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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – A Bitter Root

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Charles Stanley

Hebrews 12:15

Yesterday, we came to think of bitterness as a poison—a concoction that we create for someone else but then end up drinking ourselves. Today, let’s consider another useful illustration that will help us understand the negative effects of resentment.

Hebrews 12:15 describes bitterness as a “root.” Think about that. Where do you find roots? That’s right—they grow underground, sitting beneath the surface and siphoning off nutrients from the ground around them. Whenever you see a plant, flower, or tree, you can be sure that just below the peaceful façade is a root that is sucking life from the soil and pushing it up through the plant’s foundation. Without the root, the vegetation would collapse and die.

Can you see how this image parallels your spiritual life? Perhaps you have a root of bitterness that is sitting just under the surface, practically invisible to anyone who walks by. Does the fact that the bitter root is barely noticeable mean that it is inert and harmless? Absolutely not! Instead, you can be sure that the root is doing its job—sucking the life from you and using it to nourish a weed of hatred, impatience, or discontentment.

A root of bitterness will never produce healthy fruit. When the root is harmful, it is senseless to expect anything other than bad fruit and a tangle of weeds.

The good news is, there’s a remedy to the problem. All it takes to kill a weed is to unearth and dispose of the root. Pull the source of your resentment out of its hiding place. Expose it and give it to God, who knows how to cultivate the heart.

 

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Bitter Poison

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Charles Stanley

Ephesians 4:31-32

Picture a miserable, depressed, and emotionally broken person hunched over a chemistry set. His eyes are narrow. His lips are pursed. His fingers are methodically adding just a pinch of this and a dash of that to the acrid green fluid in the test tube before him. His thoughts are a hodgepodge of outdated images, his heart a stale mosaic of hatred for a grievance long past. He is thinking of the one who hurt him, and he is busy concocting a poison for the offender.

It sounds like an excerpt from an old movie, doesn’t it? However, here is where the scene changes direction. Envision that same obsessed scientist breathing a sigh of relief as he straightens up, marveling at the liquid vengeance he has created. Then he utters, “This will show him!”—and drinks the poison himself.

That’s a surprising twist—one that we would not expect in a movie. Yet there is a good chance you have done this very thing at one time or another.

Bitterness is a toxin that we prepare for someone else but then drink ourselves. It is a concentrated dose of emotional poison, often one that we carefully nurture and grow over the course of years. When we react to someone’s wrongdoing by withdrawing and giving free reign to daydreams of retribution and ill will, we are slowly poisoning our own hearts and minds.

Ask God to reveal any signs of poison in your system. Then ask Him to help you administer a dose of the antidote: forgiveness.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – In the Midst of Trials

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Charles Stanley

Genesis 39:6-20

Joseph’s enslavement lasted for 13 years and went from bad to worse. He lost his favored position in Potiphar’s household and went to prison when the master’s wife told lies about him. His hope for release from jail died when the king’s servant forgot his promise (Gen. 40:14, 23). The future looked bleak.

Despite the evidence of circumstances, God was carrying out His plan to bless Joseph and benefit his family. Joseph was His appointed person to rescue them from the coming famine. To accomplish this, he had to learn the Egyptian language and culture, develop leadership abilities, and mature spiritually. The Lord’s plan accomplished all of this.

Joseph learned two helpful lessons. First, the Lord is a faithful companion who uses our troubles to prepare us for His work. When the time came, Joseph was fully trained to become second-in-command to Pharaoh—the Egyptian king even testified that God’s presence was with Joseph (41:38).

Second, when the Lord accomplishes His purposes, the difficulty will end. At God’s chosen moment, Joseph was freed from jail, rewarded with a high-ranking appointment, and reconciled with his family. Though his boyhood was gone, he was greatly blessed by living in the center of the Father’s will.

Adversity can be painful, but the Lord uses it to further His purposes and equip us for His plan. What is He trying to teach you in the midst of your trials? Are you cooperating with Him? Remember, even Jesus suffered in order to fulfill God’s redemptive purpose (Matt. 16:21).

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Walking Through Dark Valleys

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Charles Stanley

Genesis 37:18-28

As a teenager, Joseph lost almost everything. His family, his position as the favored son, his home, and his freedom were abruptly taken from him. How stunned he must have been by the hatred of his siblings and such overwhelming loss. But one thing he did take with him was his faith in God.

Life is like that at times for every one of us. Sudden changes in health or finances, the unexpected death of a loved one, or abandonment by a good friend can bring us into a dark season. We do not understand why the Lord has allowed the trial or lets the pain continue. Joseph probably wondered the same things, but he managed to hold fast to his faith. Even as a slave in a foreign land, he experienced the blessing of God’s presence. And recognizing that the Lord was with this young captive, his Egyptian master showed him favor (Gen. 39:2-3).

One of the keys to walking through dark valleys—those times when life seems to be crumbling and the future’s looking grim—is to embrace the reality of the Lord’s presence with us. At the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live permanently within the new Christian and seals him or her as belonging to God forever. Because of the indwelling Spirit, we’re never apart from God. No circumstance, suffering, or loss can separate us from Him or His love (Rom. 8:35, 38-39).

Take a few minutes each day and reflect on Jesus’ promise to be with us always (Matt. 28:20). The result will be that this truth becomes planted deep within your soul to sustain you in hard times.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Servant Joseph

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Charles Stanley

Genesis 37:1-17

The story of Joseph is one of my favorites in the Bible. I mention him frequently because there’s so much to learn from this successful young man. As a matter of fact, his youth is an important lesson in and of itself, and today’s passage reveals two of his character traits that we should try to emulate.

First, he demonstrated a servant spirit early in life. In every exchange between Joseph and his father or his masters, he embodied the very picture of respect and discipline. The young man never acted out against those in authority over him; on the contrary, he continually went out of his way to serve others.

Second, Joseph realized at a young age that God was controlling his life. How else can you explain his relentless pursuit of excellence throughout his various trials? Despite all that happened to him, Joseph remembered the divine visions the Father had laid on his heart in his teen years (Gen. 37:5-9). He was convinced that there was a plan for his life and that somehow, sometime, God would reveal what it was.

Whether you are 17 or 77, the lessons of Joseph’s life are valuable. It is never too late to learn the art of service or to recognize God’s perfect plan. Even better, it’s never too late to help someone else discover these things.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Do I have a role to play in communicating God’s truth to others?

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Charles Stanley

Matthew 28:19-20

God never wants us to keep what He teaches us to ourselves. Whether it is money, insight, or truth, He wants us to share it with others. There is a tremendous blessing to be gained by opening our hearts and lives to those who need to know about the unconditional love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

The truth is Jesus commands us to “make disciples of all the nations . . . teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20). Just before He ascended to heaven, He told His disciples, “You shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). He never intended for the disciples to keep the truth of His Word stored away in personal reservoirs of knowledge. Instead, He instructed them to give away all they received from Him. He commands us to do the same.

Paul also admonished Timothy, his young protégé, to communicate the truth he had learned to others who would, in turn, pass it along (2 Tim. 2:2). Elsewhere he noted, “We are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20). The sole purpose of an ambassador is to relay the policies and decisions of their superiors to the people of the countries where they serve. Likewise, we have an obligation to declare the divine plan and scriptural policies of our Master.

Each one of us communicates something by what we say and don’t say, by what we do and fail to do. A father who never reads the Bible is essentially telling his family that he does not care enough about the Lord to study His Word. His lack of desire in this area sends the message that he believes he is smart enough to make his own decisions apart from God’s input. The child who never sees her parents praying mistakenly learns that trials and tribulations can be handled without any direction from the Lord. This assumption is totally wrong.

On the other hand, a father who tells his family, “We are going to trust the Lord to provide us with what we need,” declares that God can be trusted in every facet of life. When children hear their parents praying, they quickly learn to trust God for every detail. They grow up viewing Him as very loving—the God who has the very best in mind for their lives.

Even when we remain silent, we subtly state something. Although the apostle Peter recognized the Gentiles as rightful recipients of God’s grace, he developed the bad habit of withdrawing from them during meals. His fellow Jews soon picked up on his prideful practice, with the result “that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy” (Gal. 2:13). Without a word, Peter had effectively sent a message that the Gentiles were inferior.

We must honestly evaluate our responses to the Lord’s commands. Are we deliberately and daily applying what He has taught us over the years? When we comprehend the truth, are we conforming ourselves to the image of Christ? Are we then communicating this truth to others?

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

 

Resources About Opportunities

Related Video

Opportunities Before Us

Sometimes we fail to discern God-given chances to serve because we see them as obstacles or interruptions to our lives. In this message, Dr. Stanley explains how we reveal our spiritual condition by the way we respond to the opportunities He sends. (Watch Opportunities Before Us.)

 

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Results of Insecurity

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Charles Stanley

Psalm 143:8

We’ve already seen some of the areas where insecurity shows up. Now we need to turn our attention to its effects.

To start, insecure people have difficulty establishing good, lasting relationships. They simply cannot see how they could add value to anyone else’s life. This is a tragic loss, because every one of us needs deep and meaningful friendships to help us grow.

Also, men and women with insecurity are often seen as prideful or snobbish. Lack of confidence may cause them to withdraw from others, which can easily be mistaken for an act of arrogance. They can thereby give the impression that they simply don’t want to be around others.

What’s more, insecurity frequently leads to indecisiveness and fear. People can be so consumed with self-doubt that they can’t make any decision at all. They wonder, What if I make a mistake? Well, so what if they do? Making mistakes is one of the best ways to learn how to do something correctly. Don’t be afraid to try. Even if you don’t succeed, you can at least rest in the fact that you did your best.

After a while, insecure people typically become angry. When they go so long feeling so poorly about themselves, they start to resent the success and happiness of others. Can you see how something as subtle as a lack of confidence can have a debilitating effect on one’s life? Don’t let such devastation affect your relationships. Pray for the ability to recognize areas of self-doubt. And then take a step toward freedom today by asking the Lord to heal your insecurities.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Identifying Insecurity

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Charles Stanley

Psalm 139:13-26

Let me ask you to do what may be an uncomfortable exercise. We’re going to examine statements that insecure people often make about themselves. As you read each one, ask yourself, Do I think similarly?

Insecure people make comments like:

  • Why bother trying? I’ll never get it right.
  • Everyone is looking at me, just waiting for me to make a fool of myself.
  • I’m a failure.
  • I am ugly and awful to look at.
  • I can never win. I’m just a loser.
  • No matter how hard I work, I never get any recognition.
  • I am incompetent at everything.
  • Nobody could ever speak well about me.
  • I have failed before—once a failure, always a failure.
  • I don’t see how anyone could ever like, respect, or accept me.
  • I don’t deserve to be treated well.
  • I don’t fit here or anywhere else.
  • Everyone else looks so put together. I feel quite out of it compared to them.
  • I am an incomplete person, and nothing can change that.
  • Why would anyone care to hear what I have to say?
  • People are nice to me only when they want something from me.

Did any of the above statements ring true for you? Prayerfully consider the ones that got your attention. Then, take those specific insecurities to the Lord, and allow Him to show you His truth in each area. God wants to set you free from anything hindering your spiritual development.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Our Helper in Bible Study

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Charles Stanley

1 Corinthians 2:12-16

The Bible is God’s revelation of truth, and it is intended for regular use by every believer. The Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence is a necessity since He is the one who makes clear the meaning of the Word. He illuminates the mind of each person who genuinely seeks to know God.

When we read, our Helper opens our understanding to the true meaning of the text so that we can grasp its significance. We never outgrow this need for Him. Even a mature believer with decades of experience meditating on Scripture requires as much revelation as a child who has just received Christ. Not long ago, I had reason to recall this fact as I read a passage I had seen often in my studies. For the very first time, my soul opened wide to these verses, the truth burst in, and I felt immediately energized. Grasping a new truth from the Scriptures gets us excited and inspires us to apply what we have learned. Then, as we integrate one truth into our life, the Spirit of God reveals another in order to make us increasingly like our Savior.

Learning about God and conforming to the image of Jesus Christ are the highest ambitions of Christianity, and we can achieve these goals only by learning and applying scriptural principles. But truth cannot be poured into a dirty heart. Nor can we expect to understand the Bible if we refuse to obey its precepts. If we want the Holy Spirit to reveal biblical meaning, we must ask first for a revelation of our sin. When we repent of the wrongdoing brought to mind by our Helper, our heart opens to His illumination.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Our Helper in Prayer

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Charles Stanley

Romans 8:26-27

Most Christians feel they need help in order to pray effectively. Even the apostle Paul admitted that he sometimes did not know how to petition the heavenly Father as he should. In the supernatural exchange between God and believers, the Holy Spirit acts as a vehicle for our communication, laying our needs and desires before the Father.

We humans make our requests with a very limited knowledge of the future and an impaired sense of what is actually best for us. Consequently, circumstances arise that cause us to wonder how we should pray. If all we know to ask is, “God, what is Your will?” then the Spirit, who knows the Father’s plans for us, tells Him of our need for understanding.

Our Father does not hide His will from us. He desires to equip believers with all the information necessary for making right decisions and for being continually conformed to the likeness of His Son. Just as the Spirit carries our needs to God, He also clarifies the Father’s will to us.

Some people find the power of prayer intimidating— “Be careful what you pray for, because you might get it,” goes the old joke. Believers sometimes quit praying before receiving an answer, because they are fearful of making the wrong request. However, the Holy Spirit’s divine nature prevents Him from going before God with a petition that is outside the Father’s plan. Instead, He intercedes to make the right request. He also impresses upon us the need to adjust our desires. Therefore, we can pray in every situation, knowing the Holy Spirit is our Helper.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – A Helper for All Occasions

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Charles Stanley

John 14:16-18

Did you ever wish for an emergency telephone line that rang in heaven? The truth is that we have something much better. The Holy Spirit lives inside us to be our helper in every situation.

The night before His crucifixion, Jesus warned the disciples that He was about to depart. The news probably upset them, even though it wasn’t the first time He’d spoken of His death. But the Lord offered His followers reassurance that He would send them another Helper. The Greek word for “another” implies that the new Helper would be like the previous one—in other words, a divine being with access to the Father. As promised, God’s Spirit came to dwell in everyone who receives Jesus Christ as Savior (Acts 2:1-4).

Our Helper has a distinct role within the Trinity. The Father reigns over all, while the Son sits at His right hand, interceding for believers. Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit enables Christians to accomplish the work God has designed for each one to do.

The Father knew we couldn’t follow Him without help—that was why Jesus told the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until after the arrival of the Holy Spirit. Whatever we are called to do in daily obedience or in lifelong vocation, our Helper offers direction. And when we are beset by tough times or temptations, God’s Spirit provides strength and encouragement.

The Holy Spirit is intimately involved in our life. He is more a part of us than our bones and blood. We are privileged to have a divine Helper guiding us on the path of God’s will.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Power of Persistence

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Charles Stanley

Philippians 3:10-14

To be someone who perseveres, it is necessary to . . .

  • Learn the difference between being a failure and experiencing failure in life. Once we trust in Christ as our Savior, we are new creations, and our past failings are just that—in the past. Any future mistakes are to be regarded as temporary defeats; they do not define who we are. The apostle Paul learned this lesson well. No matter how many times he was reviled, chased out of town, or stoned, he did not consider himself a failure. Rather, he looked to His Lord to determine the truth about who he was: a forgiven sinner commissioned to take the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 22:10, 21).
  • Learn that encountering difficulties and tests does not automatically mean we’re to change direction. They may delay us in reaching our goals, but they aren’t necessarily a dead end. Look at trials not as reasons to quit, but as opportunities that can assist us in reaching goals. During our moments of defeat, God wants to teach us something that will help us succeed later on. Paul didn’t interpret the tragic events of his life as signals to stop. He knew what God was calling him to do and was committed to accomplishing it. He also experienced the power of persistence to transform his character and give him hope (Rom. 5:3-4). We are sustained by such hope, even in our greatest crises.

Through the work of His Holy Spirit, our heavenly Father will give us the ability to stay on course. Do not give up. Draw near to the Lord, and allow His power to sustain you.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – How Can I Become a More Obedient Child of God?

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Charles Stanley

Genesis 12:1-4

Obedience is a major characteristic of a person who is mighty in spirit and honors the Lord. Generally speaking, obedience characterized the faith of Abraham from his first encounter with God until his death.

We grow in obedience by having faith in the sovereignty of God. If we fail to believe in the Father’s sovereignty, we will find it difficult to obey Him. Abraham based his relationship with God on his confidence that the Lord would always do as He had promised (Rom. 4:20, 21). Faith comes by hearing the Word of God and responding in confident trust (Rom. 10:17). We will learn to trust Him as we study and meditate on His Word.

We grow in obedience by waiting for God’s timing. The Father is very time conscious—not in terms of minutes and seconds, but in regard to our acting in obedience according to His schedule. Throughout Scripture we find Him moving in “the fullness of the time” (Gal. 4:4). He is neither early nor late. He is always right on time.

We continue to grow in obedience by refusing to subject God’s plan to “common sense” or the reasoning of the world. Some things the Lord requires may look ridiculous from a human perspective. He told Abraham that he would have a son through whom He would bless the entire world. Yet the Lord allowed Abraham’s obedience to be severely tested—first by requiring him to wait nearly a quarter of a century before providing the promised provision, and later by requiring him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. God knew the motive of Abraham’s heart. It was one of obedience. When it came time to complete the sacrifice, the Lord was the one who provided a ram to be used in Isaac’s place.

We grow in obedience by promptly responding in obedience. If you long to obey God, you will not hesitate when He tells you to do something. Many times we fail to obey the Father because we fear the consequences. Yet He never requires us to do anything outside His will for our lives. Our only responsibility is to obey; His responsibility is to take care of the consequences of our obedience.

Our sensitivity to God’s will increases as we obey Him. Along the way, He provides glimpses of the blessings waiting for us. God always blesses obedience. You can trust Him, obey Him, and be blessed. Or you can disobey Him and spend the rest of your life wondering what He would have done had you obeyed Him. Once you glimpse the blessings of obedience, however, the consequences no longer matter.

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

 

Resources About Opportunity and Obedience

Related Video

A Passing Opportunity

Too often, we let opportunities pass us by because we don’t realize they’ve been sent from our heavenly Father. In this sermon, Dr. Stanley teaches us how to be sensitive to the opportunities God puts before us. (Watch A Passing Opportunity.)

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – God Knows What You Need

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Charles Stanley

John 4:1-16

One reason we at times have a weak faith is because our view of God is faulty. That’s not totally surprising—after all, He is so big, how could we ever truly get an accurate picture of what He looks like, how He acts, or how He feels about us personally?

Knowing that we would need a way to understand Him, our heavenly Father revealed Himself through His Son. And so “the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The better we get to know Jesus, the more we will understand the Father (14:9).

And when we take a look at the way Jesus treated the people around Him, we get a good illustration of God’s love. Think about the woman at the well in today’s Scripture passage. This was a person who had been outcast by society. The fact that she came to draw water during the heat of the day (4:6)—a time when no one else would be around— indicates that her exclusion from the townspeople was not just their idea; she herself felt the need to stay isolated.

But what did Jesus do? He loved her. He accepted her. He gave her what no one else would give: attention and respect. That is what He does for us as well. The Lord does not want us burdened by guilt, shame, or heartache. Nor does He want us to be secluded from other people. Instead, He calls us to become active participants in His kingdom.

Have you cut yourself off from those around you? Take hold of your Savior’s hand today, and start experiencing the joy of His acceptance.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Fully Alive

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Charles Stanley

1 Corinthians 15:22

Because the apostle Paul recognized the limitations of human understanding, he used word pictures to illustrate spiritual concepts. In several letters, Paul wrote about being “alive in Christ.” He pointed out that before the Lord rescued us, we were spiritually dead. But once we received Jesus as our Savior, we became alive in Him (Rom. 6:11).

Paul wanted us to realize that we have a new freedom, a new nature, and a new standard of conduct. To show this, he chose the word pictures of circumcision and baptism (Col. 2:9-17). While neither one represents the complete picture, together they provide a starting point for us to grasp the glorious foundational truth of being alive in the Lord.

If we use human reasoning to help us grasp a spiritual truth like this one, we often become confused. Only through the teaching of the Holy Spirit can we begin to comprehend its full meaning. Besides, God’s living Word is meant to be experienced. We can know the fact that Jesus has given us a new nature, but only when we experience this new nature and the freedom it brings do we truly discover the scriptural meaning of “made alive.”

Think about the examples Paul chose: baptism and circumcision. Set aside your human logic, and depend on the Holy Spirit for understanding. Believe that you are a new creation—that the old nature is gone and has been replaced by the new one (2 Cor. 5:17). Practice what you learn. Spiritual joy will fill your being as you experience the truth of the revealed mystery of being fully alive in Christ.

 

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Call to Holiness

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Charles Stanley

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

Believers are called to be sanctified people who live holy lives. Holiness means being set apart by God for His purposes. This process of sanctification begins when we receive Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, and it continues for the rest of our lives.

The Holy Spirit draws our will and longings to align with His. As we submit to Him, we will begin to desire what He desires. With His leading, we will choose to consecrate our conduct, our conversation, and ultimately our character to God alone. He teaches us how to make holiness a way of life rather than see it as some lofty place of enlightenment we can never reach. God has placed us where we live and work, not to be “pious” or to isolate ourselves as if in incubators, but to reflect who Christ is as we walk among other people. If we are in the process of being conformed to Jesus’ likeness, then the longer we live and mature spiritually, the more others should be able to recognize the Savior in us. Our hearts should grow softer, and our willingness to love and serve should increase.

If we are Christ’s ambassadors, then our lives must be holy; otherwise, we are misrepresenting Him. If we are the body of Christ, then our hands are His hands, our eyes are His eyes, and our feet are His feet. When we allow Jesus to speak, love, and serve through us, others will be compelled to ask why we live such vibrant lives. All followers of Christ are called to be holy. To answer this call daily is to embrace the Great Commission.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Preparing Hearts Through Fasting

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Charles Stanley

Matthew 13:1-23

In the parable of the sower, Jesus teaches that it takes good soil to produce a plentiful harvest. He warns against planting seed on the rocky places and also speaks about dangerous thorns that choke the plants. He directly applies the parable to our spiritual lives, explaining that the seed is God’s Truth; it’s only in the soil of a devoted and steadfast heart that the Word is received and spiritual fruitfulness is produced. In fact, He says soil that’s prepared to receive what is planted can produce a crop 30, 60, or 100 times what is sown.

Many people testify that God has used biblical fasting to position their hearts to receive His truth. It has made them ready for the planting of the Word, and through that, to receive greater insight and direction, and to develop a deeper faith (Rom. 10:17). During the hours of fasting, they set themselves apart from earthly concerns and spent their time concentrating on heavenly matters. It was then that God revealed the stumps, rocks, and thick roots that entangled their hearts and prevented spiritual growth. Through His Spirit, He also provided the courage to confess and the strength to obey.

What is the condition of your heart soil? How much “groundwork” needs to be done so that you can receive a major planting of the Word? God desires to clear out the rocks and weeds in our lives and break up any hard soil; biblical fasting prepares us for such tilling. God is calling His people to consecrate themselves to Him. Won’t you come before Him to be made ready?

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Biblical Fasting

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Charles Stanley

Psalm 42:1-2

“Dear?” The only response this elicits is a distracted “Hmm,” accompanied by the rustle of a newspaper. “Could I talk to you?” Again a reply of “Hmmm,” followed by silence. Then footsteps are heard walking away. Have you ever experienced something similar?

We’ve all been guilty of inattention to those we love. So much clamors for our attention that we at times dodge effort instead of investing in a relationship. Unfortunately, we can do the same thing with God. But we don’t want that, do we?

Biblical fasting is one way to help us regain focus concerning our relationship with the Lord and what matters to Him. Fasting readies us to concentrate on our Father. It is an opportunity to set aside other things in order to seek His face and hear His voice. It is a time of preparation that leads us to fix our attention on God’s purposes and will for us.

Many of us have not tried fasting because it seems too foreign. We don’t know how to begin or when to find the time. But if we see it for what it is—a faith experience that sharpens our spiritual vision, intensifies our desire for God, and leads us to better understand His direction—then we will want to try it for ourselves.

Have you been crying out to the Father for more of Him? Do you need to know God’s will for a particular area of your life? Biblical fasting is a spiritual discipline that will bring you to the place where your hearing is sharper, your mind is clearer, and your eyes are more firmly fixed on the Lord and His plans. Why not discover this for yourself?

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – God’s Scriptural “Benefit Package”

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Charles Stanley

2 Timothy 3:14-17

This world offers financial plans, weight loss programs, and a host of other opportunities that all claim to yield beneficial results. But nothing is as profitable to us as Scripture.

God’s plans for you do not stop at salvation. His goal is that you become conformed to the likeness of His Son, and the tool He uses to achieve His purpose is the Bible. Today’s passage outlines His comprehensive program for your spiritual transformation.

The foundation is laid with the teaching of Scripture’s basic truths. These doctrines about God’s character and work anchor our souls during the storms of life and protect us from deception. Since we all have certain flesh patterns, perfection is impossible, and we sometimes fall into sin. But when Scripture offers reproof, we are convicted about our wrongdoing.

This is followed by correction. The Lord never convicts us and leaves us in the mess we have made. He provides what we need to make things right.

The final step is training in righteousness. Think of this as a one-on-one discipleship course with the Word of God. If we heed the instruction and discipline of Scripture, we’ll grow in obedience and godliness and eventually will find that we need less reproof and correction.

Full participation in God’s scriptural benefit package involves three steps: Read the Bible each day; believe everything God says in His Word—not just the parts that appeal to you (Heb. 4:2); and do what He says. You will become equipped and qualified to fulfill His purpose for you.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Abundant Christian Life

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Charles Stanley

Jesus said, “[Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Unfortunately, many Christians live only an adequate spiritual life, rather than an abundant one. Though they go through the motions of being “good Christians,” they do not enjoy the power, peace, and joy that God intends believers to experience. To them, Christianity feels more like a burden than a source of delight and comfort, and habitual sins hold them in bondage.

Letting Christ Live Through You

When we received God’s gift of salvation, the Spirit of Jesus— also known as the Holy Spirit—came to live within us (Rom. 8:9).

  • What does the presence of the Holy Spirit in our life guarantee (Eph. 1:13-14)?

One of the Spirit’s roles is to manifest the presence of Christ through our lives. In other words, He helps us think, act, and react as Jesus would. As we develop in relationship with the Lord, we grow in our ability to allow Him to live through us. This means that our success as believers isn’t dependent on our ability to follow rules or rituals. Instead, the secret is to humbly let Jesus work in and through us.

  • Can you relate to seeing your faith as a burden—a set of duties and religious customs? Explain.
  • Do you ever feel frustrated at your inability to overcome certain sins in your life?
  • The flesh is that part of us that wants to rebel against God. Do you see fruit of the flesh in your life? (See Gal. 5:19-21.)

The concept of allowing Christ to live through us is stated in different ways throughout the New Testament. In Galatians 2:20, the apostle Paul puts it this way: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Paul knew that to have spiritual victory, He had to be “crucified with Christ” and let go of the right to run his own life. He didn’t have the power to be a holy person in His own strength. But as he surrendered to Jesus and lived by faith, Paul found the power to live a righteous, confident, joyful life. The spiritual principles that gave him success are no different for us today.

  • Have you ever surrendered control of your life to God? If so, describe what prompted that decision.
  • Why do many believers never learn to rely on Christ’s power for holy living?
  • What beliefs or distractions have the potential to interfere with your dependence upon Jesus?

Paul also wrote, “To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21)

  • Explain what he meant. (See verses 22-23 if necessary.)
  • Can you relate to both parts of the statement in Philippians 1:21? Why or why not?

The Next Step

If you feel compelled to let Christ live through you, pray the following:

  1. Confess your inadequacy. Acknowledge that you have tried to be a godly person but feel spiritually frustrated or defeated.
  2. Acknowledge that Christ is sufficient. Since He is God, He can give you wisdom for every decision and strength to overcome temptation and adversity.
  3. Abandon your life to Him. You must give Him permission to live His life through you. Let go of your own efforts to “be good enough” or “do enough” to please Him.
  4. Confess it to be true. Say out loud, “Jesus, please live through me. I yield myself to Your will. Help me remember that I am now dead to sin and alive in You.” This is not a one-time commitment; you will probably have to surrender multiple times in your life. When you fail, be reminded that you cannot live a holy life apart from the Lord’s power.
  • Name a specific situation in which you need God’s help to react righteously and wisely, and then commit it to the Lord in prayer.

Closing: God does not call you to endure a tolerable Christian life—He wants it to be extraordinary.  Experience the life He has planned for you—yield control of your life to Him, and stop trying to be righteous in your own strength. Trust Jesus to live through you. By guiding and empowering you, He will take care of all your troubles.

Prayer: If you did not already do so, pray through the steps above. Even if you made a similar commitment in a previous season of life, it can be helpful to reaffirm your reliance on Christ’s power for daily living.

 

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Who is going to run your life: you or Jesus Christ who lives within you? (Watch The Key to the Christian Life.)