Tag Archives: Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Developing Convictions

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Jeremiah 17:5-8

An acorn needs nutrients and time to grow into a tall oak tree. Likewise, men and women of conviction develop gradually through committed Bible study and prayer. Ready to get planted firmly in biblical truth? It can help to make a list of issues for which you need to form a conviction. Here are questions to get you started:

  • Do you consider the Bible true and trustworthy?
  • Do you think that believing in Jesus is the only way to be saved?
  • What is the Holy Spirit’s role in the lives of believers and unbelievers?
  • Are we to forgive others in every situation?
  • How should Christians approach finances?
  • What’s your purpose in life?
  • What is your role in the church and at work?
  • How should you think about social issues like abortion and racism?

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The Navigators

The Navigators – Jerry Bridges – Holiness Day by Day Devotional – Grace to Others

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Today’s Scripture: Matthew 18:33

“Should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?”

We’re brought into God’s kingdom by grace; we’re sanctified by grace; we receive both temporal and spiritual blessings by grace; we’re motivated to obedience by grace; we’re called to serve and enabled to serve by grace; we receive strength to endure trials by grace; and we’re glorified by grace. The entire Christian life is lived under the reign of God’s grace.

This grace is not only to be received by us; it is, in a sense, to be extended to others. I say “in a sense” because our relationship to other people is different from God’s relationship to us. He is the infinitely superior Judge and moral Governor of the universe. We are all sinners and are on an equal plane with one another. So we cannot exercise grace as God does, but we can relate to one another as those who have received grace and who wish to operate on the principles of grace.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Our Convictions—Our Defense

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Romans 14:20-23

A person of conviction has become convinced, by either evidence or argument, that his or her beliefs are true. Today, most people would rather live by preferences than by convictions. They choose to believe something based on conditions and circumstances. When situations change, so does their loyalty. Many people vacillate on issues that require a firm resolve.

Contrast this wishy-washy approach with the mindset of the great men and women depicted in Scripture. Despite years of unfair treatment, Joseph never wavered in his commitment to godly principles. As a result, he was in the right place at the right time to ensure the survival of Israel (Gen. 50:20). Daniel, another righteous man living in an idolatrous land, earned the trust of foreign kings by standing firm in his beliefs (Dan. 1:19-20). When his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego also refused to compromise their beliefs, they influenced a king to recognize Jehovah as the one true God (Dan. 3:29).

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Promise of Eternal Life

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1 John 5:5-12

Our culture is obsessed with longevity. While the desire for a lengthy existence of good quality is natural, it’s also shortsighted. The Bible does emphasize living a godly life now. But it also contains numerous reminders that believers will remain after this old world is gone.

No pill or diet can extend our days on earth beyond the number God has willed. But we can live forever in a flawless home with a perfected body, doing soul-satisfying work. When we believe Jesus Christ is God’s Son and trust Him as our Savior, we receive the gift of eternal life. Believers get to spend eternity serving and fellowshipping with the Lord.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Times of Trouble

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Psalms 46:2-11

During this life, hard times are inevitable. Some watch a loved one suffer and die; others are wrongly accused or mistreated. People endure crippling ailments. The range of human pain is broad, but there is only one place of true comfort.

Today’s passage speaks of great calamities, some from natural causes and some caused by men (Ps. 46:2, 6). Such trials often bewilder us, but verse 10 tells us where to turn: God’s followers should be still and remember He’s the sovereign Lord of the universe. In our world of smart phones and deadlines, it’s sometimes hard to stop even for a moment. But the key to dealing with difficulty lies in trusting the One who is in control of all things.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Giving Out of Need

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2 Corinthians 8:1-5

In elementary school, we learned how to subtract: Take away, and you have less than when you started. Contrary to the laws of mathematics, God tells us that when we give, we’ll receive even more in return. “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38).

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Wisdom Hunters

Wisdom Hunters – God’s Wisdom 

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I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart. 1 Kings 3: 12

The wisdom of God goes beyond your ability to understand right and wrong. It gets to the heart of the matter. Wisdom asks: Why do you want to do what you want to do? What is your motive? Are you third? Are your priorities God first, others second, and you third?

Opportunities should become options to further God’s Kingdom, rather than a way to exploit your power and status. This is the motive God looks for to pour out his blessing of wisdom (Ecclesiastes 2:26). He is looking for centered people whose heart’s desire is to obey God and follow His ways. Yes, books can increase your knowledge, but only God can bestow wisdom upon you. In fact, knowledge can work against you if it just feeds your ego and pride. Knowledge can even be a turn-off. People are attracted to what you do with what you know. They want to see you apply the truth you have acquired. This is wisdom. Wisdom is taking the perspective of God and transforming the human worldview.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Blessing of Giving

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1 Timothy 6:17-19

The more skilled you are at a task, the more you enjoy it. When an orchestra adeptly plays a masterpiece, an accomplished musician will derive greater pleasure from listening than would a person with an untrained ear. You might be surprised to learn the same is true of giving.

God has many reasons for us to give. First, returning a portion of our wealth to the Lord acknowledges that everything actually belongs to Him (Ps. 50:10). Second, giving is a way to demonstrate that we are obeying Him (Deut. 16:17). Third, contributing to a ministry or helping the needy is participation in kingdom work, which brings us deep joy. Fourth, our offerings are an opportunity for God to reveal His character to us and those around us; as we demonstrate generosity, He faithfully provides for our needs and blesses us abundantly (2 Cor. 9:8). Over and over again, the saying “You can’t outgive God” proves true.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Learning to Pray With Confidence

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1 John 5:14-15

Prayer is the Christian’s most powerful God-given means for effecting change. Yet we’re often hesitant about our appeals.

But we should be confident in prayer, primarily because of the knowledge that we belong to God’s family (John 1:12). When we received Jesus Christ as Savior, God became our heavenly Father. As a result, we can be absolutely sure He will hear our prayers (1 John 5:14).

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Praying God’s Way

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Luke 18:1-8

We like to keep things simple: Follow a few steps and reach the preferred result. Prayer, however, cannot be reduced to an easy formula. It isn’t some static activity where repeating certain words brings the desired solution. It’s ongoing communication with the heavenly Father and should involve listening, speaking, and acting on what we hear from Him.

God has promised to answer His children’s prayers, but He often waits before responding. He does so for many reasons.

Preparation. Sometimes God has to make us ready for what He wants to give us. We may have some attitudes or behaviors not aligned with His will (James 4:3). He’ll deal with them before He gives us His gift.

Spiritual growth. The Lord may use delays to test our faith or deepen our relationship with Him. No response from Him means He wants us to continue to seek Him and converse with Him. Continue reading Charles Stanley – Praying God’s Way →

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Learning to Pray the Bible Way

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Matthew 7:7-12

God wants His children to ask for what’s on their hearts, because He delights to give. Even more, He wants to fellowship with us. What joy can be ours every time we meet our heavenly Father through prayer!

The privilege of supplication rests on our relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Only those who are part of God’s family can claim Him as their Father (John 1:12) and avail themselves of His pledge to answer prayer. He makes no such commitment to unbelievers. The single exception is the sinner who asks for forgiveness and receives Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. As promised, his or her prayer is always answered with salvation (Rom. 10:9).

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – A Lesson in Pruning

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John 15:1-4

Years ago I lived in Fruitland, North Carolina. It was apple country, and several of my parishioners were growers. I remember the time I stopped by to pay one of them a visit, and his wife told me he was in the orchard. I found him out there, mercilessly cutting branches. Without thinking, I said, “You’re going to kill that tree!” He turned around and said, “You stick to preaching, and leave the pruning to me.”

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Training in Godliness

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Deuteronomy 4:9-10

Our desire as Christian parents is to help our children mature into godly men and women. We want them to believe the Father has a plan for their lives and they’re accountable to Him.

I remember teaching my children from a young age about these important truths. I wanted biblical principles to shape their thinking, their choices, and their hearts. After explaining about God’s will, I told them they were accountable to the Lord for their behavior—as well as to their mother and me. If kids believe they are accountable only to their parents, then when apart from Mom and Dad, they’re likely to think they don’t have to answer to anyone.

My children didn’t always agree with my decisions, so I taught them to speak to their heavenly Father about it. Over time, they developed the habit of talking with Him. This training became very important in their teenage years. Instead of giving a quick no to some of their requests, I said, “Find out what God wants you to do. Whatever you two agree on, I will accept.” I knew this was risky, but I had to trust the Lord and give my children the opportunity to practice what I’d been teaching them throughout their lives—that they’re accountable to the Father.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Training Our Children

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Proverbs 22:6

From a very young age, children observe the behavior of the significant adults in their lives. What a wonderful opportunity this is to influence the next generation for Jesus Christ!

How do we train children in godliness? We start by investing time in their lives. Whether through activities, reading together, or quiet conversation, we can model Christian living through everyday activities.

Listening closely to them is another part of teaching our sons, daughters, and other children in our life. To influence them toward righteousness, we must know what they’re thinking—what’s important to them, what brings them joy, and what bothers them.

Protecting children through discipline is another aspect of godly parenting. When done with love, discipline helps them understand the wisdom of God’s boundaries and the importance of self-control.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Jesus: Our Best Friend

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John 15:9-17

As believers, we think of Jesus as our Lord and Savior, King, or Master, but rarely do we think of Him as our close friend. We may have difficulty with the concept, but Jesus does not. Once we can grasp what kind of companion He is, we’ll realize that a truly joyful life is possible only through a friendship with Him.

Jesus accepts us. Unconditional acceptance means we can always approach Him, even with our dirty sin baggage. He doesn’t intend to leave us in our present state, and we’re accepted no matter what’s happening in our lives.

Jesus walks through trials with us. God’s promise never to leave or forsake His people is repeated throughout the Scriptures. (See Deut. 31:6; Heb. 13:5.) That promise is individualized for each believer through Jesus’ companionship. He is our constant encourager and faithful friend during both the good and dark times in our lives.

Jesus is always available. He has no need to sleep, take a dinner break, or go on vacation. Unlike humans, Jesus is never too busy to meet our needs or respond to our prayers. Continue reading Charles Stanley – Jesus: Our Best Friend →

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Serving One Another

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1 Corinthians 12:12-13

Believers have two main responsibilities—to love God and to love people (Matt. 22:37-40). This is often done by serving. Where and how we serve is based upon our unique talents, skills, and calling, but the one place where we’re all expected to give of ourselves is the local church.

When you trusted Jesus as Savior, the Lord baptized you by the Holy Spirit into His church—the body of believers living all over the world but united by faith in Jesus Christ. You then chose, according to the will of God, to become part of a local, autonomous group of believers. He placed you there because He knows that you are needed (1 Cor. 12:18). You are significant to your home church.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – A Living Hope

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1 Peter 1:3-5

Corinth was a city characterized by sexual immorality and many other forms of ungodliness. (See 1 Cor. 6:9-11.) Believers there had once been like their fellow citizens—filled with greed, envy, wickedness, deceit, anger, and malice. But now they were new creations in Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and adopted into the family of God. The Corinthian lifestyle no longer matched who they’d become in Jesus.

In that passage from 1 Corinthians, Paul reminded the believers not to be influenced by their culture or old patterns of thinking. The apostle was not warning them that they might miss out on the kingdom. Instead, he was encouraging them to abandon their old ways and bring their behavior in line with who they really were—children of God.

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Our Source of Hope

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Titus 2:11-14

People have different opinions about who goes to heaven. Some believe ethical behavior and moral character bring automatic acceptance from God. Others, while acknowledging they have bad habits and behaviors, claim a self-improvement plan gains them admission. Still others assume they’ll be disqualified from heaven because of deep hurts they caused.

None of this lines up with the truth of the Bible. Scripture tells us that character and deeds do not determine our eternal state (Eph. 2:8-9). Rather, the barrier between us and a holy God is our sinful nature. Romans 5:12 teaches that Adam and Eve’s sin caused all mankind to begin physical life dead to spiritual things and under a sentence of judgment. No amount of good works or moral behavior can change our unholy nature. Nor do bad choices make our nature worse.

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Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Anything at All

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“Yes, ask anything, using my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:14).

“What is the most important thought your mind has ever entertained?” someone once asked Daniel Webster, one of the greatest intellects in American history.

“My accountability to God,” he replied.

In John 14:14 we find a marvelous promise, one that surely gives ample reason for our accountability to God!

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Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Created to Praise

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Psalms 103

Do you ever wonder why you exist? Day-to-day activities and worries pull us in so many directions that most of us seldom think about the goal of life. But our Creator made us with a purpose: to glorify Him (Isa. 43:7).

In His Word, God is emphatic that we are to testify to His faithfulness and His mighty works. Jesus Christ considered this important as well—when teaching His disciples how to communicate with God, He began His well-known prayer with adoration of His Father (Matt. 6:9).

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