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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Seven Attributes of a Strong Church

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Charles Stanley 

How can you evaluate your church? If you need to find a new church, how can you determine which one is the right choice? There are many factors that go into selecting a new church or deciding whether to stay where you are. Some of these are merely personal preferences, such as the style of music or the appearance of the church building. But listed below are seven words that should describe every healthy church.

1. Bible-centered: A healthy church accepts Scripture as inerrant. In other words, the pastors and the congregation believe that the Bible describes events that really happened, and that it is filled with complete truth that applies to real life. You need to study the Scripture carefully for yourself because sometimes it can be difficult to discern when a teacher doesn’t believe what the Bible teaches. This is also one of many reasons to bring your own copy of the Bible to church.

2. Spiritual: The leaders should emphasize dependence on the Holy Spirit for both themselves and the congregation. The church should prioritize knowing God, seeking to trust and obey Him individually and as a body of believers. As the members grow in their ability to hear the voice of God, the body as a whole becomes stronger. Look for a church that emphasizes a personal relationship with God, which should include listening to and obeying Him.

3. Evangelistic: Every church should seek to fulfill the Great Commission. The Sunday message and the outreach efforts of the church should seek to touch the world with a clear, effective message of salvation through Jesus Christ. The church should also provide training so that new believers can grow in the faith and learn to share the gospel with others.

4. Influential: The message and ministry of the church should have an effect on the society around it. Why do I say this? Jesus told the disciples that they were salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16). By that, He meant that His followers should have an influence on the world around them. Every church should have an impact on the city in which it is placed, influencing those outside its walls. The goal should be to persuade people to recognize the lordship of Jesus Christ and abide by biblical principles. It usually takes some time to determine if a church is influential, but eventually you should be able to see if impacting the culture is a priority.

5. Financially sound: The church should operate by biblical principles concerning money. Sometimes churches get into debt or misuse money. Look for a congregation that seeks to operate within its means, and one that is open about the church’s budget. When a congregation applies the principles of sound financial dealing, unnecessary monetary concerns will not hinder the work of the Lord through it.

6. Friendly: The church members should warmly welcome new people. It should be easy to find ways to grow in relationship with other members. There should be opportunities to connect in smaller settings, such as Sunday school, in-home fellowship groups, or through the church’s various ministries. Unless the congregation is willing to reach out to visitors and new members, it cannot fulfill its role in the Great Commission.

7. Growing: A healthy church will grow. In light of Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations, church attendance should expand. Does that mean that if a church remains small, that it cannot be a healthy church? No, but that church should still be growing in some way. For instance, the congregants could be growing in their ability to overcome sin, to live effective lives for Christ, or to reach out. Look for a body that is actively seeking to share their faith.

Every church is to be a dynamic, life-changing force in the community where God has placed it. We gather as God’s people to worship Him. We should leave church instructed, convicted, challenged, and motivated. Does that describe your experience? If it does, you have found a strong church.

 

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Youthfulness Isn’t about Age

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Charles Stanley

Psalm 103:1-5

When Abraham was 99 years old, God promised him that his wife would have a son the following year. The Bible records Sarah’s response to the news: “Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, ‘After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?’” (Gen. 18:12 niv). Her skeptical laughter indicated that she didn’t expect the Lord to keep His promise.

The following year when the Lord’s promise was fulfilled in the birth of Isaac, Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me” (21:6 niv). This time, her laughter was the joyous kind that comes from seeing the Lord is at work and keeping His word.

Can’t you just picture the difference in her countenance on those two occasions? The first time, Sarah’s face must have looked old, weary, disappointed, and etched with unbelief. But later on, when she beheld her new son, her face must have been transformed—still covered in wrinkles, no doubt, but now with eyes sparkling, cheeks glowing, and mouth curled in a smile. Sarah had become young at heart. Not only was she transformed, but those nearby must have joined in her infectious laughter.

What was true of Sarah can be true of us: Burdens feel lighter and the world seems a gentler place when we see God working in our midst. And if we watch for Him, we will find reasons to smile. Chronological age doesn’t determine youthfulness; heart attitude does.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – How to Stay Young Your Entire Life

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Charles Stanley

Psalm 103:1-5

When we read “how to stay young,” most of us think in terms of the physical body. Yet a youthful heart attitude can contribute greatly to keeping us young.

What characterizes such an attitude?

1. A youthful approach to life. This includes curiosity, passion, enthusiastic responses, optimistic viewpoints, and enduring confidence. Jesus promises us a full life (John 10:10). Are you passionately pursuing the Lord and life in Him?

2. Active pursuit of learning. The young at heart are willing to embrace new ideas, make changes in their lives, and adapt to new things. For Christians, God’s Word is to be a primary source of learning (2 Tim. 3:16). What have you learned from the Bible this past week, and how has it impacted your life?

3. A hopeful outlook in the face of trials. A youthful attitude is resilient and able to find meaning and strength in adversity (Rom. 5:3-5). Ask the Lord to increase your trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope (15:13).

4. A “people” orientation. Those who are youthful in spirit willingly reach out in friendship. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, whom will you befriend?

Beware of hindrances to being young at heart. One obstacle is self-absorption, which can close us to new ideas, new people, and even to the Spirit’s call. Heed Jesus’ command to deny self (Matt. 16:34). If self-focus describes you, confess it, and seek to have a youthful heart attitude. You’ll experience the inward vitality that characterizes the young at heart (2 Cor. 4:16).

 

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Programming Our Minds

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Charles Stanley

Colossians 3:15-17

The mind is the control tower of life. Decisions determine actions, which in turn affect the immediate and distant future. The person each of us will be 20 years from now is impacted by how we think today. If we want our future self to be pleasing to the Lord, then we must begin at once to program our mind with godly thoughts.

In Romans 12:2 and Ephesians 4:23, Paul tells believers to reject worldly thinking and renew the mind. We have been given the capacity to think as Jesus does—if we submit to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. The believer should seek the things of God as an act of submission. This means opening our minds only to biblically sound attitudes and philosophies. It’s important that we protect ourselves from the world’s self-serving mindset, because we are to be God’s servants.

A second way to submit is by sifting our thoughts through the Word and will of God. This is a practical step that allows us to identify wrong thinking. We must consider whether an attitude or line of reasoning is pleasing to the Lord and useful for making us into the person He has called us to be. Then, when a thought is unscriptural, we can choose to reject it (2 Cor. 10:5).

Of course, the only way to know if a thought pleases the Lord is to read and meditate upon His Word. In the Bible, God provides examples of righteous living and thinking, and He offers guidance for choosing such patterns. Scripture is the instruction manual for our control tower.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Our Thoughts

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Charles Stanley

Philippians 4:8-9

The popular expression “You are what you eat” is an encouragement to give our physical bodies good food. The idea also applies to our mental wellbeing. The mind’s appetite is much like the stomach’s, which becomes accustomed to the diet we provide and craves more of the same. Dwelling on whatever is pure, lovely, and right develops a hunger to receive more of God’s goodness. But if we take in what our culture calls excellent, we develop a taste for that instead.

The world presents some delicious-looking offerings—TV is one example. But mixed in with some fine educational programming is a lot of junk. Certain believers consider it okay to watch a show that violates scriptural values, since it’s “just entertainment.” However, everything our mind ingests shapes our views and values. Allowing incorrect teaching and sinful ideas into our thinking can warp our understanding of right and wrong.

If an idea, action, or activity is not true or honorable—that is, if it violates Scripture in some way—then God is not in it. And if God is absent, then Satan is present. The Enemy’s mission is to draw our focus away from the Lord. Once the Devil has someone’s attention, he’ll keep presenting more tasty-looking “junk food” to keep that individual occupied while leading him farther from the Lord and deeper into depravity.

There’s so much clamoring for our attention—entertainment, philosophies, teachings—and whatever isn’t of the Lord has potential to taint our value system. Believers are wise to use discernment and feast only on the things of God.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – God Rewards Obedience

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Charles Stanley

Luke 5:1-11

An ordinary fisherman became one of the chief builders of the early church because he was obedient. Simon Peter made a lifelong commitment to follow Jesus Christ and received many blessings as a result.

After an unsuccessful night at sea, Peter was weary and discouraged. Yet when Jesus asked to borrow his boat, he agreed. And when the carpenter suggested the fisherman put out nets for a catch, Peter did so against his better judgment. His obedience led to huge financial gain, and even better, he saw Jesus for who He was—the Lord.

Just as his nets expanded with the overflowing catch, Peter’s faith also grew large that day. He was so confident of Jesus’ sovereignty that he laid down the tools of his trade and became a “fisher of men” (vv. 10-11). And rewards continued to come his way: as Christ’s disciple, Peter spent time with the Lord and performed miracles in His name (Acts 9:33-42).

Obedience was Peter’s lifestyle—when the Lord told him to do something, he didn’t delay (Matt. 16:15-17). He understood who Jesus was and helped establish the church on the rock-solid foundation of Christ’s Messiahship. Peter preached at Pentecost (Acts 2:14-36), opened Christianity to Gentiles (11:1-18), and wrote two biblical epistles—all of which are additional rewards for his faithfulness.

Believers sometimes shy away from following Jesus wholeheartedly, wondering, How can He use someone so average? Peter’s life proves that the Lord equips those He calls. And when an ordinary believer faithfully obeys, God rewards.

 

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Getting the Most Out of Work

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Charles Stanley

Colossians 3:22-24

Although today’s passage addresses slaves, any worker can benefit from the lessons Paul offers. In the ancient Roman world, over half the people were slaves. It didn’t matter if they were doctors, teachers, or shepherds—they could still be owned by another person. So the admonitions apply to every vocation.

Perhaps you read Paul’s words and think, That can’t mean me—I have a terrible job/boss/customer to deal with. I assure you, the apostle is talking to every believer. In his day, the lowest household servant was responsible for washing the dirty feet of those entering the house. It was a horrible job that left one open to all kinds of abuse. But to the person in that position, and to each of us, Paul says, “Do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (v. 23).

Believers get the most out of their jobs when they take on the role of servant to the Lord. That’s how God sees us. Though we live in a society that prizes independence, we are to be a different kind of people, who perform the work required without complaint. The only time we are authorized to disobey is when we’re asked to violate the Word of God. Even then, we are to disagree, but with gentleness and self-control.

The Bible tells us that God’s ways are not man’s ways (Isa. 55:8), and we have Jesus as our example: He made Himself a bondservant to the Father and came to earth as a man in order to die for the sins of humanity (Phil. 2:5-7). Willing service marks us as followers of Christ—and people who are to be valued for their impact on others.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Is this promise from You, Lord?

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Charles Stanley

You and I will never go wrong by trusting and obeying God. You may be praying and asking God to work in your life and situation. Maybe there is something you long to have or something you want to experience. You want to make sure that you are getting His best and are in step with His will. But how can you be sure that the promises you’re claiming from Scripture are those God intended for you?

When you trust God for promises in His Word and feel as though He has answered, ask yourself the following questions about your choice:

Does this promise meet my personal need or desire?
Sometimes we can want something so badly that we make choices without considering the consequences. But if we wait for God and remain committed to be right in step with His will, we will receive His blessing, and it will be more than we imagined. In fact, it will be the best. We may be right on target and have chosen the right course of action. If this is the case, then God promises that we will hear His voice or at least sense His leading telling us that this is the right way (Isa 30:21).

Have I submitted my desires to His will?
This is a crucial step. I once knew a woman who wanted to marry a man whom she had known for years. It seemed like a perfect match, but I counseled her to get alone with the Father and remind Him of His promises to her and ask Him if this union was His best. “If it is God’s gift to you, He will make sure you keep it. If it is not, you do not want it.” I could tell by the look in her eyes that she really did not want to submit her desires to the Lord. That night, however, she got down on her knees and gave God the relationship. Three weeks later she found out that he was seeing someone else. The Father had protected her from making a terrible mistake. Though it took a long time for her to get over the incident, she is now happily married to a wonderful man who loves her without hindrance. God had something better in mind. Before you make a horrendous mistake, stop and submit your life and situation to Him. You will be very glad you did.

If God answers this promise, will He be glorified?
Often people are more concerned about having their needs met than they are about pleasing God. They forget that if their lives are not in step with His will, then there will be heartache, disappointment, and sorrow. However, if He is our first concern, then the decisions we make will glorify Him and He will be honored. When He is, then others will see His work in our lives and they will want to develop a personal relationship with Him.

Can God fulfill this promise to me without harming or hurting someone else and without interfering with His will for his or her life?
Many times, our requests are “me” centered. We want things that are not necessarily bad, but they may be things that could draw someone else away from the Lord. You cannot just pick a promise out of His Word and claim it as your own or push to achieve it in your life. God has a plan, and He always takes into account your life and the lives of others around you. Therefore you need to pray, “Lord, this is what I want to do, but I want to make sure that it lines up with Your will for my life and that it will not harm anyone else.” God’s promises always bring blessing and hope. They never subtract or take away our emotional strength or faith; they always add and multiply what He has so generously given.

Does the Holy Spirit bear witness to my spirit that God is pleased with this promise?
You may want something so desperately that you will go to Scripture, choose a promise, claim it, and then tell others, “This is what God is going to do for me.” But He never does. Each time you remind Him of what you have read in His Word, you sense His quietness of Spirit. He is waiting for you to get in line with His will and stop trying to make something happen that is not His best for your life.

By claiming this promise, am I contradicting God’s Word in any way?
You always want to make sure that what you are asking the Father to do is in alignment with His will for your life. It also needs to be something that is biblically on target. Solomon prayed for wisdom, and this was exactly what he needed and what the Lord had planned to give him. When we study Scripture, we are going to begin to think like He does, gaining His mind about our situation. He may not remove our trials, but He will give us such a strong sense of hope that we will be able to endure to the end with a spirit of victory and reward. God wants us to claim His promises, not just to gain a material blessing, but so that we can understand His truth for our lives. A promise made to us by God emphasizes His greatness, His faithfulness, and His unchanging love for us.

If God answers this promise, will it further my spiritual growth?
The answer to this question should be a flat-out “Yes!” If you have to think about it or try to convince yourself that gaining the answer to your promise will actually be good, then either you have missed the point, or you are off track with God.

By now you probably realize that claiming a promise of God is not a simple matter. It takes faith, obedience, and patience. But even more than these three, gaining the promises of God requires a deep abiding love for Him. Therefore, choose to trust Him, to commit your way to Him, and to delight in His precepts, and you will be able to claim His promises. And you will quickly discover that the goodness God has for you will never end.

Adapted from “10 Principles for Studying Your Bible” by Dr. Charles Stanley, 2008.

 

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How to Claim a Promise

In this message, Dr. Stanley discusses the “static” we feel in our spirits when we’re not in the will of God. Our entire belief system is based on the promises of God, and we can trust God to be faithful to keep them all. However, many people miss out because they neglect Him and don’t take hold of the promises God has made to His children. (Watch How to Claim a Promise.)

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Eternal Life: Adjust Your Focus

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Charles Stanley

Romans 8:6

Many believers can almost instinctively complete this statement: “For the wages of sin is_____.” Reading that sentence, perhaps you even filled in the blank out loud: death. We all know what that means, right? Verse 23 of Romans 6 proclaims it’s what we deserve for our sin. This is how we view ourselves from time to time—dirty sinners who have narrowly escaped a horrible death.

The problem here is that too many believers remember just the first half of the verse—the part that deals with our sin. If we focus on the sin rather than God’s plan for restoration, then our entire spiritual perspective gets off balance. Emphasizing the sin directs all the attention to self—what I have done, how I have acted, where I have been. This self-centeredness will never lead to the peaceful assurance of salvation that the Lord has provided. When we focus on ourselves, we leave little room for God.

Romans 8:6 is a good companion verse to the one we’ve been looking at, because the Lord would have us focus not on our problem, but on His solution. You see, Romans 6:23 is not simply a condemnation for sin; it is a proclamation of salvation! The apostle Paul boldly declares that God saw our dire situation and acted on His own initiative to rescue us.

The heavenly Father graciously handed salvation over to us as a free gift. And when the Lord gives a gift, there is no one who can ever steal it away and nothing that can interfere with its permanence (Rom. 8:35-39). That’s the assurance our God wants us to have.

 

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Eternal Life: You Can Be Sure

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Charles Stanley

1 John 5:13

Writing to the early church, the apostle John wanted to make something perfectly clear: God offers His children everlasting life. Men and women in Christ should have no fear of physical death, because their true lives—their eternal lives—are secure in Jesus. Today’s passage is unique because in it, John plainly states his purpose for writing. The point of his ministry was to empower believers with the unshakable faith of eternal life in Christ.

The basis for this truth lies in . . .

1. The unchanging promises of God. Over and over in his gospel and letters, the apostle declares God’s assurance of never-ending life. For example, he quotes Jesus’ promise of eternity in John 3:16, 6:40, and 10:27-30.

2. The unconditional love of God. Our Father loves us so much that He wants an everlasting, intimate relationship with each one of us. To achieve this, He demonstrated His love in a remarkable way: by providing our salvation at a great price (Rom. 5:6-11; 8:33-39).

3. The finished work of Christ on the cross. By offering His life as a substitutionary sacrifice on our behalf, Jesus provided the means of salvation once and for all. Our part is to accept the gift He so freely gives (Heb. 10:23-28).

4. The witness of God’s Spirit to our heart. Our Father places His Holy Spirit within every believer to testify to the truth of our salvation (Rom. 8:15-17).

Scripture tells us that we can have complete assurance of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Does your day-to-day life reflect this confidence?

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Eternal Life: Do You Want It?

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Charles Stanley

1 John 5:3-12

Good health, it seems, is on everyone’s mind these days. Books about the latest, greatest fad diets top the bestseller list. Nutrition stores and health clubs pop up all over town—at times right next door to fast food restaurants. And late-night television is constantly unveiling a flood of gadgets and gizmos, all designed to get you into “the best shape of your life” (and with the promise of minimal effort and commitment).

Why is the health industry such a booming business? It’s because longevity is a major concern: most people have an innate desire to live as long as they can. But in addition to wanting quantity of years, people also want the highest quality life possible. Yet this emotional need for a long, robust life is most frequently centered around the physical world. What about life after death?

Scripture makes it absolutely clear that eternal life is available to every person on earth (Rom. 10:13). Sickness, disease, and death are all bound to life on this planet; however, everyone in Christ has already overcome the worst this world has to offer—namely, death (1 John 5:4-5). Despite their emotional appeal, television infomercials cannot offer anything to compare with the promise of eternal life.

As believers, we should be shouting this message from the rooftops. The people around us are yearning for a word of life, but too many Christians have remained silent. Why? How can we keep secret what God went to such great lengths to reveal? We can live forever! Who in your life needs to hear this amazing truth today?

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – On Mission for Jesus

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Charles Stanley

Luke 2:40-52

It’s a growing trend amond businesses to compose a mission statement in order to keep focused on what really matters to the company. When we look at Jesus, we see He had a clear focus on His mission. By age 12, He was already able to verbalize His purpose: He told Mary and Joseph that He had to be about His Father’s business.

As Christians, we may understand the global mandate of the Great Commission, But that can feel so vast in scope that it’s possible to lose sight of how we, as individuals, should implement it at home. It’s a good idea to think in terms of your own personal mission statement, which is a bit like the popular message “Think globally; act locally.” What it means to act locally is expressed in the old hymn “Brighten the Corner Where You Are” (I. D. Ogden, 1913). It begins:

Do not wait until some deed of
greatness you may do,
Do not wait to shed your light afar;
To the many duties ever near you
now be true,
Brighten the corner where you are.

We should never underestimate the power of attending to nearby duties, even if they seem mundane or unimpressive. Second Samuel 23:11-12 (kjv) gives us an interesting example: while all the people were fleeing from the field, Shammah “stood” and “the Lord wrought a great victory.” Your mission right now may be simply to stand. Sometimes that’s all it takes for the Lord to bring about a powerful victory.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Responding to Closed Doors

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Charles Stanley

Philippians 4:6-7

Disappointments can be hard to bear. One minute life seems to be on track for what we hope and dream. The next moment our way is blocked. How do we respond when facing closed doors?

If our hearts are set on a certain course of action, we may convince ourselves it is God’s will and push ahead regardless. We might send up a quick prayer asking for His help or blessing, but mostly we just move forward. By manipulating people or circumstances, we could get what we want but be outside of God’s plan.

Another response to a blocked path is to become emotionally upset. Then we face the danger of operating out of our feelings and replacing a Christ-centered perspective with a self-centered one. Strong emotions can be a temptation to blame others—including the Lord. Anger toward Him can, in turn, lead us to rebel against Him and His ways.

Godly responses, on the other hand, start with waiting and trusting. When the Lord blocks our way, we are to have faith in Him, taking time to assess the situation, and praying for guidance. By asking the Spirit to increase our sensitivity to the events around us, we will be able to notice any open doors. Even if we find none, we are to live with hope, anticipating other doors of opportunity in His perfect time. Thanking God for His work on our behalf is essential, even at times when we lack understanding. Finally, remaining faithful to what the Lord has called us to do is an important part of our wait.

Wait. Trust. Pray. Obey. This is God’s prescription for handling closed doors.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Confronting Closed Doors

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Charles Stanley

Acts 16:6-10

God has the power to open any closed door. And yet He may decide to let things that seem important to us remain blocked. Why does the Lord allow doors to stay shut?

• Protection. He might be trying to keep us from making a mistake. On our own, we may not have adequate knowledge to make right choices.

• Redirection. God could be sending us on a new path. His plan might include bigger opportunities, deeper satisfaction, more productivity, a season of suffering, or an opportunity to glorify His name. The Lord closed doors in Asia so that the apostle Paul would minister on the continent of Europe. His obedience led to increased fruitfulness—the churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, and Corinth—and to more knowledge for us through his letters to them. Though Paul experienced much suffering, he also knew the joy of participating in God’s work.

• Testing. When God says “No,” our faith is tested, and we discover what we really believe about Him and His plans.

• Perseverance. When our path is blocked, we have opportunity to develop steadfastness. Romans 5:3-5 tells us that we should actually “exult in our tribulations,” because of the positive results the Lord will cause through them.

• Timing. Sometimes our Father places stop signs in our way to work out the right timing for His will.

• Disobedience. Past waywardness can affect future experiences and blessings.

When your way is stopped, look to God and seek His purpose for the interruption. How do you respond to “no”?

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – You Can Trust God’s Promises

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Charles Stanley

Joshua 21:45

God always keeps His promises. This is one thing you can be sure of and the principle bulwark of your faith: If the Lord says He is going to do something, then you can stake your life on the fact that He will do it. It is crucial for you to understand this if you want to grow in an intimate relationship with God and walk in the center of His will.

Think about it: in Matthew 16, when Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter responded, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (vv. 15–16). To this, Jesus declared, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that … upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (vv. 17–18).

Jesus did not mean that the church would be based on Peter; rather, it is founded on the truth that Jesus Christ is God’s Son and the Messiah. Jesus did, however, intend to use Peter and the others to spread the gospel.

Again, relationship was poured into the foundation of God’s work on earth—and it always will be. The Father kept His Word by sending us the Savior who would redeem us, and all the powers of hell could not prevent Him from fulfilling this all-important promise to us. Likewise, nothing can stop Him from keeping every pledge He has made to you.

Joshua 21:45 tells us, “Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.” This is the basis of your confidence that He will keep His promises for the future—that He will make a home for you in heaven (John 14:2–3), that you will see your believing loved ones there (1 Thess. 4:15–17), and that you will dwell in His presence forever (Rev. 22:3–5). All history testifies to the fact that God always keeps His Word. That’s why you are wise to trust Him.

 

Excerpt from In Step with God, by Dr. Charles Stanley.

 

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The Fulfillment of a Promise

God gives us many wonderful promises in His Word, but we often don’t live by them. This leads us to think that God won’t answer our prayers, and we doubt His desire to work in our lives. In this message, Dr. Stanley explains how God taught him to trust in His Word and shares the scriptural principles that will also allow us to do so. (Watch The Fulfillment of a Promise.)

 

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – An Example of Service

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Charles Stanley

Philippians 2:1-7

Jesus defied the world’s expectations regarding a divine being. Many Jewish people of that day were looking for a powerful king to liberate them from the Romans—they were prepared to serve and worship that kind of messiah. Instead, the Savior was a humble man who didn’t think twice about washing dirty feet. While Jesus Christ could have banished the Roman presence from the region and then been glorified as an earthly ruler, He was very clear about His reason for being here: He came to serve, not to be served (Matt. 20:28).

In fact, Paul refers to Jesus as the lowest form of worker—a bondservant. This type of laborer was responsible for the menial household tasks, including foot washings. Christ came into the world prepared to do whatever work was necessary to move men toward a saving knowledge of Himself. He values every soul. Zacchaeus, a despised tax collector, received His attention and love just as the Pharisee Nicodemus and the rich young ruler did (Luke 19:1-10; 18:18-25; John 3:1-8). Jesus also spent time with people on the lowest rung of the social ladder, healing the sick and afflicted, and speaking with children.

A servant’s life is not self-centered but rather is focused on God and His work. The Bible calls us to serve the Father by following in the Son’s footsteps. Believers would never refer to Jesus as weak, but those who chase after the world’s version of success probably would. Are you prepared to challenge our culture’s idea of power by accepting the humble position of servant?

Charles Spurgeon

Charles Stanley – Turning the Other Cheek

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Charles Stanley

Luke 6:29-31

Immediately following His arrest, Jesus was interrogated by the high priest. When He provided an “unsatisfactory” answer, one of the officials struck Him in the face. Instead of literally offering His other cheek to be slapped, the Savior calmly challenged the man’s unjust action. The Lord did not defend Himself or retaliate, but He also refused to accept the abuse unquestioningly, despite the fact that He knew He would receive more (John 18:21-23).

The Bible passage telling us to turn the other cheek confuses many Christians. Are we to stand still while someone beats us up physically or emotionally? No. But we are not to retaliate in kind. Pride will certainly trigger a desire to take revenge on the coworker who stole credit for our work or the family member who repeatedly says unkind words. Yet we are not to “repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing” (1 Peter 3:9).

In daily practice, the situation will determine what form a godly response will take. We may need to ignore the other person’s actions, walk away from abuse, or confront our enemy—confrontation designed to gain understanding and reconciliation is not inappropriate. In fact, Jesus instructs us to transform rivals into friends by means of respectful discourse (Matt. 18:15). Asking “Why do you feel about me as you do?” can reveal the strength of agape—unconditional love—to minister to a hurting soul despite the potential for injury.

Might God be calling you to show agape? Pray for the desire and power to “turn the other cheek” as Christ did.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Blessing Our Enemies

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Charles Stanley

Luke 6:27-28

As stories make their way to us from the persecuted church, we hear about Christians who, though beaten, harassed, and jailed, respond with unimaginable grace and dignity. These saints have learned to apply Christ’s command to “love your enemies,” even in the harshest of circumstances.

We may never face a beating for our faith, but we will run across people who hate and mistreat us. The easy and natural response is to dislike them in return, but harboring ill will chokes our witness with resentment. Instead, Jesus instructs us to love our adversaries and to treat them well. The Greek word is agape—it means “unconditional love,” which is not a soft feeling based on the attractive nature or appearance of the other person. Agape forms through an act of our will. When we choose to love, our emotions follow the decision of our mind.

A right response to an enemy will prove beneficial to him. God has a redemptive plan in mind for his life, and we have an opportunity to help show him the way to the Lord. A bitter or angry response on our part will serve only to feed our adversary’s desire to cause harm.

The natural urge to return one wrong for another can be subdued only through prayer, the most powerful weapon in our arsenal. Instead of begging the Father to defeat our enemy, we can ask Him for the opportunity to express genuine Christlike love in the face of opposition. That’s the kind of prayer He delights to answer. And when we are privileged to meet the need of someone who despises us, we might just see an amazing change in his life.

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Hindrances to Success

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Charles Stanley

Galatians 6:9-10

No matter how carefully we plan our time, we will now and then run into obstacles. They might be interruptions, miscommunications, cancellations, or delays. We have no control over many of these types of situations, but we are able to change certain kinds of hindrances.

We can, for example, adjust misplaced priorities. Consider how often we allow others to dictate how we spend our time. Instead of maintaining a God-centered schedule, we may be responding to the demands of other people, permitting them to decide our activities without regard for what God has in mind for us.

Circumstances can also determine our schedule, if we permit. But we cannot succeed in life if we let ourselves be drawn away from what God wants. Investing time in the Word and learning God’s ways must be an integral part of our schedule.

Another hindrance to reaching our goal is procrastination. We all experience this on occasion, but for some of us, putting things off has become a habit. When that’s the case, we no doubt have many good intentions but lack follow-through. Success will evade us as long as we dally.

A third hindrance that we can work to overcome is lack of concentration. To be successful, we must focus our minds on a particular task and stay with it until it is finished. Having a strong motivation to achieve the Lord’s plan is helpful, as we work at completing what we value and desire. How important to you is achieving the Lord’s plan? Align your thinking and your time with His ways, and success—in God’s eyes—will follow.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Time for Success

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Charles Stanley

Ephesians 5:15-17

For Christ-followers, succeeding in God’s eyes is the only kind of achievement that matters. Sometimes, however, success seems to elude us. When it does, examining what we are thinking and how we’re spending our time can help us move forward. There’s a relationship between spiritual success and the way we use our time. To become the person God wants each of us to be and to achieve the tasks He’s given us to do, we must manage our time carefully.

Time is a gift God has given us, and we’re accountable to Him for the way we spend it. We need to recognize that time is not ours to fill as we choose, but rather, it’s a trust from the Lord to be utilized in ways that fulfill His plan. Reviewing our schedule regularly will help ensure that we invest this precious resource His way.

Take a moment right now to review your calendar for the rest of this week, and ask yourself the following questions:

1. Does this schedule reveal a wise use of my time, according to God’s principles?

2. Where will I end up if I continue to invest my time in the same activities I’m currently involved in? Will it be where God wants me to be?

3. What will I be accomplishing for the kingdom of God if I continue to use my time in this way?

4. Does the way I spend my time help me move closer to achieving the Lord’s goal for me—namely, ongoing personal transformation into Christlikeness?

Respond to what the Holy Spirit reveals about your schedule, so that you may make wise use of your days. Remember that God wants you to succeed.