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Campus Crusade for Christ

Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Clothed in Christ

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“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves in Christ” (Galatians 3:27, NAS).

You may be surprised, as I was, at the result of our personal surveys having to do with church members and salvation.

Such surveys indicate that somewhere between 50 and 90% of all church members are not sure of their salvation. Like Martin Luther, John Wesley and many others who became mighty ambassadors for Christ, some spend many years “serving God” before they experience the assurance and reality of their salvation.

The pastor of a large fashionable church of 1,500 members once reacted negatively when I shared these statistics, doubting that such large percentages of church members lacked assurance of their salvation.

He decided personally to survey his own congregation at the church where he had served as senior pastor for 15 years. To his amazement and shock, more than 75% of the membership indicated they were not sure of their salvation.

Continue reading Campus Crusade for Christ; Bill Bright – Clothed in Christ →

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Charles Stanley – Prayer: A Great Privilege

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Charles Stanley

1 John 5:14-15

One question reverberates through the heart of nearly all Christians at some point in their faith walk: If God knows everything about me, why do I need to pray to have my needs met? The Lord has specific reasons for not using His omnipotence to respond to certain desires and hurts unless we share those things with Him.

God encourages us to pray in order to build an intimate personal relationship between Himself and us. He is interested in much more than meeting our needs; He also wants to become our source of strength in every trial. We know from experience that developing any friendship takes a commitment of time. Quick three-minute prayers—though valuable and important for maintaining continuous “fragrant incense” before God—are not enough to sustain a personal connection with our Father.

James 1:17 says, “Every good gift . . . is from above” (niv). The Lord wants us to acknowledge Him as the source of all our blessings. Directing our prayers toward God and trusting that they will be answered in His will and timing strengthens our awareness that without Him, we can achieve nothing. In the Christian life, our dependence upon God grows in direct proportion to our spiritual maturity. Such a concept runs contrary to our nature and culture, which prizes independence above all else.

We are privileged to belong to a God who desires a Father-child relationship with us. He could certainly meet our needs without a single word from us, but then we would never know the wonder of asking and receiving in love.

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Charles Stanley – Praying With Confidence

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Matthew 7:7-11

We sometimes become impatient in our prayer life. We might get angry or simply throw up our hands and decide God is not listening to us when He doesn’t answer our prayers immediately or in the exact way we hoped. The truth is that God delights in answering our prayers and has provided plenty of promises that should motivate us to talk with Him.

Read today’s passage one more time. If we understand what Jesus was saying in Matthew 7, we will be able to pray with greater confidence.

To ask is the easy part. We request aid in our jobs or protection of our children. We also ask to be drawn closer to God.

Then, to seek is the next step—the action stage of asking. Oftentimes we need to do something before God will bring about an answer to our prayers. For instance, if we pray, “God, please help me understand Scripture,” we must proceed to open the Bible and start reading.

Finally, to knock demonstrates that we’re coming to the Lord with a sense of dependence upon Him. We recognize that we cannot manipulate an answer to our petitions but instead must rely upon His power. What’s more, our ability to “knock” is unique—our God is personal and intensely interested in us.

Jesus uses the words ask, seek, and knock in the present active imperative tense. That means “ask and keep on asking; seek and keep on seeking; knock and keep on knocking.” In the Scriptures, prayer is compared to incense, which implies an unbroken stream that flows from us to heaven. Are you providing a continuous fragrance to the Lord with your prayers?

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Charles Stanley – How can I find the strength to endure when I face spiritual opposition?

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Ezra 4

In the Book of Ezra we read of a beleaguered people who faced opposition in doing what God had commissioned them to do. They sought to rebuild the holy temple that was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar’s forces decades earlier, and they faced stiff opposition from the locals, deceitful offers of “help,” and open attacks from the outside.

Still, God’s people successfully completed the temple restoration. How? By developing a spiritual quality we all need in the Christian life: endurance.

God knows the Christian life is not easy. And it never will become easy, no matter how long we live. In this world, we will face opposition, both from the world and from the enemy of our souls, the devil. Jesus told us, “In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33).

Surrounded by such opposition, if we’re going to live in a way that pleases God, then we must develop endurance. The Bible is full of examples of people who endured opposition to their work and who received their reward as a result. Hebrews 11, often called the “Hall of Faith,” lists some of those heroes.

But what exactly is involved in developing endurance? At least four things play a big role:

Receiving encouragement from others. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to ponder the lives of those he lists in chapter 11. He refers to them as “a cloud of witnesses” (Heb. 12:1). We cannot see this great cloud of witnesses, but we can read about them in God’s Word and glean from their inspiring stories of endurance.

Getting rid of hindrances. Hebrews tells us, “Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us” (12:1). This means we need to identify those things that could slow us down, including any sin God brings to our attention.

Running the race. Hebrews 12:1 ends by telling us, “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” When the going gets rough, we don’t run away. We can’t be quitters. Rather, we continue on in confident trust, and the longer we persevere, the stronger our faith in Him becomes.

Fixing our eyes on Christ. Hebrews 12:2 advises us to keep “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Nothing helps us endure like seeing the final prize before us—and that prize is Christ Himself. Do you want the prize? Then you must endure. And Jesus promises to help you.

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Charles Stanley – Faith vs. Reason

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1 Corinthians 1:18-29

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Another way of saying that is “knowing that God will honor His Word.”

Reason can be the enemy of faith, because it attempts to “trump” trust in God by encouraging us to rely on human intellect. This kind of logical thinking places confidence in man, but since we are not all-knowing or all-powerful, it leads to insecurity and worry.

All the while, God waits patiently for man to acknowledge his need of a Savior and then respond in faith. Reason says, “I can do it.” Faith says, “With God, all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26). Reason says, “Hurry and get yours before it’s gone.” Faith responds, “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). Reason wrings its hands and says, “There has to be a better way!” Faith looks at Jesus and hears Him whisper, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

God’s Word states that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. It makes no sense whatsoever to them because Satan has blinded their eyes to the truth. But to us who are being saved, the Gospel is the very power of God (1 Cor. 1:18).

In 1 Corinthians 1:19, God says, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” Those who are of the world may seem to have the upper hand now, but a time will come when they will wither like grass. Only those belonging to Christ possess eternity. We need to lovingly share this truth with others.

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Charles Stanley – Triumph through Failure

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John 21:1-19

We’ve all made tracks through the valley of failure. What matters is how we respond: do we give up and live a defeated life, or do we believe God can restore us?

The story of Peter’s failure and sub-sequent restoration gives us tremendous encouragement. Jesus knew that Peter would fall short, but He had specifically prayed for the disciple’s faith not to fail. The Lord also told him ahead of time that failure would not be the end of the story—Peter would stand up again and strengthen the others.

Notice an important distinction: Peter failed; he wasn’t a failure. The Enemy wants us to view how we fall short as part of our identity rather than something that has resulted from our actions. But the truth is that we belong to God, and our shortcomings can actually prepare us to be used more greatly by Him. In His hand, such times in our lives are tools to push our walk forward in great leaps. In order for the Lord to mold Peter into the leader of strength and humility he’d soon become, the disciple’s heart needed to undergo purification by being broken.

When we build walls around our heart to deny God access, we are resisting much-needed brokenness and healing. If we want to see the Lord use us, we must allow Him to get rid of the “chaff” that prevents us from reaching our maximum potential.

Amazingly, failure can be the catalyst that moves us to a whole new vision of what God is doing in our lives. He can utilize our missteps to bring into focus His plans and purposes for our life. The result will be glory to Him and blessing to us.

 

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Charles Stanley – Heaven: Our Eternal Home

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Revelation 21:1-6

A wise person will prepare for the inevitable. And the most inevitable thing in the world is our physical passing. We weren’t designed to live forever in our earthly bodies; we are eternal beings with eternal purposes. With so sure an outcome, we would be wise to spend time on earth preparing for our eternal future.

Have you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior? If so, then you can be confident that you will spend eternity with Him in heaven. However, a common question for believers is, “But what will we do when we get there?” Despite common portrayals of the afterlife, we will not be sitting around on clouds and playing harps. An exciting future awaits believers.

We will praise God. If you’ve ever been passionately in love with someone, you probably remember how hard it is to think about anything else. In a way, that’s how we will view God in heaven—as our ultimate source of love and companionship—only, our relationship with Him will far surpass any “feeling” of love we’ve ever experienced. Far more than simply a feeling, it will be the outgrowth of a completely perfect union with our heavenly Father.

We will shine for God. In heaven, earthly limitations will be stripped away, allowing the glory of God within every believer to shine brilliantly (Matt. 13:43).

We will reign with God. Do you understand how valuable you are to your Creator? Romans 8:16-17 tells us that we are notonly God’s children but also co-heirs with Christ. This means we will take part in all that the Father has designated for His Son.

Heaven is a reality, and in John 14:6, Jesus explained that there is just one way to get there: through Him.

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Charles Stanley – The Believer’s Destination

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John 14:1-3

The Bible is clear that those who trust in Jesus as their personal Savior will have eternal life. Furthermore, it promises that followers of God will spend eternity with Him in heaven.

The New Testament contains approxi- mately 200 references to heaven, most of which are from the teachings of Jesus Himself. Obviously, the topic was quite important to our Lord. Why, then, do we often fail to talk about it ourselves?

Sadly, one reason we ignore the subject is that we simply feel too satisfied here on earth. Maybe we think we have it pretty good, whether because of a loving family, a stable job, or a nice home. Surrounded by such comfort, it can seem hard to imagine an even better place.

Other people, however, do not have it so easy here on earth. They are the ones who most easily grasp the concept of heaven. They are the individuals who live their lives in need, nursing the belief that life beyond earth will supply all that they lack.

You see, it is rarely our desperation that makes it difficult to envision our heavenly home. Rather, our success is oftentimes the greatest obstacle to a desire for the everlasting home where we truly belong. We can become so distracted by earthly things that we grow blind to the spiritual reality of eternal life. Why don’t we think more about heaven? Very simply, it is because many of us don’t want to go yet!

What in your life might be obstructing the view of your heavenly home? Jesus has gone before us to prepare our eternal dwelling, and who would know how to fix a place to our liking better than our Creator? Don’t let anything dim your vision of the excellent future home awaiting you.

 

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Charles Stanley – Our Choices Matter

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Galatians 5:13-16

Most people who choose to walk through the wide gate don’t stop to consider the pros and cons of taking the path leading to destruction. Instead, they drift onto that roadway without thinking of the consequences. The narrow gate is different—we must deliberately choose to pass through it and take the sparsely populated way to heaven.

Walking on the narrow road requires faith, discipline, and determination. We must be reading the Bible daily and main- taining an active prayer connection to God. By surrendering our lives to Christ, we keep our hearts on a path of righteousness.

Truthfully, we all have desires—that is, fleshly appetites—that find the easier pathway more attractive. In other words, we are each tempted to sin. As we choose to give in to temptation, our feet may remain on the narrow road, but our hearts return to the broad way. The more we choose to participate in sinful actions and attitudes, the deeper our heart becomes embedded in the worldly way.

We may try to tell ourselves that we are achieving freedom and that it is our right to do what we want. However, the truth is that we are grasping at false contentment while the “genuine article” awaits us if we simply return to obeying God.

And we are not the only ones injured by our rebellion. Fellow travelers on the broad way are watching us. When we act just like them, they make a judgment: “Hypocrite!” In that way, we can easily lose our testimony.

The narrow way may be hard to follow, but God promises constant aid and great reward—salvation and joy now; heaven later. Have you chosen the narrow gate?

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Charles Stanley – The Choices We Make

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Matthew 7:13-14

On a wide six-lane freeway, it is easy to crowd lots of cars onto the road. Entering the highway is pretty easy since ramps feed into the right lane every few miles. Conversely, trying to stay on a narrow sheep path from the pasture to the barn forces you to walk slowly with one foot directly in front of the other. The sheep path is a picture of the narrow way—God’s way—while the wide, six-lane thoroughfare illustrates the broad way—that is, Satan’s road to destruction.

The broad way is as crowded as an expressway at rush hour. The majority of people choose this road because they love what it has to offer: no restraints on anything they want to try. Whatever brings pleasure, power, or prosperity is welcomed and practiced. God, the Bible, and church may be tolerated for a while but will eventually be supplanted in the heart of the traveler on the broad road. That’s to be expected, since everything is embraced here—all philosophies, all belief systems, all the passions of men and women, and all habits promoting the idea of free choice.

As wonderful as all that tolerance and license may sound, however, the broad road is also the way of disappointment. No matter what the world promises, it will not ultimately satisfy, because the broad way is an illusion. The flesh may be appeased temporarily, but the human heart cannot find peace on that road. Nothing the world thinks up or creates can fill the place in our hearts that God made only for Himself. True fulfillment through the Lord is found only on the narrow path. Tomorrow we will see what is required to walk there.

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Sacrificial Giving By Dr. Charles Stanley

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Are you generous? Maybe you feel that giving liberally is a luxury you can’t afford. Yet the most generous financial gift mentioned in Scripture had very little monetary value. Often called “the widow’s mite,” this small gift has inspired believers through the ages to give freely. Let’s look at the message conveyed by this sacrificial gift.

Read the passage in Mark 12:41-44.

The True Measure of a Gift

Because Jesus saw the hearts of everyone, He knew these rich people weren’t committed to God (Mark 12:41). They carefully observed the external requirements of their faith, including tithing (see Luke 11:42). But their devotion to the Lord was almost non-existent. They gave to be praised by men.

•What did Jesus say about those who give to earn people’s admiration (Matt. 6:1-4)?

•Do you ever fall into the trap of giving primarily for the approval of others? Why do you think this is?

The widow gave “two small copper coins, which amount to a cent” (Mark 12:42). The King James version refers to them as “mites.” Although we can’t calculate their exact value in today’s money, we know these were the smallest coins used by the Jews at the time.

•What is surprising about how Jesus viewed the widow’s contribution (Mark 12:43-44)?

This passage teaches that God considers the motive, attitude, and financial condition of the giver when determining the gift’s value.

•What should our attitude be, according to 2 Corinthians 9:7?

•Does this describe your emotions with regard to giving? Why or why not?

The Adam Clarke Commentary says that “the poorest person has it in his power to make his mite as acceptable to the Lord, by simplicity of intention, and purity of affection, as the millions given by the affluent.”

•How does this fact motivate you to give generously?

The widow gave “all she had to live on” (Mark 12:44). In other words, the widow forfeited the money that would have bought food for the day. Her gift demonstrated amazing trust in God.

Imagine you lost your wallet and needed to buy gas in order to make it home. If you found a five dollar bill in your pocket, would you give it away to a street beggar, trusting God to provide a way for you to get home? Although this illustration isn’t perfect, it gives you some idea of how the widow may have felt.

•Have you ever been completely without money for the things you needed on a particular day? How did that make you feel?

Sacrificial Financial Giving

Those who have an abundance usually spend it on themselves–better possessions, nicer vacations, or upgraded homes or cars. Or they may pay for more services and conveniences.

Those with financial shortages often resist giving to the Lord’s work or to those less fortunate. They cling to what little they have, fearing there won’t be enough if they give.

•Do you see yourself as one who has an abundance of wealth (money and/or goods) or a shortage?

No matter which category you fall into, as a believer, you are called to be generous. Even the poor should give to the church and other people in need (Eph. 4:28). This is contrary to worldly wisdom, which says not to give if you have a shortfall. But poverty is not an excuse to hold back.

Jesus commended the widow for giving, though she had almost nothing. Each person should give in proportion to his or her income (1 Cor. 16:1-2).

•Are you charitable toward those who are less fortunate than you? How?

•How did the Macedonian church give (2 Cor. 8:2,3)?

•Do you ever give sacrificially? Explain.

•How could you arrange to give up something you want (or have) in order to help spread the gospel or provide for the material needs of another?

Matthew Henry, an eighteenth century pastor, wrote, “When we can cheerfully provide for others, out of our own necessary provision . . . and trust God to provide for us some other way, this is thank-worthy.”

Other Types of Giving

Although this study has focused on financial giving, we are called to be generous in every way—even when we feel weak and needy ourselves. We should extend things such as respect, time, expertise, comfort, material goods, and friendship. The Bible tells us that “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Prov. 11:25 NIV).

•What do you think are your greatest non-monetary gifts?

How can you use them to bless others?

Prayer: No matter what your situation, God wants you to use your resources to advance His kingdom. As you finish this study, ask Him to reveal ways you can give generously. Pray for grace to follow through on His commands, and trust Him to provide all that you need.

Note: Many Bible verses promise that God rewards those who give (2 Cor. 9:11; Prov. 11:24). But remember that not all generous Christians become rich. The Lord may repay our giving by blessing us financially, spiritually, emotionally, or in eternity (Matt. 6:19-20).

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Charles Stanley – Expressions of God’s Goodness

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Psalm 103

We often think of God’s goodness in terms of our tangible blessings and upbeat events. While these surely are expressions of divine goodness, we should not interpret God’s love only by how He demonstrates it in positive circumstances. We often experience His goodness best in our darkest hours—in those situations, He shows Himself to be good in deeper ways, as He alone can (2 Cor. 12:9).

One way the Lord expresses goodness is through His mercy—the tender-hearted compassion He has for us. In the Bible, mercy is usually mentioned in the context of God’s concern for people who are needy or suffering. We constantly see Jesus filled with compassion and ministering because of this mercy (Mark 1:41). He healed many people who cried out to Him for mercy because they recognized their neediness (Matt. 9:27-29).

Remember, it wasn’t the self-righteous Pharisee who was blessed, but the sinful tax collector who realized that he didn’t deserve God’s favor and begged for mercy (Luke 18:9-14). In response to our distress, God offers comfort, not because we’ve earned it, but because He is good. Also keep in mind that through Jesus’ worthiness and sacrifice, all who trust Him as Savior have great worth in God’s eyes(2 Cor. 5:21).

Another expression of our heavenly Father’s goodness is grace. A just God cannot overlook sin, yet because of His infinite goodness and love, He chose to pay our penalty for us. We have access to God’s grace only through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. Every day, we should remind ourselves of the Father’s extraordinary goodness to us and thank Him for it.

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Charles Stanley – Trusting God in All Situations

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Romans 8:28-29

Psalm 34:7 promises that every believer is encircled with God’s presence. We are also assured that even the hardest parts of life will be woven into His plan and nothing can touch us without His permission. That’s good news.

The idea that God is present in everything often brings up a lot of questions in the Christian’s mind. For example:

• Does the Lord cause people to sin? God never initiates sin, nor does He lure us to transgress. His purposes are to rescue us from sin’s power (Col. 1:13) and transform us into Jesus’ likeness (Rom. 8:29).

• How can the Lord use our sin for good? Through the times we fail, He will reveal to us our true nature—that is, our weaknesses, faults, and pride. His Spirit will convict us of wrongdoing and lead us to true repentance (John 16:8). Furthermore, He will teach us the consequences of disobedience and the wonders of His forgiving nature.

• Is God present in the lives of those who are not in His family? The Lord is involved with unbelievers, but in a different way: He continually extends His love in order to convict them of sin and their need for a Savior. However, He does not ignore their rebellion (Rom. 1:18; 2:2).

Now consider the life of Jesus Christ. Though our Savior was without sin, He suffered in many ways during His earthly life because of others’ spiritual rebellion, ignorance, and failures. But notice how the heavenly Father used His Son’s suffering for our good and His glory.

The Holy Spirit is willing to teach us more about this important topic. So request His guidance. Whenever you open the Bible, come with an open mind, and be ready to align your thinking with God’s truth.

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Charles Stanley – Is God in Every Circumstance?

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Genesis 50:15-21

The Christian life is to be characterized by growth, which becomes evident as a believer progresses from spiritual milk to solid food. Once we absorb the elementary truths of our faith, we should then begin to chew on more “meaty” ones. The question of whether God is in every circumstance falls into this latter category, because the answer conflicts with human thinking. You see, God is in the tragedies as well as the triumphs of life: He either sends or permits them to happen.

When we ponder the deeper teachings of Scripture, it’s important to start with the Lord’s character and promises. For example, in meditating on the fact that He does allow some extremely hard times, it is critical that we remember:

• God is good (Ps. 145:9), as are His purposes and everything He does.

• God is sovereign (Ps. 103:19), so there’s nothing that is outside of His control.

• God promises believers that He will work all things together for their good (Rom. 8:28).

• God keeps His promises (2 Cor. 1:20). These facts form a filter through which we can seek to understand the Lord’s presence in every situation.

Consider Joseph, who was betrayed by his brothers, falsely accused by the wife of his employer, and imprisoned unjustly. This young man was powerless and in many ways forgotten. But he refused to be swayed by circumstances—he grasped the deeper truth that God had orchestrated it all for good.

Whether the Lord sends a trial or permits one to occur, He has said He will use it as part of His plan for our good. Do you believe Him?

 

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Charles Stanley – God Is with Us in Dark Times

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Genesis 39:1-23

The life of Joseph teaches important principles about challenging times. Here are three of the lessons we can learn from the adversities he faced:

1. Difficulties will continue until God’s purpose is accomplished. In Joseph’s case, God’s plan was to prepare him to rescue his family as well as the nation of Egypt from famine. In order to ready Joseph for a position of authority and responsibility, God placed him in an important Egyptian household as a slave. There, in difficult circumstances, Joseph could learn key lessons needed for the future. Not only did he acquire valuable skills, but his faith and relationship with the Lord were also strengthened. God still operates that way so we will be equipped to accomplish the work He has planned for us (Eph. 2:10).

2. We learn more in the dark than we do in the light. Besides discovering the Lord’s faithfulness, Joseph learned how to discern God’s presence, reject temptation, and handle any position, whether respected or lowly. The lessons and principles of Scripture truly become “ours” only after they have been tested and proven reliable.

3. What we learn in the darkness, we are to share in the light. Joseph openly shared his faith and knowledge from God when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams (Gen. 41:15-16). He did not let imprisonment stop him from helping others (40:1-23). What we learn in our trials is to be offered to those who are suffering.

Nobody looks for adversity, but hard times seem to find us often enough. Instead of fearing hard circumstances, we can trust God and embrace His plan, knowing He uses trials for His glory and our gain.

 

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Charles Stanley – God’s Presence in Hard Times

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Genesis 37:12-36

There are points in life when we are hurting, the situation is clearly outside our control, and we can’t detect so much as a glimmer of relief for the future. At times like that, what can we be sure of?

• God is with us in our troubles. Our heavenly Father comforts us through His Holy Spirit. Because He knows each of His children intimately, He provides whatever is needed in a given situation. The Lord wants us to be mindful of His constant presence so we’ll know we are never alone. And awareness of His love and strength will undergird us with a sense of security. God understands what it is like to suffer, to be rejected, or to lose a loved one. He comprehends the temptations and obstacles we face. He has assigned Himself the task of carrying His children’s burdens (Ps. 68:1-9) and offers peace for our hurting hearts. The God who walks with us can’t be hindered or limited by anything, so we need not be afraid (Matt. 19:26).

• God has a purpose for allowing trials. This is clearly seen in the story of Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery. God, however, had planned that those years would prepare the young man to become Egypt’s prime minister. Joseph could not see God’s purpose—and neither will we, most of the time—but he knew the Lord’s character and trusted Him. Joseph’s faith was rewarded when he was able to rescue his family (Gen. 45:1-8).

We are called to live a life of faith. That means we’re to believe God’s promises even when our circumstances confound us. When troubles surround you, remember what is true. God will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5), and His good purposes will always be carried out (Prov. 19:21).

 

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Charles Stanley – When Worship Is Misplaced

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Romans 1:21-24

God created us to worship Him. Since we are made for this purpose, we will worship something, even if we choose something other than the Creator. Our lives may be devoted to money, prominence, popularity, immorality, or some other desire or vice that can become a false god. But no matter how many earthly distractions we attempt to worship, none of them can satisfy like the living God—we will still be left with a horrible vacuum of unfulfillment.

In the first chapter of Romans, the apostle Paul illustrates this point in terms of one particular sin: sexual perversion. You may think you’re okay if that form of iniquity isn’t part of your life. But any sinful indulgences—whether actions or attitudes—that take precedence over worshipping the Lord are wrong and destructive. Until we allow Jesus to save us from our self-serving nature, we will spiral downward into depravity.

By acting as if the Lord isn’t real and excluding Him from our life, we miss out on the main point of our existence. By ignoring the fact that He wants a personal relationship and daily communion with us, we are rejecting His gracious gift and dishonoring Him. Without His influence, our thinking grows more and more futile, leading us to choose false substitutes as we try to fill the void only God can satisfy.

Denying Christ His rightful place as Lord of our life will ultimately unleash God’s wrath. But the Lord, in His great love for the whole world, does not want anyone to spend eternity without Him

(2 Peter 3:9). He therefore continues to offer us “the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience” in calling us to repentance.

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Charles Stanley – Our Heavenly Existence

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Thanks to cartoons and movies, many people have the wrong impression about heaven. They imagine gaining wings, donning white robes, strumming a harp, and flying around on clouds. But is that how we’ll spend our time? No. Let’s discover what Scripture says about a few of our activities in heaven.

We will praise and worship the Lord.

Read Revelation 4:1-11. What surprises you about this heavenly scene?

Sometimes believers are guilty of having a worldly concept of worship—mainly that it is boring. But heavenly worship will be more exciting than we can imagine.

When you have a chance to worship the Lord, give Him your full attention. Express your devotion and admiration to Him. You’ll most likely get a taste of how wonderful praise will be in eternity.

Consider how you worship. Which do you resemble more, a participant or a spectator?

Write a prayer, asking the Lord to let you experience more joy in worshipping Him.

We will glorify God.

Is this just another way to say that believers will praise God in heaven? No. According to “Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology”, “glorification” involves first the Christian’s moral perfection, in which the believer is made holy and blameless. Second, the body is made glorious—immortal, imperishable, powerful, and spiritual. Third, glorification includes the Christian’s participation in the kingdom of God, even to the point of reigning with Him. Finally, believers partake of the Lord’s glory (2 Thess. 2:14; 1 Peter 5:10).

On earth, our ability to radiate the indwelling presence of God is limited by our sins and spiritual immaturity. In heaven, those obstacles will be removed. We will shine with all the radiance, beauty, glory, and majesty of the living God.

Why will our inner character be like Christ (1 John 3:2)?

How does Matthew 13:43 describe glorified believers?

We will never fully resemble Jesus this side of heaven. But we should be growing more and more Christ-like as we mature.

We will serve God.

Our Father made us to create, achieve, and serve. In eternity, we’ll be engaged in God-ordained assignments. Before you picture yourself toiling away in misery, remember that work doesn’t have to be tedious, frustrating, or boring.

In the Garden of Eden, God gave man a task (Gen. 2:15). Adam’s job of cultivating the garden was pleasant. But when man sinned, a curse fell on the earth.

What did the curse include, according to Genesis 3:17-19?

What implication does this have regarding work?

What does this verse reveal about the good deeds God calls us to do?

How does this knowledge impact the way you think about serving Him each day?

Describe the life of believers in eternity, according to Revelation 5:9-10.

What two groups will believers judge (1 Cor. 6: 1-3)?

Read Luke 19:16-17. How is the faithful servant rewarded in this passage?

How does one earn the right to “govern” in eternity (Matt. 25:23)?

What has the Lord called you to do with your life?

Does it encourage you to know a reward awaits you for faithfully completing God’s assignments? Why or why not?

In describing our eternal home, Revelation 22:3 says, “There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him.”

The way we prepare for serving God in heaven is by serving Him now. Together with church attendance, giving, and prayer, service is an important expression of our devotion to the Lord.

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

If you are unsure about how God wants you to serve, pray about it. Each morning, ask Him to guide you into the good deeds He’s prepared for you.

We will reign with God.

You already know that we won’t be idle in heaven. Does it surprise you to know we will rule with the Lord?

It’s not clear from Scripture what our reign will include. But the level of responsibility given to us will be proportional to how faithfully we serve while on earth.

Remember the parable about a master who entrusted money to three servants? The money symbolized a person’s time, talents, and other possessions. According to how each servant invested the money, he was rewarded or punished (Luke 19:11-27).

Closing: Heaven will be far more exciting than we can imagine. In this brief study, we haven’t been able to address everything God’s Word says about it. So, as you read your Bible, particularly Revelation 4-5 and 21-22, watch for descriptions of our eternal home.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the amazing glimpses of heaven You gave us in Your Word. Help us remember this world is not our eternal home. We want to be faithful, obedient stewards, fulfilling Your calling on our lives. Amen.

 

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Charles Stanley – Because He Is Risen

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1 Corinthians 15:20-23

Jesus is alive. He was resurrected from the dead and lives in heaven, interceding on our behalf. Because He is risen, we can have confidence that . . .

• Our sins are forgiven. Jesus came into this world to give His life as a ransom for many (Matt. 20:28). Through His death on the cross, the debt for our iniquities has been paid completely. We are a forgiven people.

• The Lord is actively involved in our lives. Jesus made many promises to His followers of all generations. He pledged that those who abide in Him and do His will would bear much fruit for God’s kingdom, enjoy spiritual blessings, and have guidance from the indwelling Holy Spirit, who is ever-present (Matt. 5:1-12; John 15:5).

Jesus spoke several times about the power of prayer for those who believe—we have assurance that our petitions will be heard and answered. When our requests are in accordance with the Lord’s will, we’ll receive what we have asked for (1 John 5:14-15).

Jesus gave His word that He would prepare a place for us in heaven and return one day to bring us to our everlasting home. Then we will live with Him forever. We can face each day secure in the knowledge of these truths. We can face each day secure in the knowledge of these truths.

Because Jesus has accomplished all this for us, He deserves our steadfast allegiance. Our worldview is to be framed by His life and words. We must stand firm and not compromise when the world tries to draw us away. Honor our risen Savior by following Him wholeheartedly (1 Cor. 15:58).

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Charles Stanley – Destined for the Cross

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Romans 6:8-11

When you saw the title for today’s devotion, I imagine that you thought it was about Jesus. If so, you’re half right. The cross is always about Jesus, but believers are also destined for sacrifice and death.

“Death to self” happens at the moment of salvation, when we are crucified with Christ (Rom. 6:6). The old self dies, and we are given a new nature as the Holy Spirit comes to live within us (John 14:17). At times it takes a bit longer to get to the sacrifice—the moment when we hand over to God everything we love and value.

God doesn’t stop at salvation; His purpose is to conform believers to the likeness of His Son (Rom. 8:29). So He gives us a new nature—then we can experience freedom because Jesus has triumphed over sin. But in order to live as God intends, we must be willing to give Christ the centermost position in our lives. As a result, the Lord calls us to the cross on a daily basis to lay down the things that might distract us from our purpose to serve and follow Him.

Don’t misunderstand what it means to be destined for the cross. God isn’t going to take away everything and leave us as lonely paupers. Putting our valuables on the cross—whether they are possessions, people, or dreams—frees us from the attachments of this world.

When we lay down worldly attachments, our self-esteem isn’t tied to “stuff” and our sense of acceptance doesn’t come from people. We are complete in the Lord. Or as Paul said, we are “alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11). Enjoying a new life in Christ is worth a daily trip to the cross.