultures. We are to see people in terms of their need of a savior rather than in terms of their ethnicity or political or social identity.
Let's learn how to reach out to those who are different from us. Matthew chapter 15 Verse 21, Jesus went away from there. and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, the Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David. My daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.
But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, Send her away, for she's crying out after us. He answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But she came and knelt before him saying, Lord, help me. And he answered.
It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs. She said, Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table. Then Jesus answered her, Or woman. Great.
is your faith. Be it done for you as you desire. and her daughter was healed. Instantly. What a wonderful passage of scripture, isn't it?
Reminding us that people of all nations, of all cultures, need Jesus. Here is a woman. Her people, the Canaanites, are enemies of the Jews. She's defiled. She's unclean.
She's unholy. She's the most unlikely candidate for salvation. But she hears about Jesus. She realizes her need of Jesus, and she believes that Jesus has the power to cast out the demon. What does Jesus say?
Verse twenty eight, Jesus answered her, O woman, Great is your faith. Space.
Now, as we think of the Lord dealing with this woman in these verses. You think of his compassion. Think of the Lord's compassion for all natures. and all cultures. I wonder if we're like that.
I wonder how you would have dealt with this woman. I I think many of us would have been like the disciples. Yeah. Cow way, I mean. You're a woman, you're an outcast, you're a Canaanite.
I mean, go away. You don't belong to us. You're an outsider. You're not going to be part of following Jesus Christ. The fact is, Jesus is teaching his disciples that everyone needs salvation.
Don't write people off. Don't limit God. Don't say this Canaanite woman should go away. Don't say she's intruding. I mean, who would have thought?
That this Pagan Syro-Phoenician woman would trust in Jesus Christ. Men who had the Old Testament scriptures, who knew. The law much, much better than this woman. They're rejecting Jesus. They will have nothing to do with him.
They're conspiring, in fact, to kill him. And this very, very unlikely woman is now brought into the kingdom of heaven. How wonderful. Do you notice in the Gospels that the disciples want to send people away? Matthew 14, 15, when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, This is a desolate place.
In other words, what are we doing here? Time to go home. And the day is now over. Send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves. I mean, let's get rid of them.
We're tired of them. Send them away. Chapter 15. As we read verse twenty-three. His disciples came and begged him, saying, send her away, for she's crying out after us.
D.L. Moody says, Jesus sent no one away empty except those who are full of themselves. Do you want to send away people? Do you keep your own little group? Do you ignore people?
Who are different from you? I'm saying to you today, don't see people. in terms of ethnicity. Colour. political or sexual identity or social status.
See them in terms of their need for a Saviour. You know Our world, in fact our country, more and more wants to divide us all up, doesn't it? But from a Christian perspective. We see people differently, don't we? We see people in need.
of a Saviour, whoever they are. People of all races, all religions and cultures and lifestyles. Abundant opportunities all around us. I'm going to ask you. to reach out to someone.
Who's different from you? different ethnicity, different different culture. Different colour of skin. different political persuasion. It's amazing how as Christians That sometimes we divide people even as to how they vote, as if that's the most important thing about us.
So well this person's uh A Democrat, oh dear, a Democrat coming to church? I mean, how could you have a Democrat coming to church? Or, how could you have one of these right-wing Trump guys? Coming to church. What are we going to do?
Isn't it amazing? Again, the world is setting our agenda. And we forget. The most important thing about people is not how they vote. It's not the color of their skin.
It's not their language that they speak. It's their needs. of Jesus Christ. Lost people. Matter to Jesus and should matter to us, particularly those from other cultures.
You acknowledge your prejudices. You're only sharing Jesus with your own group. See, the need is transcending. And our Lord Jesus Christ, this is wonderful. I love that title of Jesus, that is the Savior of all the world.
That he transcends all boundaries and nations and cultures and prejudices and social classes. He's the savior of the world. And we read in Revelation 5:9: people will be ransomed for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. Not wonderful.
Now there's a second principle here. And it it is to treat each person with compassion. and understanding. Verses 29 through 31. And Jesus went on from there, walked beside the Sea of Galilee, and went up in a mountain and sat there, and great crowds came to him.
One woman in Lebanon, but now great crowds come to him. bringing with him the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet. And he healed them. One woman at his feet asking for mercy. People with all of their physical problems come.
And they sit at the feet. of the Lord Jesus.
So that the crowd wondered. When they saw the mute speaking, The crippled healthy, the lame walking, the blind seeing, and they glorified the God of Israel. How wonderful! See, the gospel is for everyone, irrespective of situation or location. Yes, a solitary woman in the district of Tyre insides and meets Jesus, but now great crowds meet him by the Sea of Galilee.
Different people with different needs, did you notice it? The lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, all are brought to Jesus and He heals them all. And we're going to read in verse 32 that he has compassion for the crowds. And what do they do? 31.
They, Jew and Gentile, glorified. The God of Israel. Will you build bridges to people? Relate to them where they are. We're told that between 80 to 90 percent of new converts To the Christian faith are initially contacted by individual believers within their context.
of their neighbourhood. Their work? The school? People living their daily lives. You're going around your daily life, going for a walk, going to the gym, going to the office.
Meeting people, 80 to 90 percent of people who come to Jesus Christ have their first contact not through a church. Not through listening to a radio or a or a television preacher but by Followers of Christ. Getting to know people where they are. and relating to them with compassion. and understanding.
Listen to Paul. As he gives us instruction on this in Colossians 4, verse 5. Colossians 4 verse 5. He says, walk in wisdom toward outsiders. The lost have wisdom.
Please have wisdom. Making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious. Please. Please.
Do you disagree with someone? Always be gracious. Seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Each person is different.
So that person is different. You're wondering, have you got any conversation to them about Jesus? As for wisdom, so that you will know how to answer each Person. And then Peter And first Peter Three. Verse 15, He says, in your hearts, honor Christ the Lord is holy.
Being always prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Do it with Gentleness. And Respect. And respect means that if someone says I appreciate what you're saying. I don't want to hear it.
You can't force it. Be respectful. They're individuals made in the image. of Good. And Jesus comes and he heals the mute.
And they give sight to the blind. Their voices now are used to glorify God. Their eyes see Christ. Is your tongue being used for God? Will you accept responsibility where God and His sovereign purposes has placed you?
Jesus has told us earlier that we are to be salt and light. Not everyone will respond. There'll be opposition. Yes, there will be. Don't expect everyone immediately to receive Christ.
You're to sow seed, you're to display Christ, you're to be kind, you're to be loving, you're to be respectful to every single individual.
so that the love of Christ and the truth of Christ will circle the world. First principle. People of all nations and cultures need Jesus. Secondly, treat each person with compassion and understanding. Third, look to Jesus for supernatural power and resources.
As you listen to me, you say, John, I understand this, and I think you're absolutely right. I should be telling more people about the Lord Jesus. I've got next-door neighbors that I've never spoken to, I've got a colleague at work. That we get on very well, but I've never shared Christ with them. And quite honestly, this is very, very difficult.
You don't know the tough people I work with. And uh while I know I should do it, I I don't know if I can handle this. All of us are there, aren't we? I'm saying look to Jesus. for supernatural power.
and resources. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, I have compassion on the crowd because they've been with me now three days and have nothing to eat, and I'm unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way. compassion. I hope you're compassionate. And the disciples said to him, Where are we?
To get enough bread in such a desolate place. Notice how they always talk about the desolate place. We want to get home. I want to get back to Copernaum. This is a desolate place.
Where are we going to get enough bread in such a desolate place to feed so great a crowd? Jesus said, How many laws do you have? They said seven and a few small fish. And directing the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. Notice verse 37, and they all ate.
and were satisfied. And they took up seven baskets full of the broken pieces left over. Those who ate were 4,000 men, beside women and children. And after sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.
Okay. To meet the challenge. We need the Lord's help. We need His resources. The Syrophoenician Prayed as we may pray, Lord, help me.
I cannot do this by myself. Lord, we're in a desolate place. There's no stores, there's no shops. How can we have enough bread to feed this thousand? There's 4,000 plus women and children.
I mean, this is utterly impossible. And all we have are these seven loaves and a few fish. This is different from the feeding of the 5,000. This is the feeding of the 4,000. You understand it?
In their own power and in their own resources, they're totally unable to meet the challenge. No resources, no shops, but. Did you notice with Jesus? Every single person ate and was. Satisfied.
The needs of the crowd are met and More. You've experienced this as a follower of Jesus, haven't you? You've asked for grace. You've asked for help. And the Lord gives you grace upon grace.
upon grace.
So there's a psalmist says, My cup. Over. Floats. I asked some of you how you're doing, and you say, I'm overwhelmed with the grace of God. You have experienced that in your family, in your life, haven't you, in a situation where God's grace has been poured on you.
I've experienced that. Many of you have experienced that. And you realize, I didn't deserve this, this is of God. Isn't that wonderful to see God? At work.
Think of the thousands around us and we said, Well, what can we do at church? The challenge is immense. I'm reminding you. that the Lord's power and the Lord's resources are infinite. All that the disciples needed were were given to them by God.
By Jesus. What do you have? Seven loaves and a few fi I I I can take that, I can use them. And he gives thanks and he multiplies and multiplies. and multiple times.
So here's my question for you. As you share Christ's Are you drawing on the Lord's Supernatural. Resources. You're asking God for wisdom, you're asking God for help, you're asking God for His grace, you're asking God to open doors, and you're asking God for the right words to speak to that person. Are you sure?
Hudson Taylor said, all of God's great men have been weak men. who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them. That's it. in ourselves utterly inadequate. We cannot handle this God.
That's good. That's good that you acknowledge that.
Now what do you have?
Well, we've got seven loaves and a few fish. Give that to me. What do you have? What resources do you have? What opportunities do you have?
Do you have a home? to be used for the Lord? Your contacts are business. Have you got unbelieving friends?
Well, what are your gifts? What are your talents? What are you good at? You can hit a golf ball pretty good. Who do you play with?
You go to the gym to work out, you you like that. God gives you the strength, the ability to do that. What about those next to you? What do you have in your hands? What what's your situation?
You're the leader of a project at work and you have an opportunity. There. What's in your hands? Give them to the Lord. The Lord will multiply.
The Lord will bless you amazingly. That is, you look to Jesus, you draw on his supernatural power. There's an old hymn that says, Out of his infinite riches he giveth, giveth, and giveth and giveth again. God, listen to this. God will give you all that you need to do his will.
If you are honest before God and you say, I want to do your will, I want to reach my neighbors, I want to communicate the gospel to this person, I want to be used by you, Lord. God will give you. I guarantee it. God will give you all of the resources. All of the wisdom, all of the power to do his will.
The question is: are you going to do his will rather than your own? Who does the healing? The Lord. Who casts the demon out of the Daughter of the Syrophoenician. Jesus.
Who feeds the multitude? Jesus. Who does he use in the feeding of the 4,000? the disciples. And when we understand that by ourselves we can do nothing.
That apart from abiding in the vine, we can do nothing, but as we abide in Christ, we will bear much fruit and will do that with much joy.
So abide in Christ. I'm asking you to reach out to someone. who spiritually lost. I read this week. that Americans' membership in houses of worship That's churches, synagogues.
Mosques. It's not just Christian. But Americans' membership in houses of worship continued to decline last year, dropping below 50% for the first time in Gallup's eight-decade trend. In 2020, 47 of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue, or mosque. Down from 50% in 2018, and in 1999, not all that long ago.
Seventy percent of people Said they belong to a house of worship. No It's forty Yeah. Less and less people going to church. I assume less than nice people going to the synagogue. Probably more and more people going to the mosque, I don't know.
But in terms of churches Now you realize that's dealing with all churches. liberal and conservative, whatever it is. Less and less people. going to church. What an opportunity to invite someone.
Marna Research said on any Sunday morning, one out of four unchurched people would willingly attend a church service if a friend would invite them to do so. That unlikely character, that Zyra Phoenician woman. Mm. That person who really seems odd, who really seems out of it. Do you ever think of inviting Then we invite someone, we engage with someone, we share Christ.
No, it's not just a matter of inviting people to church, that's a good step, but to build a bridge. To them, to pray for the lost. Will you reach the last? Will you trust God? Don't write anyone off.
We have a great God who loves the world.
So great that his love came. To very undeserving people like you and me, and the grace of God. God brought the gospel to you. and to me, have compassion for people. Share Christ.
Go into the harvest field. Reach the lost. For Jesus, help us. To do that, we pray our Father. Under Gods.
We confess We get very comfortable in our own situation. We sometimes just deal with our own little group. Thank you for opening our eyes. Guide us. Help us, Father, we pray.
May your mercy be on us in Christ's 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 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? When did you last speak to someone of a different ethnicity or culture? I'm challenging you to reach out to people who are different from you and who desperately need to know the Lord Jesus Christ. As followers of Jesus, we are to be compassionate and respectful to everyone. Draw on the power and love of the Lord Jesus as you tell others that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Reach out to the lost. with the love of God. 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.
