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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Solving Problems Through Prayer

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Charles Stanley

2 Chronicles 20:4-15

When the king of Judah called for a nationwide fast to seek God’s help, the people from every town convened to pray. Jehoshaphat’s actions and words teach us some important truths about solving life’s problems through prayer.

  • God is bigger than our problems. The king stated that God was the all-powerful ruler of nations, against whom no one could stand (v. 6). Many issues are beyond our ability to solve, but nothing is impossible for Him (Jer. 32:17; Matt. 19:26). If we pray while focusing on His greatness, our troubles will shrink to proper proportions.
  • God wants to involve others in praying with us. Entire families from throughout Judah answered the king’s call and came together before God (2 Chron. 20:13). Prayer had a central role in the life of the early church as well (Acts 2:42).
  • Through prayer, the Lord will give us a solution to the problem. His answer could be just what we asked or something entirely unexpected; He might tell us to wait in our current situation instead of taking action, or He could direct us to become involved in something new. In any case, God’s direction will be according to His perfect will. What’s more, He may ask us to take a step of faith. The Lord uses every opportunity to strengthen our trust and grow us in righteousness.

We don’t know how long the people waited for an answer, but they didn’t act until they heard from God. He told them not to be afraid or discouraged, but to trust Him. Prayer likewise brings us into God’s presence so we can receive strength and direction for life’s challenges.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Seeking God Through Prayer

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Charles Stanley

2 Chronicles 20:1-3

During the reign of Jehoshaphat, a vast army assembled to attack the nation of Judah. His response to the situation can guide us in handling our own crises.

The Bible records that the king “turned his attention to seek the LORD” in prayer (v. 3). Likewise, when we face hardship, our best response is to cry out to our heavenly Father. As God’s children, we can be certain that He loves us and cares about the details of our lives.

Through the cross, God established a new covenant for those who place their trust in the Lord Jesus (Luke 22:20)— He agreed to forgive our sins, adopt us into His family, and watch over us. This salvation depends not upon our good actions but upon the completed work of Jesus, who died in our place (Eph. 2:8). God also sent His Spirit to live in us as proof of our salvation and to be ever- present with us. He is interested in every aspect of our lives and promises to hear our prayers.

Jehoshaphat was ready for this crisis because he had developed the habit of seeking the Lord in various situations. If we want to be prepared for the unexpected, then we must discipline ourselves to seek God every day, acknowledging both His Lordship and our dependence upon Him.

By examining our habits and thought life, we can know whether our attention is on the Lord or other things. If we start our day thinking about Him instead of our own plans, and regularly read and apply Scripture, then we demonstrate a heart that is pursuing Him.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Passing Down the Faith

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Charles Stanley

 

Have you thought about what you will leave behind when you die? Most people think of possessions—family heirlooms, investments, and other property. But what kind of spiritual heritage will you leave for your children? Will they walk in the Lord’s ways as a result of your influence?

Leading a godly life doesn’t always mean that your children will follow the Lord, and forcing your beliefs on them usually backfires. What are some effective approaches to handing down your faith?

Godly parenting takes . . .

1) Principle: We must instruct our children in the ways of God.

  • Read Deuteronomy 6:4-7. How often were the people of Israel supposed to talk about their faith?

 

Notice they were told to teach their children “diligently” (Deut. 6:7). You may want to have a formal Bible study with your kids on a regular basis, but that isn’t always necessary. It can be more effective to connect daily events to principles in the Word of God during supper, for instance. At bedtime, read and discuss Bible stories with your children. When appropriate, tell them about your failures and the spiritual lessons you learned as a result.

  • Write out the spiritual truths—biblical principles or life lessons—that you would like to pass on to your children.

 

  • What can you do differently to instruct them more effectively in spiritual matters?

 

2) Pattern: Children learn more by watching us than by listening to what we say.

Your example is a key ingredient to passing down your faith. For example, if you blame others when things go wrong, children may learn to avoid taking responsibility. If you pray as a family when life is difficult, children learn they can go to God with their worries.

  • Jesus spoke about dealing with our own sins before trying to correct others (Luke 6:41-42). In what areas do you fail to make godly choices, especially around your kids?

 

  • Write down one way you could be a better example to your children.

 

3) Persistence: We pass on faith by doing the right thing consistently.

No parent is perfect. But those who do the right thing day by day—not just when it is convenient—make a powerful impression on their children.

Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”

  • What areas of parenting or living righteously have the potential to wear you out?

 

  • What motivates you to persevere in doing the right thing?

 

4) Participation: When we get involved in the lives of our children, we establish a caring relationship that makes it easier to communicate with them about our faith.

Without taking on their responsibilities, do your best to help your children with their problems. For younger kids, this may mean giving advice outright or helping them find the answer in God’s Word. Older children may prefer to talk through their ideas with you to reach a solution. If they say something with which you strongly disagree, try not to overreact. Instead, ask how they came to that conclusion. Keep the lines of communication open so you can guide them toward a biblical perspective.

  • Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.” How does this verse encourage you in your parenting struggles?

 

  • Name a specific way you could show more interest in the concerns or pastimes of your children.

 

5) Praise: The greatest motivation for learning is praise.

As a motivator, encouragement is more effective than constant correction. Spend more time praising your child for what he does right than you do critiquing his mistakes. Offer help if it’s needed, but don’t be overly demanding (Col. 3:21).

  • Proverbs 12:25 says, “An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up” (NIV). How does encouragement affect your children?

 

  • How could you apply 1 Thessalonians 5:14 to parenting?

 

6) Prayer: If you consistently pray with and for your children, you will demonstrate the importance of prayer.

Jesus set an example for us by praying in all types of situations. He prayed for the sick, for calm weather, and for miraculous provision. He prayed at the height of His popularity and when He anticipated persecution and suffering.

  • How should we pray, according to 1 Thessalonians 5:17? What do you think that means?

 

  • What are some situations in which you could pray with or for your children to make prayer a greater part of your relationship?

 

Prayer: Father, parenting is tough—I can’t do it without You. Grant me wisdom to respond appropriately in every situation. Draw each of my children closer to You, that they may honor You with their lives. Amen.

Adapted from “How to Keep Your Kids on Your Team” by Charles F. Stanley (1986).

 

Related Resources

 

Related Video

The Impact of a Godly Parent

Mothers and fathers have a tremendous influence on the success and happiness of their children later in life. That’s why it’s so important for parents to model the Christian life and purposefully instruct their sons and daughters in the ways of God. (Watch The Impact of a Godly Parent.)

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Scripture: God’s Perfect Book

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Charles Stanley

Psalm 119:9-16

Even in this age of technological marvels, there are still many people who suffer a deficiency exposed by a telltale sign: a flashing “12:00” on the oven clock. Isn’t it odd that a person can operate a motor vehicle at 70 mph, microwave an entire meal in three minutes, and navigate through the Internet’s information superhighway and yet not know how to set a simple clock?

Is the solution so complicated? Is the answer to this riddle so deeply hidden that only a few brave souls dare to seek it out? No, of course not! There’s only one reason why this technical tip-off is so common: people do not read the instruction book.

When we purchase a new gizmo or appliance, we always find within the package an instruction book. And what does this book contain? It has all the answers we need to get the most out of our new purchase.

Do you realize the Christian life is like that? Scripture declares that when a person comes to faith in Jesus Christ, he or she is a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17 NIV). To get the most out of our new life, we are given an instruction book: the Bible. This is far more than a simple guide that teaches how to act or what to say; this Book tells us exactly how to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Is your Christian walk stuck? Do you have the proverbial “12:00” flashing in your life, indicating that you have set aside your Instruction Book? Pick it up today for a fresh look, and enjoy God’s perfect how-to manual. You will not be disappointed.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Wandering From God’s Word

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Charles Stanley

Psalm 119:33-40

Assembling a toy or mechanical device rarely turns out to be as easy as the instructions claim. First, there is a myriad of parts that are expected to go somewhere. Next, the amount of time set aside doesn’t seem to be enough, and interruptions come more often than we want. Then, there are the instructions themselves, which typically leave out key points on how to finish the job.

Perhaps you have been viewing God’s instruction book—the Bible—in a similar way. There are those 66 books to read and apply. Then there’s the obstacle of insufficient time or interruptions that distract you. Or, it may seem as if additional training is needed to understand divine truth. Any one of these could cause us to veer away from Scripture. Even mature Christians can find themselves inattentive to the Bible. But when we wander from God’s Word, we soon wander from God and His ways.

What is it that you desire for your life? To please the Lord? To glorify Him? To rise above worries and fears and experience the abundant life (John 10:10)? For all of us who answer yes, our priority needs to be drawing closer to God. We do that by studying and applying His Word.

Are you willing to give God your undivided attention in order to nurture your relationship with Him? Will you put yourself under the control of His Holy Spirit to learn how to live an increasingly godly life? The rewards are great: knowing our Savior in ever-increasing fullness and living a life pleasing to God.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Understanding Salvation

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Charles Stanley

Ezekiel 18:4; Acts 2:21

Many people have an unscriptural idea of what salvation means, but the term is so basic to understanding Christianity that it merits our careful attention. We can define salvation as the gift of God’s grace, goodness, love, and mercy, whereby He provides forgiveness for your sin and mine.

The Bible explains that “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). All of us are sinners deserving of death (Isa. 53:6), but in His love and mercy, God made provision for our forgiveness: He allowed for atonement to be made by the shedding of blood (Lev. 17:11).

All of the Old Testament sacrifices foreshadowed what was to come, pointing to the once-for-all, substitutionary death of God’s sinless Son on the cross. Jesus took our place, receiving the punishment that was rightly ours. Indeed, mankind’s redemption was the purpose for which Christ came into the world (Luke 19:10). And so, salvation is related strictly to the person of Jesus Christ. That’s why John the Baptist proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

There is no acceptance before almighty God—no way to come to Him—apart from the Savior (John 14:6). Throughout Scripture, we see that salvation is a free gift that derives from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is not a result of good works; rather, a person who is saved will naturally produce good works. Have you chosen to receive God’s gift?

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Moving Heaven and Earth

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Charles Stanley

Hebrews 12:25-29

God wants us to be aware of Him, and He will shake our world—literally and figuratively—to make that happen.

The Old Testament records that to gain mankind’s attention, the Lord moved heaven and earth. Mt. Sinai quaked before Moses received the Ten Commandments (Ex. 19:18-19). God also told Judah that He would shake things up by overthrowing kingdoms, armies, and nations (Hag. 2:20-22).

God did the same sort of thing in New Testament times. At the crucifixion, an earthquake signaled destruction of the old way of life and establishment of a new covenant (Matt. 27:51). Shortly afterward, a group of believers were filled with the Holy Spirit, and the ground trembled again (Acts 4:31).

But geological and societal turmoil aren’t simply tactics of the past. God still shakes the world today. Every nation on earth “trembles” with concerns about the environment, health, famine, and its economy. Yet current issues will seem mild compared to the disasters and epidemics that will take place during the tribulation (Rev. 6). At that time, judgments of all kinds will be unleashed on the earth in order to get people’s attention.

God is sending the world a message: Mankind is not in control. Because He loves us, our Father will remove anything that we’ve trusted instead of Him—until we ultimately seek security only in our unshakable Lord.

Does God have your attention? Don’t wait for Him to take drastic measures. Be sure to give Him your undivided attention each day.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Requirements of a Godly Influence

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Charles Stanley

Daniel 1:1-17

Every believer has the responsibility to be a godly influence. Through our example and testimony, we are to help people gain a better understanding of Jesus Christ and the way to follow Him. From what the Bible tells us about the prophet Daniel, he was a man who used his influence wisely. His consistent witness impacted not just his friends but also four kings and their kingdoms.

Daniel possessed a strong conviction that every word of Scripture was true. He consequently declined to eat food from the king’s table, because Exodus 34:15 forbade consuming anything offered to idols (this was a common practice in Babylonia). Daniel’s commitment to God outweighed any fear of reprisal for turning down royal provisions.

The Lord honored Daniel’s conviction by ensuring that he found favor among powerful men. God also gave Daniel and his friends wisdom and knowledge that would serve them well as royal officials—positions that guaranteed godly influence would spread throughout the kingdom.

In all likelihood, very few of us will have opportunity to influence kings. But our example can have impact in a workplace or neighborhood, or even across generations. As was true of Daniel, a godly influence is rooted in the belief that the Bible is God’s inerrant Word. If our convictions aren’t based on scriptural principles, the pattern of our life cannot be consistent—then, we’ll chase after preferences instead of standing upon doctrine. Therefore, a commitment to stand on the bedrock of God’s Word is not negotiable.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Walking With God for a Fruitful Life

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Charles Stanley

John 15:4-8

Here’s a conversation with several more lessons about fruitfulness:

Child, there’s a third thing I want you to know: I’m bringing others along on the journey with you. Look out for them.

But, Lord, I have enough to do—taking care of my stuff, reading Your Word, and overcoming obstacles.

Child, you need to let go of your preoccupation with yourself and help others make the journey.

I can’t do more. I’m too busy.

I’ll sort through your priorities.

I’m too weary.

I’ll give you rest. Now, here’s the fourth lesson: You need to submit to My plan whether you like the plan or not.

Will You explain what You are doing?

Sometimes, though not always.

But what if Your plan makes no sense to me?

Do not rely on your own understanding; just keep walking where I direct.

But, Lord, what if I don’t want to go that way? What if it makes me too uncomfortable?

Ah, now we are at the heart of the matter, lesson five: A fruitful life is found only in a life surrendered to Me. It is characterized by an ever-increasing resemblance to Jesus in His fullness. In other words, the fruitful life is one filled with the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23). In this relationship, I, the Lord, am in charge. Your part is to cooperate and submit to My plan. Now that you know the instructions, do you still want to follow? Think carefully.

Yes, Lord. To whom would I go? I believe You and want You as my guide.

 

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Strengthening God’s Church

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Charles Stanley

The church is in danger of growing weaker every day. False doctrine, apathy, and a lack of discipline work together to diminish the local congregation’s influence in the community and the world. But the apsotle Paul reveals three simple ways to strengthen the church.

  1. Be alert to false doctrine. There is no more effective church-killer than wrong spiritual beliefs. We are living in a culture of immorality and iniquity, and some philosophies mix a bit of truth with falsehood. Believers not firmly planted in God’s Word are susceptible to those lies. Standing firm requires that pure Scripture must be preached from the pulpit and studied by individual church members.
  2. Appreciate God’s servants. Too often church members criticize their leaders more than encourage them. Certainly ministers and others in authority can make mistakes or fall into sin—they are human. But these Christians have devoted themselves to ensuring that people hear and understand Scripture.

    The congregation is responsible to show support and love; those who know the Lord most deeply will appreciate the pastor. God will not reveal Himself to those who can’t be bothered with caring for His chosen servant.

  3. Accept one another. Since we are a fellowship of believers, we are to develop a spirit of oneness. Everyone is loved by God and shouls be welcomed. This truth is based not on performance, but on the fact that each believer is the Lord’s child with a unique role in this life.

The church’s great potential lies in its members. Begin today to practice these strength-building exercises.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Guidance Toward a Fruitful Life

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Charles Stanley

Matthew 28:16-20

As believers, we long for a fruitful life that pleases the Lord. To live this way, we need a guide who will help us. Imagine having this conversation with God, and then aim to follow Him closely:

Lord, won’t You be our guide?

Yes, I am willing. As we travel, I want you to remember that I know where I am going. Every stop along the way is designed to make you into the fruitful branch you long to be. Dear one, the way may be through snow-covered mountains, over rock-strewn paths, or down into green valleys that will tempt you to linger. Will you keep your eyes on Me and follow whether it’s easy or hard?

Yes, Lord.

Then let’s begin your first lesson: You need to step where I step.

But, Lord, Your footprints are too far apart for me.

I will adjust them for you.

I know You’ll walk too fast.

I’ll never walk faster than I know you can travel.

I get tired easily.

I’ll lend you My arm when you need help.

What if I stumble?

I’ll pick you up and heal your hurts. The second lesson is this: You are to follow Me even though you cannot see Me.

Lord, how will I know where to walk?

Use My Word, the Bible. Refer to it often for direction and for reassurance that I am with You and continue to guide you.

Lord, what if I become confused?

Remember My teachings. Remember who I am and trust Me. Call out to Me, and I will answer you.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Purpose of Life

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Charles Stanley

John 17:1-3

Believers do many wonderful things in the name of God. Sometimes, though, service becomes more important in the worker’s mind than the Master Himself. Hosea 6:6 makes the Lord’s priorities clear: “For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” He wants our attention more than any gifts or works.

Unfortunately, too many Christians never press beyond an occasional good work or Bible reading. They ignore the Holy Spirit’s nudges to spend time in prayer and Scripture meditation because it’s too much work or doesn’t fit their lifestyle. Also, they tend to worship out of duty. Does this sound like your life? If so, you should know that deepening your relationship with God requires time and commitment but is immensely rewarding.

Human beings are created to know God. He instilled a thirst in us that won’t be satisfied until we reach out to Him for companionship and love. Paul said, “I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]” (Phil. 3:8 AMP).

We were created to have an intimate, loving relationship with the Lord and to bring Him glory. Paying homage with our gifts and good works is a natural extension of that design, but our foremost responsibility is to spend time with Him.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Joy of Obedience

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Charles Stanley

Proverbs 3:5-6

People often associate the word obey with raising children—particularly when they see ill-behaved youngsters. Submission to God’s will, however, is important at every stage of a believer’s maturity. As our faith grows, obedience becomes a cornerstone of fellowship with our Father—He teaches us more about His love and precepts while drawing us ever closer to Himself.

Oddly, as Christians get older and more mature, their obedience can diminish. A believer may tell himself that he has learned to live righteously and therefore no longer needs to make a concentrated effort. In a short time, he will find himself far off the path God intended, wandering around with a pile of rags he thinks are righteous acts (Isa. 64:6). Disobedience says to the Lord, “I know better than You how to govern my life.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Scripture and church members are full of stories to prove that obedient submission is the only way to joy.

Nothing good can come from rebelling against the Lord, and nothing bad can come from obeying Him. Obedience is the pathway to wisdom and blessing. When we conform our will to God’s, we place our hope and trust in the One who created us and loves us without condition. A life well lived is one in which our eyes are focused on the Lord, our ears are open to the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit, and our hearts feast on Scripture. When we choose this existence, we guarantee ourselves the finest that God has to offer. There is no second best for the obedient child of the Father.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Saying Yes to God

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Charles Stanley

Luke 5:1-11

God’s simple requests are often stepping-stones to life’s greatest blessings. When Simon Peter said yes to Jesus’ two small requests, his whole mission changed from fisherman to fisher of men.

An unproductive night’s work no doubt left Peter weary. Yet he willingly brought Jesus on board and then pushed his boat out from shore so the Teacher’s words would carry to the crowd. When the Lord finished speaking, He told the experienced fisherman to head out to deeper water. Peter knew the timing for a good catch was wrong, but he obeyed and was blessed with not one, but two boatloads of fish.

Often God’s blessings result from our compliance with seemingly insignificant requests. Though we prefer He ask us to perform great tasks that will impact large crowds, obedience in small matters is our proving ground. If we refuse His prompting to perform some minor action, what reason have we given Him to trust us with a more important responsibility?

Had Peter refused to lend Jesus his boat or to risk a midday fishing expedition, he’d have missed the immediate blessing of a big catch and perhaps also the even greater opportunity to be Jesus’ disciple. Walking with the Lord every day for three years, Peter witnessed miracles more spectacular than anything he saw that first day: A blind man received sight, Lazarus was restored to life, and at Jesus’ urging, Peter himself walked on water. The disciple’s courageous step off the boat and onto a raging, stormy sea was the result of saying yes every time God had made a small request.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – How the Truth Can Set You Free

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Charles Stanley

Ephesians 1:5-9

People the world over desire to be accepted and appreciated. Generally speaking, all of us want our peers to express approval so we can experience the feeling of acceptance. Though Christians understand that emotions are unreliable indicators of truth, believers also fall into this pattern of searching for approval.

Truthfully, one of our most priceless possessions is God’s acceptance of us as we are now. Thanks to Jesus Christ, we own a full measure of God’s grace. The Father does not say, “When you clean up your life, I’ll accept you.” Grace plus performance is not a workable formula in God’s economy. If being a Spirit-filled believer meant achieving some lofty standard of behavior on our own, we would all wear ourselves out in the attempt.

Performance-based faith is a worldly idea. People alter their clothes, habits, finances, and jobs to gain acceptance from peers. The only problem is that the people who like your appearance today won’t like it tomorrow. It is true you can’t please everybody, but you can please the Lord by recognizing that He accepts you unconditionally. We have all the status we need: We are children of God and ambassadors of Jesus Christ, living in the kingdom of light!

If we ignore our acceptance by God, then we will end up in the world’s cycle of effort and activity, attempting to earn the Lord’s acknowledgement. Freedom and intimacy are rooted in His freely given acceptance. Instead of shielding ourselves from His judgment, we can bask in God’s gracious love.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Wholly Surrendered

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Charles Stanley

Luke 1:26-38

Do we fully understand what it costs the kingdom of God when we live with a restricted commitment to Christ? Countless souls may never hear the good news, much-needed Christian workers may never put feet to their faith, and prayers that would have been answered are never uttered.

But we are wholly surrendered to God . . .

  1. When we say, “No matter what I want, Lord, Your will be done.” We start by acknowledging His right to be in control of our lives. Then we follow, even if He leads us where we don’t want to go.
  2. When we stop bargaining with God. Our prayers often sound like this: “Lord, I am willing to do what You say if only You first help me [or heal me, or give me success in this venture . . . ]” As sinners condemned by our own nature and helpless to save ourselves, we have no basis for negotiation with God. He redeemed us with the shed blood of His Son and made us part of His family. Our allegiance to Him is to be wholehearted.
  3. When we let go in order to receive from God. Complete surrender means we willingly give up our independence, self-determination, and personal preferences (Matt. 10:39). By doing so, we position ourselves for an outpouring of God’s maximum blessing, full usefulness in His service, and deep fellowship with Him. Because we are an open channel ready for God’s use, nothing obstructs the flow of His Spirit through our life and work. We will receive more than we ever give up.

What has the Lord brought to mind that you haven’t truly yielded to Him? Won’t you kneel and surrender it today?

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – God’s Empowering Presence

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Charles Stanley

Jeremiah 1:6-10  

When did you last feel the presence of God in your life? I don’t mean a merely intellectual recognition that He is with you, for He is everywhere. Rather, when did you last recognize in your heart that the Lord is personally, intimately abiding in you?

If you are like many believers, it may have been a while since you really felt His presence. Too many people go about their lives without a genuine sense of God’s closeness. What a tragedy!

Repeatedly in Scripture, we see that whenever God calls someone into His service, He first reminds the person of His enduring presence. We see this in the stories of Moses (Ex. 3:11-12), Joshua (Josh. 1:1-9), Gideon (Judg. 6:12), and Jeremiah (Jer. 1:6-8), to name just a few. These men discovered, as we can, that the awareness of God’s presence energizes us for our work.

Why does God repeatedly assure His followers of His presence? He does so because we need to be reminded of the reason for our confidence. Each time God calls a servant into action, He essentially says, “You can be strong and courageous because I am with you. Victory isn’t about your abilities, your strength, your skill, your armor, your gifts, or your dedication; it has to do with My presence. You can be strong because I will be strong in you.”

When Jeremiah trembled at the thought of the difficult ministry ahead of him, the Lord strengthened him with these words: “They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you” (Jer. 1:19).

God knows how difficult life can be, and He knows every detail of each struggle you will ever face. As a believer in Christ Jesus, you can trust that your heavenly Father will keep His Word. He is with you right now, and He always will be, as He promises in His Word: “‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, ‘The LORD is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”’ (Heb. 13:5-6).

Adapted from “The Charles F. Stanley’s Life Principles Bible,” 2008.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Unconditional Surrender

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Charles Stanley

1 Kings 20:1-4

Giving absolute power over our life to another human being would be a scary proposition. But to accept and acknowledge the Lord’s authority over us is fitting and right.

Unconditional surrender means:

  • Yielding ourselves—including all we have and all we are—to the lordship of Christ. It is an identification with Him in which we decrease and He increases. We first experience surrender in our attitude and then live it out in obedient action.
  • Placing no limit on what we are willing to do or become. This means we have no restricted areas in our life where Jesus is not invited, nothing set aside for our own exclusive use, and no place where we tell Him, “Hands off.” We make ourselves totally available to His will—whenever, wherever, and however He chooses.
  • Transferring ownership of our body, soul, and spirit to Christ. By doing so, we embrace as our own values the principles of the Beatitudes (Matt. 5:3-12), the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), the hierarchy of the kingdom (Mark 9:35), suffering for Christ’s sake (1 Peter 4:13), and dying to self (Gal. 2:20).

One reason we tend to hold back is fear: What will the Lord require of me? Another stumbling block is selfishness: I like having control over my own schedule and long-range plans. A third obstacle is pride: I know what God wants me to do, but can’t He see how that could hurt my reputation?

What keeps you from abandoning yourself to the Lord Jesus and crying, “Please take total control over my life”?

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Spiritual Liberty

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Charles Stanley

Galatians 6:14-16

Prisons aren’t always physical buildings. People can create jails for themselves out of many kinds of sin. But Jesus went to the cross to purchase our freedom.

In thinking about the cross, some people assume salvation’s effect is limited to a one-time release from sin’s hold. As a result, they pray repeatedly to receive Jesus, hoping they will finally be good enough to avoid wrongdoing. Salvation is not a “get out of hell free” card, good only until we make another mistake; instead, the forgiveness of Christ covers past, present, and future sins. In addition, we receive a full measure of His Spirit to dwell inside us.

Paul explains the idea this way: “The world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14). Daily enticements to do wrong, which at one time seemed so alluring, hold little interest for the Spirit-filled believer. We are liberated to pursue God’s purpose and the joy that comes from serving Him.

Spiritual liberty is a choice. Our sins are wiped away at salvation, but temptation is not erased. Instead, a believer continually makes decisions to be crucified to wrongdoing—or as Jesus says, to “take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). The cross is not a burden, but rather a symbol that we are free and forgiven followers of Christ.

The freedom found in salvation is not a secret to keep to ourselves. The Lord gave His followers the Great Commission of reaching others because His is the only message that can transform a slave into a liberated soul destined for heaven. The cross is our only hope for spiritual liberty.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Failing to Protect Our Future

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Charles Stanley

2 Samuel 11:1-17

Yesterday we learned that Esau sold his future for a bowl of stew. His blindness to what was truly valuable caused him to lose his inheritance. Other Bible stories can teach us additional lessons about protecting our future.

David was chosen by God to lead the nation, and for many years, he pursued the Lord’s plan. However, his desire for Bathsheba led him to commit adultery with her and make the arrangements for her husband to die. Because he made the choice to gratify his own wishes instead of following God’s ways, he fell into sin. When confronted by the prophet Nathan, David sincerely repented (2 Sam. 12:7, 13), but he and his family were deeply affected by his mistake.

Samson was another individual who knew what the Lord required but chose to disobey—like David, he gave up blessings for temporary pleasure. Losing sight of God’s purpose, Samson chose instead to please his untrustworthy companion Delilah (Judg. 16:15-17). As a result, he spent his last years in disgrace.

A third example is Judas Iscariot, who wanted Jesus to establish the kingdom of God immediately. Because he valued earthly matters above spiritual ones, he rejected Jesus’ teachings and tried to manipulate events to his own liking. He was convinced that he knew what was right—that he knew better than God.

To avoid the kind of mistakes these men made, we must commit to setting aside our own desires in favor of God’s will. In other words, we must cherish the eternal over the temporal and be satisfied with what the Lord has planned.